So stress really can cause flares???

[im so blessed]

Over the years i have often wonder what brings on my flares. They are so annoying. Seems like they just kinda smolder. This is my longest remission- 3 years. Since being dxed in 2001 they come every 12-18 months.
I was raised in a very close knit family. I have 6 brothers and 1 sister. Several of them have very emotionally stressful family situations. I tend to get very pulled into them and it REALLY stresses me out....and so im just wondering. Im not sure what the answer would be as we all live within 30 miles of each other. Lol Im sure all of you have stress in your life...maybe i just dont know how to handle it. What are your thots?

[annekat]

Over the years i have often wonder what brings on my flares. They are so annoying. Seems like they just kinda smolder. This is my longest remission- 3 years. Since being dxed in 2001 they come every 12-18 months.
I was raised in a very close knit family. I have 6 brothers and 1 sister. Several of them have very emotionally stressful family situations. I tend to get very pulled into them and it REALLY stresses me out....and so im just wondering. Im not sure what the answer would be as we all live within 30 miles of each other. Lol Im sure all of you have stress in your life...maybe i just dont know how to handle it. What are your thots? I have no doubt that stress causes flares. It is one of those things that people tend to doubt, because "everyone has stress". But observing my own situation from day to day, and when symptoms worsen or settle down, it is definitely an observable phenomenon. I hope others can agree with me on this.

[Dirty Don]

Stress does cause flares...I'm pretty sure that's what initiated my first flare. My inability to mourn my mother's death over a period of time along with some other influential causes is what set me off. I don't recommend WG for getting over emotional trauma, but WG does thrive on it. I also take Lexapro (very good and effective for panic/anxiety) and it doesn't interfere with my life and I get along fine. Best to you.

[annekat]

I have had fairly minor but not insignificant flares the last two winters. The holidays are a stressful time for me, and January through March are not a piece of cake. Right now my inflammation level is "normal", the lowest it's been since dx, and I'm trying to keep on an even keel so things don't escalate again. Although I was sick for 2.5 years before dx, things escalated in the winter of 2011 when my dad was going downhill and it didn't look like he'd make it. He died a couple of weeks before my dx. I hadn't really thought of that connection until now.

[Jaypfei]

My personal experience is yes. I went back to work two weeks after being dx'd and getting out of the hospital. It was like clockwork; every 6 mos. I would relapse. Finally, August of last year when the disease was coming back again, my Dr suggested that maybe I should stop working. Give myself a rest. It took two more Rituxan infusions, but I finally achieved a medicated remission last May. I also believe it was aided by not having the stress from my job. I hate that I had to stop working, but I certainly don't miss my managements BS. I'm much calmer and pleasant.

[NikkiNicole]

Stress causes an inflammatory response so absolutely! I just got some blood work back and I had a high amount of neutrophils in my white blood cell count which is an indicator of stress and inflammation somewhere but my CRP was just the high end of normal so I am OK there.
Absolutely. Stress is Cancer's candy, why wouldn't it be a candy to Wegeners?

[jakekell]

I have no doubt that stress flares us. I can feel the changes shortly after a stressful situation. A year ago after having kids/grandkids/great-grandkids in stressful situations my husband and have a new saying "NOT MY CIRCUS NOT MY MONKEY!" We can't really fix other peoples problems of course we help at times, however we are no longer allowing ourselves to get sucked into others drama. My body can't handle it and even though my husband is very healthy his body doesn't need it. Our family is pretty average with the issues so can't image out the box stress I wouldn't make it lol!

Mary

[annekat]

I agree, it doesn't take long for the effects of stress to start... a little blood in the nose, more mucus and coughing, watery eyes, red dots on forearm, that sort of thing. This can happen in a matter of hours and can also disappear pretty fast once the stress is relieved.

[jakekell]

Yes I have had it happen in as little as 15 mins after the stress especially my left eye begins to water. I find it just saps my energy as if I have all that much to begin with. My family has been great about not including me in the latest issues with kid since we talked to them about what the stress was doing to me. I am so glad I no longer have to deal with it at work.

