Is it passed down

petals

My 27 yrs old daughter has been experiencing problems with her hands and feet over the past year. Firstly the skin on her hands became very dry and scaley, her finger tips were very sensitive to heat ie. if she put her hands into warm (not hot) water then it would feel scaulding to her. This sensation would last for about 3 weeks and then the skin on her hands would become so tight and and inflamed it felt like it was going to split open.

Ater a few weeks symptems dissapeared and all was well for a few weeks then it began all over again and involved her feet also.

She as been to see GP on several occasions and he has been puzzled as to what it may be. He has however suggested an auto immune problem.

Is auto immune disease passed down through the family and can it menifest in different ways, ie in my case RA and her case is problems with her skin.

I know this is a long shot but has anyone experienced anything similar

She is currently awaiting the results of blood tests but is suffering with a very painful eppisode at the moment. Also she has a 3 month old baby to care for so she is having to immerse her hands in a lot of water at the moment which is not helping.

Thanks for reading Petals x

cakegirl

All I can say in my experience is that my Nan (Mum's Mum) had really bad RA, now I have it (since 24)...

The consultant I spoke to said it can be hereditary, however, I'm not sure on your daughters problem, sorry not much help, just wanted to let you know I am thinking of your daughter as looking after children is difficult enough without anything else going on.

Big Hugs xxxx

petals

Thank you cakegirl,

Yes she is struggling at the moment and she also has an 18 month old to look after. She is a good girl though, she is not a comlainer and just gets on with things.

I am hopeing that it is just something that can be 'cured' and not a life sentence as in RA.

Petals x

CJHunter

Hi Petals, as May's (kellerman) post re :guilt says she proves genes are a factor in getting these conditions.
My dad had psoriasis and so do I, he has P.A and i was diagnosed with it many years ago.

It could be a hormonal thing, has doc tested this or has she been refered to dermatology, I have seen peoople in the derm clinics with tight dry raw skin im no doc but maybe its worth her asking.

Good luck with that.xx

lindalegs

Hi Petals,

From what I understand the faulty gene can be passed down but you won't necessarily pass it on or even get arthritis even if you have the faulty gene there has to be other trigger factors too.

Women are more prone than men because it's oestrogen based.

My grandma had RA, my mum had OA but her brothers were fine. I come from a family of five, three brothers and a sister. my brothers too are arthritis free but my sister has Lupus and I have RA.

My grandma's trigger factor was the menopause and mine was childbirth so for us it was the big hormone swing but I also understand trauma or accident or even a virus can set off the faulty gene.

Hope this helps.

Luv,

petals

Thanks everyone for replying,

Linda you may have hit on something there regarding the hormones and trigger factors. Her first 'eppisode' occured around the time she became pregnant with the new baby.

She has not yet been referred as the GP is awaiting results of the blood test. I feel for her as she is now stressing about her proposed return to work in early March after her maternity leave. She works in the catering industry and so once again lots of hand washing involved.

I pray this can be sorted for her as finances dictate that she is unable to be a stay at home mum.

Petals

dreamdaisy

Arthritis and other auto-immune conditions run in families because the faulty genes are passed on: whether they are triggered or not is another issue. My mother's family had a history of eczema and asthma, fortunately she missed those dodgy bullets but both hit me and have greatly enriched my life. :roll: My Dad had touches of psoriasis in later life but that was it (his youngest brother, however, is another Singing Detective). Daddy's dodgy genes met those of my mum and here I am with PsA and resultant OA. It's a lottery about who gets what and how badly. Some lotteries are worth winning, this one wasn't. DD

petals

i guess that's answered my question then, yes definately passed down and not necessarily in the same form.

Oh lordy, i think I must have got it from my Mum then. She had a slight touch of OA in her wrists and thumbs. We just thought it was an old age thing, however, when she went on to develop cancer, her immune system went bonkers and attacked her nervouse system which rendered her paralised from the neck down in a short space of time. Sadly she passed away 6 months ago. She never did regain the use of her poor old body.

This is a horrid disease, I wish they would find the answer.

