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Re: To Barbra re: lupus, immune deficiencies etc. (Was re: test results)

From: Belle (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Mon, 7 Jan 2002 22:54:18 -0600 (CST)

Because of the connection with insulin and the genetic links, many endocrinologists do consider PCOS to be auto-immune even though it has not officially been classified as such yet. As we know, if you get one auto-immune disorder, you are more likely to get another.

Mononucleosis has been linked with auto-immune disorders in itself. Just last week (Thursday or Friday?) research was completed and a recommendation was sent out alerting doctors that if a client has a history of mono, they are more likely to have MS. It has been widely known that if you had mono, you are more likely to have an auto-immune disorder.

Drug-induced lupus is not an auto-immune disorder. It is a symdrome that closely resembles systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) but does not have the same bloodwork results (the absence of anti-nuclear anti-bodies), the same kidney problems, etc. It will normally end when the client stops using the drugs which cause the symptoms. The most common drugs causing the symptoms are hydralazine (a drug for hypertension), isoniazid (a drug for TB), many anti-convulsants and procainamide (a drug prescribed for arrhythemias). If the problem is caused by SLE, treatment or the lack of treatment would not have changed the course of that since real lupus is a result of the body attacking itself. Unless you receive one of the drugs that brings on drug-induced lupus, the misdiagnosis that you possibly received for your PCOS did not bring it on.

Not receiving treatment for PCOS can not lead to the development of auto-immune *or* mental problems. It may lead to the development of diabetes or heart disease because of the insulin problems. Not receiving treatment for PCOS may lead to endometrial cancer because of the lack of periods that is common with women with PCOS.

When you get a diagnosis that is scary, it is common to want to blame someone or something but it is not always possible to place blame on something else. Sometimes, it is just the way things work out.

At Sun, 6 Jan 2002, Sonnet wrote: >
>Barbara, I'd sure appreciate hearing more about what's going on with
>your body and how this all ties in with your lupus. I know there have
>been a few women on this board with lupus (I am personally convinced
>that PCOS is at least in part auto-immune, which is why we all have such
>trouble with lupus, Chrohns, some with MS, thyroid problems, etc.)
>
>I ask because I have had little to no immune system the past 3 years. I
>have had glandular fever more than once as well as mono. (All the
>Epstein Barr stuff.) I am sick just about constantly, I don't think I've
>gone a full week in 3 years without having an infection of one kind or
>another, even if it's just a little cold. Does this sound like what you
>went through? What sort of problems did it eventually cause for you? How
>would you have treated it differently if you could?
>
>Thanks!
>
>At Sun, 6 Jan 2002, Barbra wrote:
>>
>>I,too agree,that if I had been sent to the proper specialist when I
>>first had complaints of PCOS..this lupus could have been avoided.
>>My lupus was drug induced,as I always had glandular fevers,mono and a
>>weakened immune system.The docs thought of me to be just a highly
>>stressed woman and to seek the help of a shrink to help me deal with my
>>so called 'hypochondriasis'.
>>They said my symtpoms were puzzling and didn't fit in to their so called
>>book of diseases.
>
>--
>Sonnet Fitzgerald, PCOS Association, Online Community Liaison. Email: sonnet@pcosupport.org
>

--
Hope this helps,


Belle



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