[mrtmeo]

Stress can cause cytokine storms which do much of the damage in diseases and injuries.

[Jaha]

My experience with a stress episode, caused my sed rate to go from 20 to 67 within 2 days, after getting really agitated with my mother. My doc was really amazed at how elevated it got in that short period of time. It ended up throwing me into a flare. I now try really hard not to get that agitated about anything anymore, it's really hard to do. When I was working my sed rate was always elevated into the 40's and sometimes 50's. Stress is really bad for any chronic illness.

[NicShaf]

From what I've experienced, extreme stress causes my Wegs to flare. The most recent example that comes to mind is when my husband and I were buying our house. I was still on Mtx and Pred, and after one deal falling through, and us temporarily losing some down payment money that got tied up in an escrow account, I was stressed beyond belief. That was the first time in almost a year that my ANCA's started to rise again, and I felt terrible. My doc increased my pred by 5mg, and after our house buying experience was over, my blood work went back to normal and I continued to taper Pred and Mtx. So, the short answer to your question, yes, I definately think stress can trigger Wegs.

[Pierre42]

Pardon my stating the obvious, but I feel it needs to be spelled out.

Modern Science has shown that stress impacts your immune response in a variety of ways - none of which are good for you.

Anyone suffering from an autoimmune condition should do what they can to reduce their stress levels, because "more stress is bad, in a _probably_killing _you_ kind of way".

... My News is always good , for all values of good==well behaved ...

[jakekell]

I think we all become so conditioned to our situations that we don't always realize all the cause/effect issues. When something as drastic as WGs comes into our lives we start looking at some of the many thing we may have passed over before. Yes modern Science has shown us the impacts of stress and like many things in life everyone doesn't come to conclusions at one time. This is a learning process for most people, as life is a journey. WGs has given us a tough journey and we tend to learn more about our bodies all the time.

While you may be stating what seems obvious, however maybe not to everyone. Things in life dawn on us at different times so this site helps when we share our experiences. I have been aware for a long time that stress is bad, however it took awhile to admit the impact on me with this lovely disease.

[freakyschizogirl]

I believe stress and unhappy work life has caused my current flare although I have to say I was extremely stressed last year too and remained in remission.
2013 I moved my job, moved towns, had a car accident, planned a wedding, lost money, hated my job, stressed to the gills, family dramas, worrying about health and money and family, PLANNING A WEDDING! Looked for another job, moved back to my mums and started a new job. And I didn't flare!??

2014 has been another hectic year but its mainly been work that I've had issues, I was bitten by a child and had to have anti biotics/ HEP B booster, more attacks from children, stress at work, feeling isolated, being forced to see occupational health, stress stress stress, moved house, worried about my health, hubby's health, mum's health and my sister got diagnosed with Lupus this year.

I think overall last year was just as stressful but then I had the good mixed in.

When I flared this year I took the hint and have handed my notice in at work. I have a new job starting in the new year which isn't so full on but is a 20 mile commute.

[jakekell]

Wow that is a lot of stress and I am surprised your body held up through the first year then just couldn't handle anymore. What kind work do you do with kids? I have had over time learn to manage my stress, fix what I can then let the rest go.

[NicShaf]

Pardon my stating the obvious, but I feel it needs to be spelled out.

Modern Science has shown that stress impacts your immune response in a variety of ways - none of which are good for you.

Anyone suffering from an autoimmune condition should do what they can to reduce their stress levels, because "more stress is bad, in a _probably_killing _you_ kind of way".

... My News is always good , for all values of good==well behaved ...

Pierre42,
You have a point. Any stress that can be eliminated from ones life is a step towards being healthier. However, life is just not that simple. Not all stressful situations are bad. The body can't always tell the difference between bad stress, from work or otherwise; and what I'll call "good stress" for lack of a better term, for say an upcoming event in ones life that is anxiously looked forward to.

I think the best we can all do is learn what is best for us and listen to our own bodies responses.