<p>ek4 - didn’t want to hijack the other thread that diverged to breastfeeding, so I’m starting this one. A new study came out today suggesting a correlation between lower RA rates in moms who breastfed longer vs. those who did so less than 13 months.</p>
<p>My mom had RA something vicious, and each of my three brothers have had serious bouts with gout (more commonly associated with men who have RA history in their families), so it’s something I’ve been very, very frightened of. My mom was diagnosed in her early 50s, and since I’m not even there yet, I worry a lot. But she was also a smoker and had a hysterectomy in her early 40s, so her immune system and body in general had other issues to deal with at a younger age than I do (she also had a silent heart attack in her mid 50s). Anyway, while I know breastfeeding lowers incidences of many diseases and illnesses in mothers and children, I know it doesn’t guarantee I won’t get RA; but maybe if I’m doomed to get it, it will be a less severe case, and maybe not so young. </p>
<p>I also read in the tattoo thread that you’re a massage therapist; I get regular massages (every two weeks), with hopes of maintaining a stronger immune system. A good massage therapist is God’s gift to humans! I used to get sick a lot… mostly sinus infections, strep, etc. While there’s no way to determine which change in lifestyle has impacted my improved health over the past six to seven years, I suspect it was a combination of my kids getting older (minimizing the walking petri dishes in our household), my regular massages, and/or my entry into the health profession which led to my education on the impact of good hand washing. But it’s good to know that I’m protecting myself in many ways, having nursed my children for as long as I did.</p>
<p>my neighbor has recently been diagnosed with RA - it is amazing have fast the decline has been for her…I was hoping you had something for her to do now - she has exercised, doesn’t smoke etc and is in great pain now…been to Mayo several times for treatment etc…</p>
<p>There was a lot of RA in my father’s family, and while he suffered with it for over 20 years, it was the resulting pulmonary fibrosis that was the cause of his death in March. I’ve been on the look-out in myself, and having been the only person I know who’s ever experienced gout, I’ve been assuming I am the prime candidate in my generation. So it’s good news to read that nursing may offer some protection. Both my kids self-weaned, one at 13 months and the other at 11 months; I wonder if I’m entitled to the full benefit having nursed one of the two for that length of time?</p>
<p>mootmom, I haven’t read the study, but I imagine that it is the total length of breastfeeding that counts - 24 months in your case. I hope that you escape it. We have various autoimmune diseases in my family, including one awful Lupus-like condition that made my sister’s life miserable until she died at 32. </p>
<p>I’m wondering what exactly gout is, and what the symptoms are. I was under the impression that it did not exist any more.</p>
<p>I can attest to this, and it is so very weird! All of a sudden, you can’t even put “the lightest sheet” on your big toe (that’s where one is most commonly affected) without screaming in pain. It’s the weirdest thing. And excruciating indeed.</p>
<p>mootmom - I know my brothers are totally incapacitated when they have an attack; I’ve heard stories of them having to cut their socks off because removing them causes too much pain. There’s no good answer to this question, but if this kind of autoimmune disorder runs in families and you knew you were going to get it, would you prefer the gout or the RA? I also wonder if the breastfeeding protects against gout on the same level that it protects against RA. I also remember hearing that avoiding certain foods can decrease the likelihood of gout attacks, so it seems as if there’s more of an ability to keep it under control.</p>