Did anyone develop other autoimmune after having I

I have been in remission from ITP for nearly twenty years. For the past several months the joints in my hands began to swell up. I went to the doctor and had a RA panel done.

Everything was good but the anti-ccp test which indicates antibodies for rheumatoid arthritis.

Does having an autoimmune disease like ITP predispose a person to other autoimmune diseases, or do I just have bad luck?

Having one autoimmune disorder can mean that you may acquire others. If a person is genetically predisposed, they are vulnerable to one or more autoimmune disorders if the right trigger(s) come along. Quite a few people here have more than one. The most common disorders that seem to appear with ITP are thyroid disorders (Graves, Hashimoto's), connective tissue disorders (Lupus, RA) and other blood disorders (Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia, Antiphospholipid Syndrome, Evans Syndrome).

It's a matter of bad genes, but I also consider it bad luck! Autoimmune disorders tend to run in families, but family members do not necessarily have the same ones.

I did, had splenectomy which has put me in remission but after weaning prednisine got worse and worse. Long story but now have 2 autoimmune liver conditions. I also had a history of thyroid cancer and my physicans seem to have attributed it to autoimmune but I haven't fully understood why. Additionally, one child has vitiligo and another celiac so we ate an autoimmune bunch...multiple autoimmune does seem to be common.

I was diagnosed with itp when I was 17. When I was 32 my count dropped to 3 and then due to my hemo being very good she noticed that after a course of ivig that my immunoglobulin count was lower then she expected and proceeded to test me for pretty much everything as well as put me in for a CT SCAN.

End result was I was diagnosed with CVID.

Rek,
This might be helpful for you:

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Rituxan is supposed to be good for RA too.

I hope you improve.

I was diagnosed with ITP when I was 21. After a splenectomy, several years( 20+)of steroids, and about a year and a half of Nplate, I am finally in remission, for about a year now. Well now they are going to diagnose me with Rheumatoid Arthritis-all test results point to this. I've always been told that I can not take any anti-inflammatory because of my ITP. Of course that is one of the drugs they want to use to treat RA. Does anyone else out there have these two autoimmune diseases? If so what are you being treated with. I go back to the Rheumatologist on Tuesday to discuss my lab and x-ray results and treatment. HELP!

Hi Shorty. I'm sorry to hear of the diagnosis.

I don't have RA, but I do have Lupus which also causes a lot of inflammation. I have inflammation of muscles, nerves, joints, etc that are causing damage. It's a similar situation.

When I first had Lupus symptoms but was not yet diagnosed, I was taking Naproxen because that was the only thing that helped enough to get through the days. I was also taking 10 mg's of Prednisone. That was in 2006 and I am still taking both. ITP has been in remission, but I have taken 1,000 mg's of Naproxen even when I wasn't in remission. I have a script for it. It's impossible to have any quality of life without getting the inflammation under control. The NSAID's usually don't cause counts to drop, but they can cause platelets to be less sticky. My Hemo was okay with me taking it as long as counts were over 50k. I also take aspirin because of a cardiac and blood clotting risk due to Lupus and the treatments. I feel that ITP is the lesser evil in my case.

My scripts include: Flexeril, Plaquenil, Norco, Naproxen, 15 mg's Medrol, Acifex, Xanax, Aspirin, Vitamin D and a monthly infusion of Solumedrol. I also take Advil PM at night before bed. As things progress, you just keep adding more meds. Fun.

You will have to speak to your doctors about what is right for you. Managing two autoimmune disorders can be tricky because the treatments for one sometimes conflict with the other. I have tried so many meds over the years that I lost count. Most have failed. I do what I have to do.

Sandi,

Thanks for the quick response. So you are able to maintain a decent platelet count with aspirin and anti inflammatories, that was my big worry. The side effects of all those DMARDs and the Biologic just scare me. In the past, when my ITP was active, if I took Flexeril my platelets took a dive and I had to quit. I don't think my body can take any more long term usage of steroids. I am now overweight, but have finally been able to loose some, and am prediabetic. I've been doing a lot of research and it seems like bleeding is a possible side effect of all of these meds. I just am so scared my ITP will flare up. Sounds like your ITP staying in remission even after taking those other meds. Maybe I am worrying too much. I feel for you taking all those meds. When I finally got off the steroids I quit taking all pills, my vitamins too-just got so sick of having to take pills all the time. My aunt also has RA and she has been successful with Humira. Don't know if that will be what they give me. When I saw my Hemo, I told him I think we have finally figured out why I deal with a rollercoaster wbc. I told him the rheumatologist thinks I have RA. I guess I'll wait to see what drug(s) she prescribes and run them by the Hemo and see what he has to say. I appreciate all the info and will post what the RA doc has to say about all this. You are so right, we do what we have to do. I am a follower of Christ Jesus, so I am also doing a lot of praying. If it's ok, I'd like to keep you in my prayers. He healed my ITP, so I figure he can take this too. Mine and yours!

I've tried so many DMARD's over the years and none of them have done a thing except cause more damage. The biologics scare me. I had a bad side effect from Rituxan that actually triggered Lupus. My Rheumatologist tried to talk me into Benlysta, but I don't want to try it. I gave myself Methotrexate injections for a year but had to stop because I ended up with lung damage. I am really trying to stick to the old school treatments like steroids because at least I know what to expect and they do work for me.

I have an RA-like swelling in the joints of my hands and am slowly losing use of my hands. It's affected the joints, tendons, muscles and cartilage. I need to see an Orthopedic Surgeon to see what he can do. If it's not the medications causing damage, it's the disorder itself. It's very hard to find a balance.

Any medication can cause a drop in counts, not just NSAID's. Heck, even many ITP treatments list thrombocytopenia as a side effect. If you know that you have a treatment that works for ITP, that should give you some comfort if counts should drop again. Treatment decisions are never easy. Good luck and yes, let me know how things go.

well it's official, the dr said I do have RA. They started me on methotrexate and folic acid. The problem is I am having flare ups and it takes 6-12 weeks for this to start working. Seems the ITP was more life threatening, but this RA is painful. My prayer is that the medicine kicks in sooner than the 6 weeks. Now I have a new disease to study up on and learn about. I just don't know what's normal pain or flare ups, so I guess I'll have to find an RA support center. I wish I could just call my dr and go in to see her the same day, just to talk about the disease. I had a really bad weekend. I cleaned house Sat morning and by mid afternoon I couldn't use my right arm nor hand. My daughter drove us to church Sunday morning and my husband had to help me get dressed. My hand was better and I was able to use it again by late afternoon Sunday. My shoulder however is still causing me pain and I don't have a whole lot of mobility. I was able to get ready and go to work this morning, which is a blessing, but it was a struggle. My husband had already left for work and my daughter was still sleeping. I know I'll get better in a few days, and I will get thru this, but it sure is painful. I had to take a pain pill last night so I could sleep. Don't know if it was ok or not, with my new meds, but I just couldn't take the pain anymore.

I've done Methotrexate. I did the pills for about six months then did the injections for about a year. I didn't get any benefit and ended up with lung damage from the drug. Many people can use it with no side effects though and it can be helpful. I read a lot of stories about how that drug can change lives, so maybe it will work for you. I took pain pills with MTX - what are you taking?