Great News on the Autoimmune Illness Front - "Molecular "Gene" Dance in Autoimmune System

I had just got through emailing one of my friends who also suffers from the horrid effect of your teeth from Sjogren's.  Then I find this article! Of course this is not "just Sjogren's" but can mean another advancement in the world of "changing the face" of ALL Autoimmune Arthritic Illnesses and more.

Great Article!!!



http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/270928.php

Come to IFAA & Meet Our Bloggers for a Live Chat!

IFAA is excited to announce that their blog site "Systemically Connected", will be hosting live chats for everyone to attend! There will be different ones at different times and dates, so keep watching for updates.

The first LIVE CHAT FB Blogger is Kristin! Please the her "poster" below tells the time, the date, and a bit about her and what she will be talking about when it comes to her blog, her role & her life.

Here is the link for the FB page for IFAA!

I will follow up a reminder next week so you won't forget! We are so looking forward to having each of you there!

Another Huge JUMP ahead for IFAA thanks to Janssen Global!

And we're off!

The International Foundation for Autoimmune Arthritis received a large grant from Janssen Global, Inc. to begin a study that, when finished, will combat the delay in diagnosis that is often associated with these diseases. Current AVERAGE time for diagnosis is 1-3 PLUS years, but the "plus years" is often 5, 7, even 10 or more. Given 50% of all patients can experience complete disability 10 years after ONSET if not treated properly, this means if a delay in diagnosis is 3 years the patient is almost 1/3 of the way to disability before ever starting treatment...and any damage accrued in that time is PERMANENT and IRREVERSIBLE, regardless if clinical remission can be achieved.

We will begin developing a survey that will analyze the early symptoms- as recorded by patients- then take the findings and cross-reference what is currently used as a model for detection, referral, and diagnosis. With these results we will then be able develop wellness education for primary care physicians and other "first responders", as well as rheumatologists, that can broaden the understanding of early symptoms, thus promoting an accelerated process towards diagnosis. In addition, we will be able to review the crossover in symptoms that occur in all Autoimmune Arthritis diseases, regardless of the outcome of final diagnosis, which should narrow the mystery of what it could be and push towards more firm treatment plans associated with the 'undifferentiated' genre.

We'll be coming for YOU to participate in this two part study, first analyzing patients in the US and the second phase will expand to a global level. YOU can be part of the change, matter-in-fact, we insist...because we are all about making the patient first in research!

Survey will be ready for distribution in March 2013. Results will be revealed LIVE during World Autoimmune Arthritis Day in May.

Thank you also to the Spondylitis Association of America & the @International Stills Disease Foundation for already signing on to help us recruit patients and distribute the survey. "Together we will move mountains, bulldozers are so overrated." -Tiffany Westrich, CEO of IFAA

WEGO Health Activist Awards - International Foundation for Autoimmune Arthritis - A Winning Team!!!!

Truly We are a Winning Team! I am incredibly overwhelmed that I can be a part of this "voice" for Patients with Autoimmune Arthritis!!!!

Below are the words from Tiffany Westrich Robertson, Founder and CEO of IFAA!!! 

With the 2013 WEGO Health Advocacy Awards right around the corner, we are SO PROUD to announce that collectively IFAA and some of our own Active Volunteers-who also perform their own advocacy efforts in the community-have SEVENTEEN NOMINATIONS in a variety of categories!

Some of our AMAZING Volunteers who are recognized for their work outside of IFAA are:

Wendy Koski, with her Friends and Family of Autoimmune Diseases Facebook Group is up for Best in Show Community/Forum, Facebook Page, AND Google +

Lorna Krump, blogger who writes Life with RA is a Pain, has been nominated for Best in Show-Blog, Best Kept Secret, Rookie of the Year, AND Healthcare Hero. Lorna also helps run our IFAA Blog Leader program.

Rhia Steele, recognized for her blog, An Autoimmune Arthritic Systemic Life

Therese Freeman Humphrey for her dedication to advocacy through Twitter and Anthony, "our first boy", for his work advocating via Facebook.

Co-Founder, Amanda John, nominated for Best in Show: Blog for All Flared Up!

And for their work WITH IFAA:

Co-Founder, Kelly Conway, & Co-Founder/CEO, Tiffany Westrich, both also up for Health Hero

and Co-Founder Tami Brown has the nod for Health Hero, Advocating for Another, & Best Kept Secret

We even have a current volunteer-in-training, Rheumagram Melissa for her work with a nomination for Best in Show: Community/Forum

AND

IFAA as an organization is up for Best in Show: Community, an award nomination earned collectively for ALL 40+ active volunteers (those who donate on average 30 minutes a week) and additional dozen+ general volunteers (who have donated their time at some point through the year). We are a TEAM, a FAMILY, and yes, we believe BEST IN SHOW: COMMUNITY, whether we win or not 

Volunteers who are nominated outside of IFAA, we are so very proud of you!!! Way to go!

Thank you Tiffany!!! We would not be here if it were not for a young woman, a "diagnosis" FINALLY after a time of not knowing what was wrong, and the "idea" that came from a few pieces of leather, a belt buckle, a few colored beads, and some silver wire! She knew she had to find a way to get an earlier diagnosis, for earlier treatments, and to STOP so much damage BEFORE it was too late. The "Buckle Me Up" program came alive! And here just a couple of years later, this her ALL of her accomplishments unfolding!!! 

WEGO Health Activists -- You can STILL ENDORSE Nominee's Until January 31st!

I did not realize you can still go into WEGO Health and "ENDORSE" those that have been chose as "NOMINEES!!!! I was not aware of it until early this morning, so I did want to let everyone know you still have a "voice" in the 14 categories of awards to give your favorite Health Advocates a "Thumbs Up"!!!!!

My link is:
    https://awards.wegohealth.com/nominees/rhia-s-autoimmune-arthritic-systemic-life-1998

http://www.wegohealth.com

Now, of course I would LOVE YOUR "Endorsement" for "Best in Show - Blog", but I wanted all the Nominee's to have a chance to be endorsed!

Time to "Empower The PATIENT"! IFAA Shall Move Mountains of Obstacles to "Clear" Paths for the Patient!!!

This is THE YEAR to EMPOWER the PATIENT

International Foundation of Autoimmune Arthritis- "Moving Mountains of Obstacles in 2014 so PATIENTS have a CLEAR Path to EMPOWERMENT!!!!