What is Morphea Scleroderma?
Before July 1, 2011, I had absolutely no idea what was morphea scleroderma, as it would affect my life or what it meant to me as a woman and single mother. In the months since July, this has changed and changed quickly. This is my story and I would like to share with you in hopes that my fight with this disease can help to understand other women to find some peace and perhaps even with this disease, which seems mainly targeted women over whatever.
Localized scleroderma: an autoimmune disease that mostly women. In America there are about 300,000 known cases of which about 70 percent are women aged 30-60. Some believe it is primarily aimed at women of African American or Native. Others believe that a person with a family history of autoimmune diseases like lupus and type IDiabetes may be more prone to this form of scleroderma.
Well, now we know what it is, but it really tells us the story? I'm afraid not. Hang on to your seats ladies because here's the information you really want to know about it. In laymen's terms for people like you and me, this causes the autoimmune disease of the immune system to "short circuit". This means that for one reason or another begins, our immune system against the body. In this case, start the soft tissues (skin, joints, ligaments, muscles, tendons) attack. Initial symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, and bruise-like lesions against any part of the body from the neck. Most fevers are run regularly and often lost any kind of infection initially diagnosed. Inflammation also occurs with almost the entire body, especially in affected areas of injury.
Once the initial appearance has begun to restart collagen pockets under the skin to form. These appear to be white and can be anywhere from injuries such as bruises, ranging in color from dark purple to yellow-ish in nature, if not in an active phase. When activated, the skin begins to harden and dry with leather patches and flaky skin. If feet are affected, the nails can peel, pop off, and the soles of the feet are dry, horny, and scaly too. As the skin and joints become stiff and hardened, they are also swollen and painful. Many patients experience a constant itching of new shoots, or what doctors like to call a new active phase. These are characterized by fever, swelling and red spots, where are the hot new bruises and injuries as collagen deposition. The itching is terrible, and what I most closely relate to it with the most terrible case of poison ivy that a person may have, where it occurs.
Well, if you're still with me and not scared by this disclosure, may be you learn some of these symptoms and are even more curious. You may already have been diagnosed, but with the understanding of what the diagnosis means for you to fight. If you have some or all of these characters, my best advice is to not give up! We know that our bodies are women. We know what it feels normal, and if something is wrong. This disease can result from overlooked as being so many different things. From my first symptoms of the disease that I know in 2010, my first diagnosis in July 2011 happens to me. I went through seven different doctors, medicines innumerable, and many diagnoses. Be persistent. It's your health, and you're the only one who can take responsibility for them!
How Am I diagnosed?
Meanwhile you can go to your family doctor several times with a number of drugs and / or more than one diagnosis, which have been happening with your body. Do not be discouraged! Be persist in their quest to learn about your body. The first step in diagnosis is to recognize that something is different about your body and listen to what you are saying. Then it is up to you to take action. Do not settle or they are selling. The answers do you have with your doctor until you are satisfied, and it can be.
What tests should I insist?
First step to find out if it is an autoimmune disease associated with a complete blood work to have. Have your doctor, pay special attention to white blood cells and the rate of sedimentation. If these are high, chances are you have some type of autoimmune inflammatory process at work. It is not enough!
Second If your blood tested positive for the job has an autoimmune inflammatory process, and begins to show signs of injuries such as bruises, insist on a biopsy. The sooner you have done this better. Although referred to a dermatologist or a rheumatologist, who will ask for it. In fact, one of the first questions asked! This excludes all other options and tell you if you really have morphea scleroderma or systemic sclerosis.
Third If you have difficulty breathing because of injuries they have, or starts to wheeze, and / or chest pain, to ask to check for lung function tests and / or an EKG for the heart. Localized scleroderma may be related to the heart and lungs, if caused by disease or the effects of the disease such as hardening of the skin and pressure on internal organs are.
If your programs fourth test of lung function, reduced lung capacity, order a chest CT. This is to prevent the internal participation of the disease and to assess whether in fact is caused by hardening of the skin.
Fifth Request an evaluation of its mobility! If the stiffness of the joints and causes the pressure of the lesions will be extreme stiffness and pain, you may be in need of physical therapy and / or labor.
