Scleroderma is a rare disease, so a health the June awareness month is a great way to share information. An autoimmune disease with treatment, but no cure, Scleroderma affects about 300,000 people in the United States.

Scleroderma means hard skin and affects the connective tissues leading to inflation, scars and thickening of skin. The most common areas of  skin that are affected are the of elbows, fingers and face. If this disease is diagnosed in its early stages, there is less damage and less serious symptoms. It is important to know the symptoms of Scleroderma because as with many autoimmune diseases, diagnosis can be difficult.

Symptoms

• Skin changes – swollen fingers and hands, puffy skin, thick patches of skin, especially on the fingers, tight skin around the hands, face or mouth. Skin may look shiny, and movement may be restricted.
• Raynaud’s phenomenon – the small blood vessels in the hands and feet are affected by cold or stress, which causes numbness, pain and/or red, blue or purple skin.
• Red spots on the fingers, palms, face, lips, or tongue.
• Loss of the skin’s ability to stretch.
• Itchy skin.
• Fingers are curled.
• Digestive problems – heartburn, GERD, or trouble swallowing food.
• Fatigue.

Types of Scleroderma

Children can develop Scleroderma and it most often Localized, which means it only affects the skin. The most common symptoms of Localized Scleroderma are Morphea, which are oval shaped skin patches that have a purple border and white middle and Linear Scleroderma, which are bands of hardened skin usually on one side of the body.

Systemic Scleroderma affects your skin, blood vessels and internal organs. It occurs suddenly and can get worse quickly within the first two years. There are subcategories of Systemic Scleroderma depending on what area of the body is affected.

Diagnosis

Blood work, biopsies and a thorough skin assessment are some of the tests done to help diagnose this disease.

Treatment

Scleroderma is treated with various types of medications depending on the area of the body or the organs affected and physical therapy. Sometime surgery is necessary.

Share the Information

Spread the word and raise awareness by sharing this post, by liking the Scleroderma Foundation page on Facebook and by sharing your story if you have been diagnosed with this disease or know someone who has.

Learn more about Scleroderma from the Scleroderma Foundation.

Is it possible to get pain relief when you have Fibromyalgia? I wondered that when I was first diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Finally I had an answer to why I hurt so much all of the time, but my next question to my rheumatologist was, “Can you cure me?” I guess he was used to hearing this quite often, so he  explained that he could help me relieve the pain, but that there is no cure to this disease.

He uses various forms of Fibromyalgia Treatments, but first he had to know more about the pain I had and other symptoms. Because I have other medical conditions, he had to take those into consideration with his treatment too. He asked me detailed questions about where I felt pain in my body and the type of pain and when I had it. He asked about headaches, memory problems, feelings of sadness or anxiety and stomach issues.

He also took blood work to test for autoimmune diseases, arthritis and to check my blood count, etc. My treatment wasn’t decided upon in one day, or even one year. He treats me depending on how my symptoms act up and if there are any changes.

Basically though, my pain relief comes in the form of prescription medications and trigger point injections. My doctor also recommends stretching and other mild forms of exercise, relieving stress, and joining a support group.  He had prescribed pain medication in the past, but I no longer use it. I’d rather be alert and feel some pain, than feel drugged and not be able to enjoy my life.

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

June is Myasthenia Gravis Awareness month and for 2011, the  main focus is “Uniting for a Cure… Together we are Stronger.” The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America is asking us to help share information about this disease and to help find better treatment and ultimately a cure.

As someone who has had Myasthenia Gravis for 8 years, I’m always willing to do what I can to help this organization. Plus, since I know that even medical personnel often do not know what MG is, awareness is very important. In fact it can save lives. When someone with MG goes into a crisis, they may not be able to speak or let anyone know what is happening with them. Everyone from first responders to surgeons needs to recognize the symptoms of Myasthenia Gravis, how to treat someone in crisis and what medications can help or harm.

