Autoimmune Chat

A patient led initiative bringing autoimmune patients together to share experiences, support and raise disease awareness. Join our #autoimmunechat community

[National MS Society @mssociety]

A cure for MS is synonymous with infinite possibility — whether it means increased mobility, an end to MS anxiety, or simply waking up in the morning pain-free. What does a cure mean to you?

[@msawareness ♿️ ♻️🎗️ @MSawarenessIndy]

Chronic Illness #TopicOfTheDay

- OBESITY -

[Lupus Europe @LupusEurope]

🌍 More than 200,000 people live with #lupus in Europe.

🚨 Some #SLE patients have physical disabilities due to the impact of symptoms like fatigue, joint pain, & organ involvement, that could make daily life and work challenging.

#WorldDisabilityDay
#IDPWD

[#GetYourBellyOut @GetYourBellyOut]

ABOUT CROHN'S DISEASE & ULCERATIVE COLITIS
#Crohns Disease & Ulcerative #Colitis are the two main forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and are not to be confused with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

For example, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) does not produce the destructive inflammation found in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Although both share some similar symptoms they are very different illnesses - please be mindful of this and sensitive in your approach when sharing your experiences with others.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) = Crohn's Disease & Ulcerative Colitis 👍
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) = Something else 🙈
Irritable Bowel Disease = Doesn't exist 🙃

💜 @GetYourBellyOut 💜
#GetYourBellyOut provides support, education and advocacy to a global community of people affected by Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis (collectively known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD) 🥰🤗

👉 #CrohnsDisease causes inflammation of the digestive system or gut. Crohn’s Disease can affect any part of the gut, though the most common area affected is the end of the ileum (the last part of the small intestine), or the colon.

The areas of inflammation are often patchy with sections of normal gut in between. A patch of inflammation may be small, only a few centimetres, or extend quite a distance along part of the gut. As well as affecting the lining of the bowel, Crohn’s may also go deeper into the bowel wall.

👉 #UlcerativeColitis causes inflammation and ulceration of the inner lining of the rectum and colon (the large bowel). In Ulcerative Colitis, ulcers develop on the surface of the lining and these may bleed and produce mucus.

The inflammation usually begins in the rectum and lower colon, but it may affect the entire colon. If Ulcerative Colitis only affects the rectum, it's called proctitis, while if it affects the whole colon it may be called total colitis or pancolitis.

⭐️ Crohn’s Disease & Ulcerative Colitis are chronic illnesses. This means it's ongoing and life-long, although you may have periods of good health (remission), as well as times when symptoms are more active (relapses or flare-ups).

🙃 IBD can also affect other areas of the body not only the digestive system - these are referred to as 'extraintestinal manifestations' (such as the eyes, joints or skin etc)

❤️ You can help us and others living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease by sharing this post to raise awareness and consider making a donation via our website. Thank you!

[Sten Helmfrid 🇺🇦 🇬🇱 @StenHelmfrid]

Some critics have cartooned #MECFS as alternate science. Did you know that there have been more than 6,000 papers on ME/CFS published in peer reviewed journals and that one current and one previous member of the OMF Scientific Advisory Board are Nobel laureates? #MEAwarenessHour

[Autoimmune Chat @AutoimmuneChat]

This is my cat Ninja. She is a quirky loving little girl who always makes me laugh & helped me when I was grieving Don's loss. She is a Hope for Romanian Strays rescue who I adopted when she was 6months old, she's also lived in 3 countries. She hates pigeons

[Autoimmune Chat @AutoimmuneChat]

Today is #InternationalCatDay! My cats have been a huge support particularly when I've had bad days. They have made me laugh when I was crying, comforted me when I was depressed & made sure I never felt lonely. Share your cat photo's & stories! More info on my cats 🧵

[Autoimmune Chat @AutoimmuneChat]

This is Don who sadly passed in January at the age of 21. He was an amazing once-in-a-lifetime cat - very chilled, loving & full of character. He had IBD. I adopted him when he was 8 years old from the RSPCA. He lived in 3 countries, travelled on 2 airplanes & the Eurotunnel

[Autoimmune Chat @AutoimmuneChat]

A little Monday joy from @theAleppoCatmen

[Ernesto’s Sanctuary for Syrian Cats @theAleppoCatmen]

Something beautiful to enjoy and share today .
Here Ernesto’s babies today 😚

[Autoimmune Chat @AutoimmuneChat]

I think positive thinking can only go so far. Just as important is being kind to yourself. If you need a sofa day or if you need an "eat-as-much-chocolate-as-I-can" day it's ok. Life with an autoimmune disease is not a short battle - it's a long war #autoimmunedisease

[Autoimmune Chat @AutoimmuneChat]

I had a slight run-in with a friend over the weekend around the power of positive thinking. I was having a really bad day & I'd admitted as much. She started talking about the power of positive thinking. I replied that sometimes you just have bad days ...🧵

[Autoimmune Chat @AutoimmuneChat]

no amount of positive thinking will help. I also said it's ok to have a bad day & sometimes you do need to wallow in a bad mood. Because sometimes it can just all be too much knowing the problems will not go away (no positive thinking does not cure disease) ...🧵

[DecodeME the ME/CFS Study @DecodeMEstudy]

*TRIGGER WARNING*
Last night, Action for ME CEO Sonya spoke to BBC News Scotland’s The Nine programme about the impact of ME and the need to accelerate research.
Sonya appears from 10 minutes in, watch here: https://t.co/O2MA3Ixxnh

[@msawareness ♿️ ♻️🎗️ @MSawarenessIndy]

So true.

[Lupus Research @LupusResearch]

El lupus es una enfermedad autoinmunitaria crónica y compleja. Los síntomas más comunes son cansancio extremo, erupción malar, inflamación de las articulaciones y fiebre sin causa aparente.

Obtenga más información: https://t.co/5woVyu3Q7j

#LupusEnEspañol

[@msawareness ♿️ ♻️🎗️ @MSawarenessIndy]

Chronic Illness #TermOfTheDay

- COGNITIVE HEALTH -
Source: https://t.co/CESZejoBgS

[Autoimmune List @AutoimmuneList]

The relationship between autoimmune disorders and intracranial aneurysms in East Asian and European populations: a bidirectional and multivariable two-sample Mendelian randomization study https://t.co/g6NiecWgCO

[Autoimmune Chat @AutoimmuneChat]

@Fatigo_MECFS There does seem to be more in the mainstream press which is good. Sadly generally not with positive stories though - but hopefully it will help shift the needle & raise awareness. May also be indirectly due to #LongCovid

[Autoimmune Chat @AutoimmuneChat]

Can you imagine having a disease where there is no treatment, no hope, little help and tons of misunderstanding? That's the reality of #ME
#MECFS #autoimmunedisease

[Carole Bruce @CaroleBruce17]

“I exist but I don’t live and this condition has become unbearable to me and has been for a long time now, to the point where I want to end my life.”
#ME #MyalgicE #MedTwitter https://t.co/xGVbssHRwJ

[Psoriasis Association @PsoriasisUK]

Being diagnosed with #PsoriaticArthritis can be confusing and worrying. For someone who has just been diagnosed, it may raise a lot of questions about the condition.

Do you have any advice you can share? Drop your tips below.