MCTD Support Group
Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) or Sharp's syndrome is a human autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body. MCTD combines features of polymyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and systemic scleroderma and is thus considered an overlap syndrome. MCTD commonly causes joint pain/swelling, Raynaud phenomenon, muscle inflammation, and scarring of...
All of the sudden all my lab work is normal! My ANA is 0 and has been for 6 months. I am no longer anemic, my white cell and lymphocyte count is normal. I do feel better! I still get tired easily and still have some pain and eye issues, but I havent been sick at all! I hope this gives all of you hope that remission is possible!
Mary Ann
Mary Ann
Cheers!
Gabrielle
ANA does not correlate with much for me-- I can have serious symptoms with no elevated ANA.
Let us know if you figure out what might have changed. It may well be nothing; the symptoms from this illness seem to come and go with no warning.
But remission can last for months.
Or for years.
Or for decades.
Please stay with us even if you feel better indefinitely! That's the outcome I hope for.
"Hi, my name is MToennis, I'm 97 years old, and I'm just checking in to let you know I've been in remission from MCTD for over 40 years."
Or...
"Hi, my name is MToennis, I'm 65 years old, and I just figured out that what keeps me in remission is alternating a gluten-free diet with red meat on alternate Thursdays, taking a single dose of Plaquenil every year, and prednisone only at Lent and when my birthday falls on a date of the month which is a prime number."
Very happy for you!
I think a normal ANA is not the end all. The big thing is the other blood work is perfectly normal. Kidney function, liver function, and all my blood cell counts are good. I even had a blood glucose of 88 about 90 minutes after a bowl of Raisin Bran Crunch! The Dr said there is no evidence of active disease at this time and if it is good in 6 months, I will start trying to wean off the Medrol.
As for what has changed, I finally REALLY retired from that stinking job around Christmas. For a year prior to that, I was working as needed even though I was not needed much. Stress will kill ya! I am glad I could do this, it would not have been an option a few years ago. Many of you have no choice but to go to word every day, sometimes to very high stress jobs. Been there and done that. I feel for you and hope you get the option to change your work, retire, cut back or what ever works for you.
Mary Ann
Mary Ann
Glad you will keep us on our toes! I agree about jobs. I have a very stressful job and I believe it makes me sicker than I could be. I am looking for a new job. Another thing that will help is that I stopped working out this month due to lower lumbar degenerative disc disease. Two steroid shots in the spine and now I really want to get back into it a bit. I think that will help - and getting out of this stinging job!
Best!
Gab