Autoimmune Disease

A person may have more than one autoimmune disorder at the same time. Examples of autoimmune or related) disorders include:

* Hashimoto's thyroiditis
* Pernicious anemia
* Addison's disease
* Type I diabetes
* Rheumatoid arthritis
* Systemic lupus erythematosus
* Dermatomyositis
* Sjogren syndrome
* Lupus erythematosus
* Multiple sclerosis
* Myasthenia gravis
* Reactive arthritis
* Grave's disease
* Celiac disease - sprue

Signs and symptoms of autoimmune disease can vary widely and depends on the specific disease. Some symptoms that often accompany autoimmune diseases, and may include:


* Pain
* Dizziness
* Fatigue
* General ill-feeling
* Low-grade fever

What Is An Autoimmune Diseases?

The body has an immune system, it is supposed to protect us from disease and infection. When you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system is attacking itself by mistake, then you can get sick. Connective tissue in your body can be affected by autoimmune disease. Connective tissue, is tissue that binds together body tissues and organs. The disease also can affect other parts of your body, like your nerves, muscles, endocrine system (system that directs your body’s hormones and other chemicals), and digestive system.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a disease that leads to blurry, distorted vision and blindness. It occurs when diabetes weakens blood vessels inside your eye. These weak vessels leak fluid into an area of the eye called the retina. New, distorted vessels may grow, then bleed. These vessels can damage areas of the retina, causing vision loss.

Symptoms

You can have diabetic retinopathy without knowing it. Usually, there is no pain and no outward sign. Over time, you may notice gradual blurring or some vision loss. Symptoms may come and go. If diabetic retinopathy is severe, you may have clouded vision or blindness.

Control

It is up to you. You can control diabetes through diet, exercise, and medicine. These same steps may help control diabetic retinopathy. So can treating other health problems that make this disease worse. Have an eye exam every year or as often as your doctor suggest. If you notice your vision getting worse, call your doctor right away.

If you would like more information, just copy and paste or type "diabetic retinopathy", into the Amazon search box at the right.

Some Symptoms Of Diabetes

Diabetes increases the glucose level in the blood, resulting in hyperglycemia. You may notice that you are constantly thirsty and frequently have to urinate. Other common symptoms of increased glucose level in the blood are listed below.

* Frequent urination
* Excessive thirst
* Unexplained Weight loss
* Increased appetite
* Fatigue, irritability
* Dizziness, lightheadedness
* Blurry vision
* Tingling or numbness in hands and feet
* Urinary infections
* Vaginal yeast infections

Why The Pain

Pain has been given the short end of the stick in the medical schools. Many medical students are not taught how to manage it. Some doctors underestimate how much pain people are in. As a result, people are suffering unnecessarily.

Pain affects people physically and mentally. It can slow healing, depress the immune system, deplete stamina, interfere with sleep, and dull the appetite. It can boost stress and cause anxiety and depression. Doctors who treat pain seriously do more than make people comfortable. They also improve patients' overall health.


The goal of making pain a fifth vital sign is not just to record its intensity. Rather, it's a starting point for managing pain. Once your doctor knows you are in pain, he or she can take steps to relieve it.

Pain Relief Medicines

Pain medicines work a number of different ways to relieve the pain. Some examples of these medicines are:

* Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS): reduce swelling, inflammation, and soreness. Effective for mild to moderate pain. Can cause stomach problems or interfere with blood clotting. (Examples are: aspirin, ibuprofen).

* Opioids (narcotics): used for sort-term, acute pain. Work by blocking the pain pathways to the brain. Effective for severe pain. Side effects may include drowsiness, nausea, constipation, itching, and interference with breathing or urination. (Examples are: Morphine, Dilaudid, and Percocet).

* Local anesthetics: given near the pain or through a small tube in the back. They work by temporarily blocking the nerves that transmit pain signals. Can cause weakness in the legs or dizziness.

Earache Pain Soother

To ease or stop the pain of an earache, heat an onion half in a microwave for 2 minutes, or until warm but not hot. Wrap it in a soft cloth or paper towel, apply the flat side to your ear and hold for 15 minutes. The heated vegetable emits sulfur, an anti-inflammatory gas that easily penetrates the ear canal to relieve pressure and pain.

I haven't tried this, but I think I will, because I have earaches sometimes. I have a neighbor who swears by this.

How You Can Help Manage Your Pain

Here are some ways to help you manage your pain.

1.Talk with your doctors and nurses about:
* How much pain to expect with your condition, and how long it should last.
* Pain control methods that have or have not worked for you in the past.
* Any allergies you may have to medicines.
* Any medicines you take for other health problems. Some medicines cannot be taken together.
* Any possible side effects to pain medicines, such as constipation, which is common with pain medicines.

2. Use a pain scale of 1 to 10, when describing you pain. The least pain being 1 and the worst pain being 10.

3. Take pain medicine when pain first begins. Relief is easier to obtain if acted upon early. If you know your pain will worsen when you do something specific (such as walking, washing up, or coughing) take pain medicine first.

4. Since many pain medicines can make you drowsy and slow your reflexes, avoid driving or doing anything that requires concentration if you are taking pain medications with this side effect.

Manage Pain

What can be done to manage pain? Pain can be managed with medications or with other methods that do not require medications, such as:

* Physical therapy or massage therapy.
* Acupressure or acupuncture.
* Slow rhythmic breathing.
* Distraction, such as watching TV or listening to soft music.
* Ice or heat to the painful area.
* Mild exercises such as walking.
* Prayer or medication.

What is Pain

Pain is you body's way of sending a message to your brain that an injury has occurred , such as surgery, a broken bone, a migraine, etc. The message travels along your spinal cord to your brain through special nerve pathways. Pain medicine blocks these messages or reduces their effect on you brain.

Unrelieved pain caused the body to release certain chemicals that may actually delay healing, so it can be important to work with your doctor to control pain.