The story of Christa
I was raised by a mother with 3 autoimmune diseases. In my late 30s, right after she passed, I started getting sick. I was lucky because I was a nurse and my doctor was a personal friend. In 9 months I saw a dermatologist, hematologist, cardiologist, neurologist and an ENT with no answers. With a final round of labs I had an elevated inflammatory profile so he sent me to a rheumatologist. Her first words were “You have something but I need more tests to get the answers.” She got those answers in 1 week. Wegners Disease (that’s what it was originally called). I immediately started high dose steroids and litany of cancer drugs to suppress my immune system to keep it from attacking. I have now been diagnosed with interstitial cystitis, sjogrens disease and fibromyalgia. The treatment is almost as bad as the disease. Multiple other problems have arisen from these medications. I worked until age 42 and had to quit. Hard to be a nurse with no immune system.
When I said it was a family affair I literally meant it. My mom had RA, IS & Sjgrens like me. After my diagnosis my oldest brother was diagnosed with RA. My youngest son was diagnosed at 15 with Ulcerative Colitis and Vitiligo. We just have the genetic jackpot.
I am now considered in remission because I have stable labs and I take no treatment medication. I spend most of my days with my dog. My husband and I are empty nesters so I do dog shows with my Catahoula leopard dog named Canella.