Madeline's JDM Story: October 2010

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Halloween fun. Halloween scary!

We had a great Halloween. The day began with a call from Trey. He shot his first deer!!! He was so excited. Later, we baked Halloween cookies, carved pumpkins, made cupcakes and got ready to go trick or treating. Pictures coming soon!

Now for the scary part...Madeline has complained that her knee, ankle and neck are hurting her. I'm trying not to freak out, but it's lingering in my mind. Her biggest complaint is her neck. Please pray for her and that this is just a freakish coincidence. We are so close to remission, we can't go backwards.

Positive thoughts...I'm trying. :(

Monday, October 25, 2010

Is fall ever going to come???

It's hot here. Not unusual for Louisiana, but I'm tired of summer and really ready for some cool air so we can get in the mood for Thanksgiving...which is just around the corner. In fact, it was so hot yesterday my husband swam after mowing the yard. Really?!?!

But, there's hope fall is coming. One sure sign - the black eye'd susan's blooming everywhere. Madeline and I decided to do a mini photo shoot around these pretty, happy flowers. Thought I'd share her pretty picture. She is growing up so fast. My little girl too is blooming into a beautiful young lady.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

A little sneak peek...

Here is a sneak peek of Madeline's new solo - Funky Jesus Music. It's fun and makes you want to dance. She's just learning the dance so this is a rough, learning clip of probably half the dance.

In the video is her teacher Colinda - one of the sweetest, talented people you could ever meet. Madeline loves her. But notice...Madeline is taller than Colinda now. She is getting very tall and very long legged. She's beautiful, but I guess I am partial. :)

Enjoy and more to come...

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Another Update

I've felt guilty for not updating Madeline's blog lately. But when you don't have much to talk about regarding her JDM (which is the purpose of this blog)I shouldn't feel guilty but relieved...which I am.

Madeline's life has been busy with school, cheerleading, dance and friends. She is working on her new solo for competition this year. I will attempt to post what she has learned so far, but it is no where near polished. She normally does a ballet style routine and this time we are pushing her in a jazz/hip hop direction. She is doing great.

So far no illnesses, no issues. All still good. Life is good.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Quick Update

Madeline is doing great. Seems to get stronger and more limber than ever. Between taking dance and cheering this year, she is handling the strenuous activities better than most kids.

We only have a few months to go back to Texas for her check up w/ Dr. W. Looks like she will get a clean bill of health. We are confident and optimistic.

Hope this gives hope to others...your children w/ JDM CAN get well.

Blood Work Results

May 25:SGOT (AST) 24 (0-31, normal range); SGPT (ALT) - 21 (0-31, normal range); CPK (CK) - 111 (24-170, normal range);LDH - 189 (120-300, normal range); Aldolase - 6.2 (3.3-9.7, normal range)
Feb. 26:SGOT (AST) 27 (0-31, normal range); SGPT (ALT) - 21 (0-31, normal range); CPK (CK) - 159 (24-170, normal range);LDH - 170 (120-300, normal range); Aldolase - 4.1 (3.3-9.7, normal range)
Dec. 31:SGOT (AST) 25 (0-31, normal range); SGPT (ALT) - 21 (0-31, normal range); CPK (CK) - 98 (24-170, normal range);LDH - 187 (120-300, normal range); Aldolase - 6.3 (3.3-9.7, normal range)
Aug. 27: ALT - 10 (normal range 0-31); AST - 22 (0-31, normal); CPK - 125 (24-170, normal); LDH - 211 (120-300, normal); Aldolase - 4.6 (3.3-9.7, normal)
June 15: ALT - 11 (normal range 0 -31); AST - 25 (normal range, 0-31); CPK - 112 (normal range, 24-170); LDH - 225 (normal range, 120-300); Aldolase - 5.2 (normal range 3.3- 9.7)
March 20: ALT 11 (normal range 0 - 31); AST 24 (normal range 0 - 31)
Dec. 29 - ALT 10 (normal range 0 - 31); AST 20 (normal range 0 - 31)
Oct. 24 - ALT 10 (normal range 0 - 31); AST 24 (normal range 0 - 31)
Aug. 22 - Cyclsporine A Serum leve: 97.5; ALT 9 (normal range 0-31); AST 22 (normal range 0 - 31); urinalysis - all clear
July 14 - Cyclosporine A Serum level: 141.0
June 27: ALT 11 (normal range 0 - 31); AST 24 (normal range 0 - 31)

What is JDM?

Source curejm.com
Juvenile Myositis (JM), including Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM), Amyopathic Dermatomyositis (AMD) and Juvenile Polymyositis (JPM), is an autoimmune disease affecting approximately 5,000 children in the United States. Weak muscles and skin rash are the primary symptoms of JDM, while muscle weakness without a rash is the primary symptom of JPM. Children afflicted with AMD, on the other hand, experience the skin rash without the weakened muscles. Even within these three designations, JM affects every child differently. Some children experience a mild form of the disease, while others follow a more severe and potentially more debilitating course. Some of the more onerous secondary symptoms are calcinosis, vasculitic ulcers and contractures.

Genesis of the Disease
The immune system is a group of cells that normally protects the body from infection. In autoimmune diseases like JM, however, once these cells turn on their infection-fighting process, they cannot turn it off. This process therefore damages the body instead of protecting it.

