Immune system question

So, I realised that I'm confused on the subject of our immune system. I understand what is does but what I'm trying to figure out is if when I get bouts of low platelets is it due to an over active immune system or a weak immune system. I would think its fighting well and inadvertently targeting my platelets but I don't get how some sometimes I'm under the impression it's actually weak at times. After all it's only when I get a cold( which would suggest I have low immunity) that my body starts fighting something and suddenly goes over active. I was at the health food shop and she advised me on account of my itp to avoid echinacea because of my immune system overdrive. Does anyone have any opinions on immunity?

I hope my question makes sense :laugh:

I was lead to believe that ITP was due to an overactive immune system. Hence giving patients prednisone to help suppress your immune system from attacking your platelets.

Then again... when I explain to people what ITP is, I usually draw a picture of Evil Antibodies with swords and guns chasing after my fearful platelets with worried looks on their faces. So maybe somebody who is a tish smarter than me should comment now. :whistle:

That is a great description hahaha, I must use that. You are right I guess I just was lead to believe that I have low immunity.

It's not really an overactive or weak immune system. It's just one gone wrong in that it mistakes the platelets for a foreign body and makes antibodies against them. How good the immune system is at fighting infections is a separate thing. It might be good or bad.

Strangely for those of us who have an immune deficiency, in that we lack the antibodies that others have, are prone to having autoimmune disorders and therefore making antibodies against our own bodies. So I don't have many antibodies for fighting bacteria but have lots for fighting my platelets, so in effect it is both weak and overactive.

I'm sure I haven't made things any clearer with that explanation!

Oh it does make sense, so we basically have an immune system that works for some part but in other ways sees are platelets like a foreign object. But how do we keep like it from targeting the platelets. Or any other auto immune diseases? Again I will say it but I think it's to do with gluten. Or a sensitivity. What we eat really is our medicine. How are you Ann are you? I remember you told me you were in London?

Oh I just read this quote about immune system and its true: your finest Weapon can be your biggest enemy. :pinch:

That's a good quote!

People tend to think of the immune system as one big thing. It is actually made up of many different organs and cells that all have different jobs to do. It's believed that ITP is caused by B cells and T cells ( 2types of white cell) that create the anti-platelet antibodies that destroy platelets. So with ITP, the immune system is okay, it's the B and T cells that are not behaving properly. The immunosuppressants cause them to stop producing so many antibodies. Most people also have production problems that stem from the bone marrow.

It's a little more complicated than that, but basically the immune system is generally healthy enough to fight infections. Everyone gets colds and flus, and people with ITP are not more prone to them unless they are immunosuppressed or have an immune deficiency, as Ann said. That is a totally separate thing.

Sandi,

I think you explained it well. I think the major issue with figuring it all out is the complexity. Here's to hoping that much more research will be done and maybe there will be better treatment options or even cures for some autoimmune disorders!

One can only hope. They have all of these biologicals now that target specific areas of the immune system that are tailored for certain disorders. Still not good enough. The possible side effects are horrendous, and if the disorder doesn't kill you the treatment might. I'm not sure if they are a good thing or not.

Yes that is exactly how I thought of the immune system like one big thing and it either works or not. Obviously the reason it's hard to find a direct cure for immune problems is cause it's complex and only certain areas of a cell are not working. Wow you are so smart. I guess I never really looked into anything like thwt is cause ignorance is bliss. But I think now its better to know cos some doctors don't check out things, like vitamin d levels etc. which we should try to fix. Sandi, you probably know more things then some doctors.

Nah, not so smart, just spent years researching so I could answer questions here. If I didn't know the answer, I looked it up. That adds up over 15 years and hundreds of people. One of the first things I did when diagnosed with ITP was to learn about the immune system. I wanted to understand what was going on. It's so easy to say autoimmune disorders should be curable, but when you get to understand how complex the whole thing is, you realize it's not that easy. Anyway, here are some articles if anyone is interested in learning about it.

As for checking out vitamin levels and such, yes, by all means, always push for that!

www.ehow.com/about_4759446_parts-immune-system.html

womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/autoimmune-diseases.cfm

science.howstuffworks.com/life/human-biology/immune-system4.htm

Good Sunday afternoon read, thanks Sandi! Finally it makes better sense.

I read it too. Very interesting read