Before July 1, 2011, I had absolutely no idea what was morphea scleroderma, as it would affect my life or what it meant to me as a woman and single mother. In the months since July, this has changed and changed quickly. This is my story and I would like to share with you in hopes that my fight with this disease can help to understand other women to find some peace and perhaps even with this disease, which seems mainly targeted women over whatever.
Localized scleroderma: an autoimmune disease that mostly women. In America there are about 300,000 known cases of which about 70 percent are women aged 30-60. Some believe it is primarily aimed at women of African American or Native. Others believe that a person with a family history of autoimmune diseases like lupus and type IDiabetes may be more prone to this form of scleroderma.
Well, now we know what it is, but it really tells us the story? I'm afraid not. Hang on to your seats ladies because here's the information you really want to know about it. In laymen's terms for people like you and me, this causes the autoimmune disease of the immune system to "short circuit". This means that for one reason or another begins, our immune system against the body. In this case, start the soft tissues (skin, joints, ligaments, muscles, tendons) attack. Initial symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, and bruise-like lesions against any part of the body from the neck. Most fevers are run regularly and often lost any kind of infection initially diagnosed. Inflammation also occurs with almost the entire body, especially in affected areas of injury.
Once the initial appearance has begun to restart collagen pockets under the skin to form. These appear to be white and can be anywhere from injuries such as bruises, ranging in color from dark purple to yellow-ish in nature, if not in an active phase. When activated, the skin begins to harden and dry with leather patches and flaky skin. If feet are affected, the nails can peel, pop off, and the soles of the feet are dry, horny, and scaly too. As the skin and joints become stiff and hardened, they are also swollen and painful. Many patients experience a constant itching of new shoots, or what doctors like to call a new active phase. These are characterized by fever, swelling and red spots, where are the hot new bruises and injuries as collagen deposition. The itching is terrible, and what I most closely relate to it with the most terrible case of poison ivy that a person may have, where it occurs.
Well, if you're still with me and not scared by this disclosure, may be you learn some of these symptoms and are even more curious. You may already have been diagnosed, but with the understanding of what the diagnosis means for you to fight. If you have some or all of these characters, my best advice is to not give up! We know that our bodies are women. We know what it feels normal, and if something is wrong. This disease can result from overlooked as being so many different things. From my first symptoms of the disease that I know in 2010, my first diagnosis in July 2011 happens to me. I went through seven different doctors, medicines innumerable, and many diagnoses. Be persistent. It's your health, and you're the only one who can take responsibility for them!
How Am I diagnosed?
Meanwhile you can go to your family doctor several times with a number of drugs and / or more than one diagnosis, which have been happening with your body. Do not be discouraged! Be persist in their quest to learn about your body. The first step in diagnosis is to recognize that something is different about your body and listen to what you are saying. Then it is up to you to take action. Do not settle or they are selling. The answers do you have with your doctor until you are satisfied, and it can be.
What tests should I insist?
First step to find out if it is an autoimmune disease associated with a complete blood work to have. Have your doctor, pay special attention to white blood cells and the rate of sedimentation. If these are high, chances are you have some type of autoimmune inflammatory process at work. It is not enough!
Second If your blood tested positive for the job has an autoimmune inflammatory process, and begins to show signs of injuries such as bruises, insist on a biopsy. The sooner you have done this better. Although referred to a dermatologist or a rheumatologist, who will ask for it. In fact, one of the first questions asked! This excludes all other options and tell you if you really have morphea scleroderma or systemic sclerosis.
Third If you have difficulty breathing because of injuries they have, or starts to wheeze, and / or chest pain, to ask to check for lung function tests and / or an EKG for the heart. Localized scleroderma may be related to the heart and lungs, if caused by disease or the effects of the disease such as hardening of the skin and pressure on internal organs are.
If your programs fourth test of lung function, reduced lung capacity, order a chest CT. This is to prevent the internal participation of the disease and to assess whether in fact is caused by hardening of the skin.
Fifth Request an evaluation of its mobility! If the stiffness of the joints and causes the pressure of the lesions will be extreme stiffness and pain, you may be in need of physical therapy and / or labor.
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