by Mandie Finley

Created on: May 03, 2008

When my thirteen year old daughter was five, the Doctor told me that she suffered from JRA. After all the screaming for hours through the night from joint pain, now she has ARTHRITIS? So of course I looked up everything I could find on the disease. When children or adults suffer from Arthritis it affects every part of the body. If it is in only one or two joints, the pain will stay in those joints. The swelling and tiredness are your major concerns.

Now, if you have arthritis in more than two joints, it affects your entire body. Arthritis can affect your Kidneys, liver, and other major organs. It can go as far as shutting them all down without the proper care. As for your immune system, your immune system is broken down into four levels called compliments. When I took my daughter to see the Specialists, they explained that she did not have Arthritis. I was so relieved, until they told me that she has a low C-4 compliment level. Which is the beginning of Arthritis and would have the same symptoms. Without the side affects. Except the tiredness, joint pain, and the immune deficiency. So of course, I tried to find information on this new problem. NONE!

The Doctor had to explain to us that your immune system has these four levels. When one of the levels is low or compromised it effects the entire system. Without the proper diet and vitamins, you will continuously get sick. That not a lot of research has been done to solve this problem or come up with a way to help. The best advice he could give us was on shoes, diet, and to keep her away from sick people. Every year our daughter gets Strep four to five times a year. Urinary Tract infections, Ear infections, and Bronchitis. Where the rest of our children get aches, and colds. If she doesn't eat the proper diet and get the right amount of sleep, her immune system weakens. She could end up in the hospital or even worse get the start of Lupus.

A simple blood test can reveal if you have Arthritis or just a low compliment level. But either way, remember to eat foods high in Anti-oxidants and Iron. Take your vitamins and get a lot of sleep. All of these were pieces of useful advice for helping us keep our daughters immune system from getting any worse. Arthritis can reek havoc on your immune system if you don't help keep it strong.

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