mixed connective tissue disease?

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Can someone lead a normal life- have a normal life span with mctd? Thanks
Yes, it's possible depending on what organ systems are actively affected and how bad. It's an autoimmune inflammatory process, so may need frequent/ongoing immunosuppressive/modulating therapy.  (+ info)

For anyone who has Mixed Connective Tissue Disease or Lupus...do you get swollen glands??

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Painful or Painless (which for you??)
I have Systemic Lupus--the kind that is really serious--and yes I do have swollen glands alot. I think it has alot to do with the immune system being so degraded. Mine aren't always painful, or maybe I've just gotten used to it. I do know that my diet plays a big part in how I feel, and so does how much sun I've been exposed to.
I hope this helps you. Take care!!  (+ info)

What is Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease in lamens terms?

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I'm going with my girl friend to the doctor and I want to ask some questions about this disease but dont' know what to ask?
It means that they know it is a connective tissue disease, but don't know which one because it isn't fitting all the criteria at this point. You might want to ask what will happen next in the course of the disease, about complications, etc. Looking up the different CTDs might give you more of an idea what to ask.

"Many connective-tissue diseases (CTDs) share common signs and symptoms, which frequently makes the diagnosis of a specific rheumatic disease difficult. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (SSc), polymyositis (PM), dermatomyositis (DM), mixed connective-tissue disease (MCTD), and Sjögren syndrome (SS) can present with similar clinical features, particularly during the first 12 months of symptoms. Isolated Raynaud phenomenon, inflammatory polyarthritis, anemia, interstitial lung disease, or pleuropericarditis may occur without an obvious diagnosis. Screening serology findings, such as rheumatoid factor (RF) or antinuclear antibody (ANA), may be positive or negative under these clinical circumstances.

However, well-established connective-tissue diseases have defined, discrete diagnostic criteria. Patients who present with symptoms, positive serology results, or physical findings consistent with an established connective-tissue disease but not fulfilling classification criteria for one of these established connective-tissue diseases are diagnosed with undifferentiated connective-tissue disease (UCTD). UCTD is a relatively new entity, suggested by LeRoy et al in 1980. The definition of UCTD is still under debate, although it is becoming more clear. Mosca et al recently reviewed UCTD literature and proposed that preliminary classification criteria include (1) signs and symptoms suggestive of a connective-tissue disease, (2) positive ANA results, and (3) a disease that lasts at least 3 years."  (+ info)

Thyroid disease and now connective tissue disease as well, what's going on?

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I've had Hashimoto's thyroiditis for 4 years, now the doctor says I have an undifferentiated connective tissue disease as well. What could that turn out to be? Does this mean my immune system is getting worse?

Can multiple auto-immune diseases be a result of stress or just bad luck? Or something else?
Those are two auto-immune diseases - where your immune system mistakenly attacks things in your body. Unfortunately, if you have one auto-immune disease, you are at a much higher risk of getting another one. They can tend to come in clusters. It doesn't mean your immune system is getting worse, it just means you are someone who is more likely to develop autoimmune disorders than other people.  (+ info)

This is a question for a medical person. I have a connective tissue disease, called Lupus. ?

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I thought I had fatty tumors growing under my skin in and around the abdomen, hips and back area, so I went to a surgeon who told me that they could not be removed because they were not tumors:however, it was fatty tissue;a precursor from the disease and could not be removed through liposuction. Is this true, even though they are starting to be painful in hip area and lower abdomen?

Maggie
I've been in the Lupus community for the last 25 years and I've heard a lot of things but never about this. It is very possible that it is part of Discoid Lupus (skin lupus) but unless they did a biopsy they wouldn't be able to diagnose this. I've heard of nodules on the joints from damage to them. The funny thing about Lupus is that it is systemic, it can do pretty much anything to any part of the body. How long ago were you diagnosed with Lupus? Which form of the disease do you have, ie Systemic or Discoid. Other than your skin are there any other organs involved? If you do, infact have Lupus (an auto immune disease that can affect the connective tissue...not really a connective tissue disease).  (+ info)

Does connective tissue disease mean you cant tone?

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Supposivly I have this. But that can mean anything. I have a hard time keeping muscle though I notice though I work out. Could it be that?
connective tissue diseases are a very big category .but something in general they consume more protein and cause muscular atrophy because the chronic nature of the disease and effects on the articular and locomotor functions ,they are recommended to take a higher protein intake because of this  (+ info)

I was recently diagnosed with mixed connectived tissue disease, should I apply for disability?

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I was recently diagnosed with mixed connectived tissue disease... should I apply for disability??? I have some good days when I feel okay but not myself... and there is a lot of days when I feel tire fatigue, hurting and in pain a lot... what should I do?? My doctor is still doing test and thinks that I can still work... I am currently a CNA... in a nursing home... What should I do???What kind of sound advice can you give me...
  (+ info)

83.Explain why drugs used to treat connective tissue diseases are not used to treat immunosuppressive disease?

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be detailed please.
Connective tissue diseases such as Lupus or rheumatoid arthritis feature abnormal immune system response that then reacts with the collagen and elastin in the joints. Treatments then work to suppress the immune system to stop the damage in the joints. One example of this is Etanercept (Enbrel) which is indicated for psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. This specific drug mediates the immune response
by inhibiting TNF activity through competitively binding to it and thus preventing interaction with cell surface reactors. This shuts down inflammation.

In patients with immunosuppressive disease turning down inflammation in compromised patients would mean there would be no defense against foreign bodies.   (+ info)

What is a mixed connective tissue disorder?

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this is any one of a group of diseases that are characterised by inflammatory changes in connective tissue. these include dermatomyositis, systemic and discoid lupus and rheumatoid arthritis  (+ info)

Connective tissue disease.. Am I going to be okay? What is it?

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Okay so I have been having severe pain in my right wrist for about 10 months now. My mobility in the wrist is definitley limited and it was thought to be RA. My DR finally decided to test me for it and found out that the RA came back negative however I have a connective tissue disease. Can someone please explain this to me? I am very worried and just wonder about basic life functions and etc. Am I going to be okay?
There are several ctd's. They are disorders not diseases which mean they are made up of groups of characteristics/symptoms.

Some names you can look up are Marfan Syndrome, Ehlos-danlos, beals, MASS, Loeys-Dietz and there are many more. Or easier may be to take a list of symptoms you have and see what the computer gives you. Symptoms can be anything from crowded teeth, a pectus going in or out, long limbs, mitral valve prolapse etc. most are possible in the general public but the grouping is what makes it a syndrome.

Will you be ok? Usually if you find out what is wrong and monitor regularly life can be close to normal with today's technology. I'd suggest you find an actual ctd clinic and be careful of what any doctor says without a second opinion as most can't stay up-to-date on all (or any sometimes) ctd's. There are several support groups online also where you can talk to people, but some have better information than others and some are kinder than others. You also might check marfan.org which does support other ctd's than just Marfan as much as possible.  (+ info)

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