Autoimmune Adventure

Illness History, Timeline and Diagnosis:

(My journey to Chronic Illness & Autoimmune Disease)
(Hold on to your hats)

 

• 1971-1992: Labeled "the always sick kid" - prone to infections of all sorts, many unexplained- hospitalized periodically
• 1981: Diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, with Anxiety
• 1983: Diagnosed with Prementrual Dysphoric Disorder-PMDD
• 1993: Undergo Roux Y Gastric Bypass surgery for weight loss
• 1993-1995: Spend two years suffering from physical & emotional complications as a result of gastric surgery - malabsorption, dehydration, severe depressive episodes, chronic pain begins
• 1995: Begin suffering from chronic migraines and begin to have kidney stones
• 2007: Start Infertility journey *see page for info
• 2008: Intussuseption of Gastric bypass remnant stomach-GI bleed and ulcers leading to an abdominal Laparotomy(full open abdominal surgery)
• 2009 March: Develop large abdominal hernia over old incision site-Open abdominal repair of hernia using synthetic mesh
• 2009 March-Sept.: Develop continual low grade fevers, unexplained abdominal pain and fatigue,  have abnormal lab values for inflammation
• 2009 Sept: Diagnosed with **MESH REJECTION**-(Believe this is the main trigger for the start of autoimmune disease issues) Abdominal laparotomy for removal of synthetic mesh & biologic mesh replacement
• 2010: Diagnosed with abdominal stricture, episodic partial small bowel obstructions and IBD
• 2010-2012: repeated kidney stone episodes as well as small bowel obstructions
• 2012 Feb.: PCP refers me to rheumatologist to discuss ongoing, pain, fatigue, malaise, low grade temps- initial workup done
• 2012 April: Diagnosed with Autoimmune Inflammatory disorder-possibly Lupus started on oral medications Plaquenil & Prednisone
• 2012 Aug: Develop right knee joint pain & degeneration due to inflammation- arthroscopy done
• 2012 Aug: Severe depression/anxiety/grief - Referred to I.O.P.- Special DBT group therapy for people with mental health as well as chronic physical health issues
• 2012: PMDD severe & autoimmune infertility- Radiation therapy to ovaries inducing menopause (age 41)
• 2013 Feb: Increase in joint pain, severe fatigue, fevers, cold hands/feet- started on oral methotrexate-unable to tolerate then switched to injectable methotrexate+prednisone
• 2013 April: Inflammatory issues continue to get worse - Diagnosed with Rheumatoid  arthritis- pre-approval for Remicade gotten
• 2013 May: Remicade Infusions started every 6 weeks and Methotrexate changed to Arava
• 2013 June: Remicade frequency increased to every 5 weeks
• 2013: Herniated cervical discs, as well as degenerative joint disease
• 2014: repeated right knee arthroscopy due to more degeneration
• 2014: Remicade frequency increased to every 4 weeks and dosage also increased


Diagnoses at this time:

Rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, UCTD (undifferentiated connective tissue disease), Partial small bowel obstructions, kidney stones, migraines, UTI’s, Autoimmune Infertility, medically induced menopause, Depression, Anxiety