I’ve written about what my life is like with Myasthenia Gravis. It gives you a picture of some symptoms people may experience. I hope that you’ll take the time to read it.

The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America describes MG as:

Myasthenia gravis means “grave muscle weakness.” MG affects voluntary muscles such as those in the arms, legs, eyelids, mouth and those muscles used for breathing; the disease is characterized by general fatigue. Currently, there is no cure for MG, but there are effective treatments.

My first symptom of having MG was a droopy eyelid, which quickly moved to weakness in other parts of my body. I have had a thymectomy within the first 6 months of being diagnosed. I take Mestinon and Cellcept and am seen by a neurologist who specializes in MG through the MDA. I have good days and bad days and have learned my limits. Some days I need to use a scooter to get around, some days I can walk around a shopping mall. The heat of Florida does a number on me, so I stay indoors often, or go out in the evening.

MGFA’s mission is to find a cure for myasthenia gravis and closely related diseases, to improve treatment options and provide information and support to people with myasthenia gravis through research, education, community programs and advocacy.

Please support Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month by sharing this post, by volunteering, by making a donation, and by being an advocate.

The National Women’s Checkup Day webcast will be held Monday, May 9th, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. PST / 7:00 p.m. EST on Ustream. Hosted by Monistat, Beverly Hills OB/GYN Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz will answer common women’s health questions and will also discuss the recent results from a Monistat survey.

If you have a question that you’re too embarrassed to ask your gynecologist, here’s your chance! Just send an email to nwhw@hunterpr.com and Dr. Gilberg-Lenz just may answer it during the live webcast on National Women’s Checkup Day. You’re not alone if you’re not asking. According to Monistat’s survey, “32 percent of women are not proactively asking their gynecologist a single question about their health.”

The ninth annual National Women’s Checkup Day is the same day as the webcast, during National Women’s Health Week. This day is dedicated to promoting women to get regular checkups for the early detection of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, mental health illnesses, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and other conditions.

When you receive a screening test, such as a mammogram and Pap test, diseases are found early, when they are easier to treat.  Tests and checkups can also lower the risk of health conditions. So tune into the National Women’s Checkup Day webcast hosted by Monistat  (you can click on Join Crowd to get an email reminder) and take the pledge to schedule a checkup and get important screenings, learn what screenings and immunizations I need and when, and schedule at least one health screening during May 2011.

Many women are affected by ovarian cysts. Some woman have them without even knowing about it, while others suffer from them. They can occur at any age, but only after menstruation has started. An ovarian cyst that doesn’t cause pain or any other symptoms needs no treatment and disappears on its own. Others are painful, can become large and/or can become filled with body tissue.

There are many forms of ovarian cyst treatment. Treatment depends on the severity of symptoms and the type of cyst present. Some of the treatments include:

• pain medication
• birth control pills
• surgery to remove the cyst
• monitoring the cyst by ultrasound

A very different type of treatment is the Ovarian Cyst Miracle Cure – an ebook written by a nutritionist, who provides a series of steps to treat cysts naturally. You can learn more about this book by reading the ovarian cyst miracle review.

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

The MDA has equipment loan closets available to patients with referrals from MDA doctors. The MDA used to provide durable medical equipment for free, with some monetary limits, but now loans used equipment instead.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association accepts donations of gently used equipment (shower chairs, hospital beds, patient lifts, walkers and canes, communication devices, wheelchairs, scooters, etc.) and even makes some repairs if needed. When an MDA patient is prescribed medical equipment by an MDA doctor, the local office makes use of their database to locate the needed item if possible.

MDA staff can also assist with the purchase of durable medical equipment. When insurance doesn’t cover the purchase of these items, it is best to go through the Muscular Dystrophy staff for recommendations before you make a purchase on your own. They are aware of companies that may provide discounts, work with other organizations to get funding and have a good reputation.

The MDA equipment loan closet is also open to people who travel. Again, contact your local clinic to get information on this service. To find your local clinic, call (800) 572-1717.