One way the immune system cells fight infection is through inflammation. But when the cells cannot turn off the inflammation process, tissues are damaged. In JM sufferers, the skin rash and weak muscles are caused by vasculitis, an inflammation in the blood vessels that lie under the skin and in the muscles. Since blood vessels run throughout the human body, JM can also affect other systems such as the digestive tract.

What causes JM?
Many researchers believe that there is a genetic predisposition to autoimmune diseases. As such, they feel that a child afflicted with JM is likely to have a blood relative who suffers from another autoimmune disease such as diabetes or arthritis.

The autoimmune disease initially presents itself when an invasive "trigger" causes the body's immune system to overreact. It is believed that this trigger could be a virus, a vaccine or an environmental hazard.

What are the symptoms of JM?
The primary symptoms of JM are weak or painful muscles, skin rash (with JDM), fatigue and fever. Some children experience joint pain as well.

Weak muscles
The muscles that are affected the most are near the trunk of the body: the stomach, quadriceps, neck and biceps. However, other muscles can become weak as well. Sometimes there is inflammation in the esophagus which makes it difficult for the child to swallow. Other times, there is inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, which causes bowel difficulties.
A child with JM has great difficulty climbing stairs and getting up from the floor or from a chair. Walking and running become very challenging and exhausting.
Skin rash
The skin rash in JDM usually occurs on the face, knuckles, elbows, knees and ankles. The rash may appear before, after or at the same time as the muscle weakness. Sometimes the rash is so faint that it is not noticeable.
The rash appears as a red purplish color on the eyelids and cheeks; whereas the rash looks like red dry skin patches over the knuckles, elbows and knees. The fingernails and the nailbeds may take on a pinkish color as well.
Sometimes, the children develop Gottron’s Papules, which are small whitish bumps that appear on the fingers. They look like small blisters.
Fatigue
With JM, the child becomes tired easily and can only walk short distances. The child needs to rest often and lacks the energy for normal activities. It becomes difficult for the child to keep up with friends.
Fever
Oftentimes, the child with JM runs low-grade fevers, especially at night. There has also been a connection discovered between a virus with high fevers just before the onset of JM.

What are other possible symptoms?
The following symptoms of JM are less common, but important to understand:

Calcinosis
About a third of the children with JM will develop calcinosis, which are small lumps of calcium that form under the skin or in the muscle. They may feel like little rocks under the skin and can range in size from a dot to a large pebble.
The lumps can either break through the skin and form a bump that may leak creamy white calcium, or they can be absorbed back into the body. If they break the skin, they can become infected and painful, and sometimes need to be surgically removed. They usually occur on the joints, such as the elbows and knees, but they can occur anywhere on the body.
Vasculitic Ulcers
Vasculitic ulcers are holes in the tissue that surrounds an inflamed blood vessel. They can occur in the skin or in the bowels (the organs that transport food from the esophagus to the rectum).
When they occur in the skin, they look like sores in the skin rash. They can be very deep or on top of the skin and they also range in size. The ulcers can be very painful, but will usually go away with treatment.
When the ulcers occur in the bowels, it is due to inflamed blood vessels in the protective lining around the bowels. They cause a break in the lining which can eventually harm the digestive organs.
The warning signs of this condition are severe stomach pain, dark black stools or blood in the stools, or a change in the pattern of bowel movements.
Contractures
Contractures are shortened muscles that cause a joint to stay in a bent position. These can occur due to lack of exercise or from scarring of the muscles.

What tests are used to diagnose JM?
If JM is suspected, blood tests are the first step to confirm that there is a problem. Muscle enzymes are measured, including CPK and aldolase, which are enzymes that leak from inflamed or damaged muscles into the bloodstream. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are also measured to see if the child’s body is producing antibodies against its own cells.

The next step is usually an MRI which can also detect muscle damage and inflammation. If the MRI shows evidence of diseased muscles, a muscle biopsy is typically performed to finalize the diagnosis. A small amount of muscle is removed for examination to determine if and how much the muscles and blood vessels have been affected by the disease.

What is the treatment for JM?
There is no cure for JM yet, but there are treatment options to help manage the symptoms. Early and aggressive treatment is usually the best predictor of a better outcome of this disease.

IV corticosteroids (Solumedrol) are usually the first line of treatment for JM. This is oftentimes coupled with high dose oral Prednisone, another corticosteroid. Since the side effects of corticosteroids can be very troublesome, Methotrexate (a chemotherapy drug when given in higher doses) is usually introduced early to allow for tapering of the corticosteroids.

Other common treatments include Cyclosporine and Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG). Less common treatments, but still used include Cellcept (chemotherapy), Enbrel and Remicade.

These medications all have their own side effects, but the most common ones for Prednisone are: -increased appetite and weight gain -rounded face -mood changes -high blood pressure -stretch marks -fragile bones and bone damage -cataracts -slow growth

What is the prognosis?
It is believed that a third of the children will suffer from JM most of their life, while another third will experience temporary remissions and the other third will experience a permanent remission (no medications, no symptoms).

Madeline's JDM Story

Madeline's Blog Archive

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Halloween fun. Halloween scary!

Monday, October 25, 2010

Is fall ever going to come???

Thursday, October 21, 2010

A little sneak peek...

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Another Update

Monday, October 4, 2010

Quick Update

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