After MyFlareUp’s research project with Community and Patient Preference Research (CaPPRe) in 2024 found some alarming stats, we needed to explore why so many people in the autoimmune community today still continued to have severe symptoms, despite there being new treatment options available.
We discovered that of the participants surveyed, 45% of them knew nothing about biologics and 56% of them knew nothing about JAKi’s – and 34% of participants were on the same medications and dosages over the past year, despite them reporting moderate to high disease burden. We also found that 52% of participants believed there were no further treatment options available to them, other than what they’d used before.
What are Biologics and JAK Inhibitors?
Biologics is a protein-based medicine made from living cells that target specific parts of the immune system and because it’s a protein, it needs to be kept cool and is usually given by injection. JAK inhibitors (JAKis) is a tablet medicine that blocks Janus kinase signals inside immune cells, helping to reduce inflammation caused by an overactive immune system
Why is Medication Stagnation alarming?
Simply put, because unchecked chronic inflammation can lead to many long-term adverse outcomes, like joint destruction and kidney damage, which is precisely why people with autoimmune conditions need frequent reassessments, and adjustments in medication if necessary, to keep any inflammation under control.
How can you reassess?
Blood tests can track important markers of inflammation, immune activity, and importantly, how well your medications are working. Depending on your condition and the medication that has been prescribed for you, imaging may also be done to check how organs like your kidneys, liver, lungs, or heart are functioning. These tests can help identify changes early, before they escalate.
We designed a Monitoring Tool to help you track
We designed a tool to help you and your healthcare provider identify if your treatment is working. This tool can help make communication easier when you show that you have tracked your symptoms and test results, making it easier to advocate for yourself for any adjustments to you need to your treatment plan. Some adjustments can be like being able to identify if your current medication is working for you.
Remember, any unchecked symptoms of inflammation can be missed when the numbers in your test results seem fine, or when you don’t experience any symptoms – which is why looking at either of these in in isolation can result in your condition not being optimally controlled. Some monitoring goals can be to:
- detect early flares;
- detect any disease progression;
- monitor any organ involvement (kidneys, central nervous system (CNS), skin, lungs and cardiovascular system);
- evaluate effectiveness and safety of your treatment;
- screen for any comorbidities and complications;
- maintain low disease activity;
- to try get into remission.
What is Remission?
Eventually, we’d all like to get our autoimmune condition into remission, but it’s important to know that remission is not considered ‘a cure’. You can be in remission while still on medication, and is when no symptoms or signs of inflammation shows up in your medical or physical tests. You are in remission when you have no symptoms and there are no signs of inflammation in your medical tests or physical examinations. Remission is now recognized by experts around the world as an achievable and meaningful goal for people with autoimmune conditions.
Your Role
Every person with an autoimmune condition trying to manage symptoms should take the time to track symptoms, flare patterns and energy levels. Doing so while also learning to identify triggers will help you build a picture over time. It can be challenging to explain your symptoms to your doctor in a short visit, but being able to show a picture over time can help you play a role in your treatment plan, and being an active passenger in this journey is very important.
Lastly, it’s important to realise that with autoimmune conditions, there is no one-size-fits-all. Regularly communicating with your healthcare provider and clearly clarifying your goals can be an enormous benefit to your treatment plan.
To download the MyNumber please go to our Tools page under the Resources tab.
Autoimmune flares don’t happen ‘out of the blue’, even when it feels like it. Epigenetics can help explain why. Think of it as the way your environment and experiences like stress, infections, sleep, hormones, diet, even medications can switch certain immune genes on or off, without changing your DNA itself. In RA, these switches can turn up inflammation, making joints suddenly hurt, swell, or stiffen.
In this conversation, Dr Joan Campbell explores the differences between Eastern (Chinese) medicine and Western medicine: how each understand the body, health, and healing, and what those different lenses can offer. It’s not about choosing one over the other, rather than understanding the strengths and limitations of both.
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Dragon Talks session
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Securing a timely appointment with a rheumatologist for suspected autoimmune disease or rheumatoid arthritis requires a proactive, strategic approach due to high demand for these specialists. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to preventing long-term joint damage, so acting quickly is essential.
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