Thanks DD

Petals x

tillytop

Hello Petals

My understanding is that there is a genetic link and I have met a number of people with close relatives who all have RA. Although I am not aware of anyone in my recent family history, my mother has always had severe allergies, eczema and allergic asthma which are all immune type things.

I am so sorry about the problems your daughter is having. I have had something similar in the past in terms of my fingertips being outrageously sensitive to hot and cold and I always assumed it was a symptom of the Raynauds disease (which I, thankfully have only very very mildly and which almost never gives me a problem these days). Has your daughter's GP considered Raynauds or Scleroderma do you know? I know little about scleroderma, other than what I have read previously on a Raynauds support site but it definitely mentioned tightening of the skin. Here is the web address for the scleroderma page on The Raynauds and Scleroderma Association website, in case your daughter wants to have a look. http://www.scleroderma.org.uk/scleroderma/scleroderma

Tillyxxx

petals

Thank you Tilly,

I will take a look at the link. I will let you all know how she gets on after the blood test results.

Thanks all

Petals x

julie47

I have read this thread with interest and I too wish they could stop this gene being passed on. Although I am not quite sure who passed it on to me :???: I did have a bit of psoriasis but that cleared up and I developed the Ra after having a child. My parents and grandparents didn't have an auto immune disease.
My dad has arthritis of the spine and neck but it is nothing to do with mine as his was caused by an accident.
Mum has now got arthritis a little in her shoulders.


I do know that my uncle had MS and a few years ago I found out that my auntie and her daughter had developed RA, I also have another cousin who developed it too. (all dads side)
:?: :?: may have been a great great grandparent somewhere eh :?: that started it.
Soooo confusing

Just hope it has stopped at me.

Juliepf x

tkachev

I'd never heard of R.A before my diagnosis but later found out my paternal Grandmother had it 'terribly'. My Daughter was ill recently and the GP seemed uninterested in her pain and fatigue ,until she mentioned my R.A ,as allegedly there is a genetic link. However I have been told that there isn't a link by someone in the medical profession.Mine also started after the birth of my 2nd Son.

Elizabeth x

hileena111

My Dad had psoriasis.......My brother and I both had a touch of it.....not a lot.
My mam has OA and RA...mostly OA so I assume thats where I got this from........I dont know any further back than that and wouldnt like to ask my mam......I donbt want her feeling guilty about me.....to be honest I dont think it has occured to her...shes just upset that my pains started so young. She will be 89 in March and is still going..... living on her own......got one of those attitudes that "everything is doable....it just takes a bit longer"
Love
Hileena

jillyb1

My grandfather had RA , grandma had psoriasis , mother had RA , I 've had RA for 31 years . My 2 sons and my daughter and their spouses have decided not to have any children ; so at least it's stopped in this family ! Jillyb

dreamdaisy

Del, I think the 'thinking' about OA being based on 'wear and tear' is now changing as that too can strike at any age which possibly indicates a genetic factor. Perhaps OA could have two causes - it's a hazard of age but your genetic inheritance could also be a factor. I'm lucky, I know why I have my OA! DD

hileena111

Yep I know why I have my OA........docs reckon its been passed down from my mam
Love
Hileena

skezier

Hi Petals,

As the others say there are genetic links but there are also other ways to get these things..... I am alone in my family and got quite a few things that have genetic links but I might have just got them anyway.

I honestly am the only one with both the pa and the oa for generations..... who knows where it came from... the oa was confirmed at 15 (so not wear and tear at all) the pa who knows how long cus once you have one they don;t look for another till its done damage here.

I so hope they will get to the bottom of what's going on for your daughter but you must not take the blame cus it is just the luck of the draw.

I was lucky and unable to have kids so I don't know how it feels but I do know the genetic side is honestly the luck of the draw. Hang in there flower. Cris x

lindalegs

delboy wrote:

I can understand RA being 'inherited' as it's gene based but surely OA is wear and tear and not associated with genes?

OA is a disease which makes a joint wear out abnormally quickly and isn't associated with age. Many young people have OA not just the elderly so it could be genetic too surely???

Luv,