Ursula

[Guest guest]

Hi Ursula,

I am stepping in here....Sandy will probably have much more to add or

perhaps a different explantion all together, but we are in the same boat as

she is in some respects. You have to consider what Adam's (diabetes, JRA,

hypothyroidism) and Mark's (LCV and Crohns) diagnosis' are...these are

autoimmune diseases, in Mark's case secondary complications to his PID, that

if left untreated, will destroy the body and/or it's internal organs.

Autoimmune diseases are basically the body attacking itself. Immune

suppression can help to stop this process. Just like with cancer, chemo

does not know the difference between the good cells or the bad...so both get

destroyed in the process...a risk that sometimes must be taken as most of

the treatments for autoimmune diseases are immune suppressing. Look at

Mark's case, he is on IVIG every 3 weeks (to increase his immune system),

alternate day steroids (to suppress) and IM Methotrexate (to suppress)....so

yes, Mark's immune system in some ways in much worse off with treatment but

the hope is that we will put these autoimmune diseases into remission and

thus, Mark might be better in the long run (at least that is our hope)!!

Sandy, hope you don't mind me adding to this.

Autumn (Mom to Mark Cd5-Cd19 PID and )