How do you cope with Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD)?

Posted by Cindi A @cindia1, Feb 5, 2013

Would someone else please join this discussion and let me know how you cope with Mixed Connective Tissue Disease? How can you explain it to your family and friends when they just do not understand? How can I explain it to my doctors? Myself?

I am always tired. Extremely tired. Weak. Do not feel well.....ever. Then at various times, I have problems or flares with several different issues. I always seem to struggle with the neuropathy in my feet and or the raynauds or just swelling and pain. The GI problems are endless. Though they have talked about someday I may have to have a feeding tube, I have always fought that. But with this dismotility and Barretts, some days I actually think just do it and get it over with. I am tired of the pain and wondering what to eat, what I CAN eat.

My skin hurts. My joints hurt. And I feel like I am losing my mind some days. I hate when I feel all whiny and negative. That is not me but darn it all, I hate these illnesses.

The doctors all say to join a support group. Where and which one? Lupus? Scleroderma? Raynauds? Sjogrens? I am at a loss so turned to this site.

Any advice would be helpful. Or just knowing there is someone else out there going through the same thing and understands!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Autoimmune Diseases Support Group.

Diagnosed with MCTD several years ago after PCP finally ordered those ANA Titer tests etc . Rhematologist put me on hydroxychloriquine but it made me nauseous .now I’m willing to try anything. Constant and severe flu is what i feel now. Reynauds is the least of my problem . Sjogrens - sinuses etc not fun .The term “Flare up” suggests occasional relief . But no . After a Tooth extraction i seemed to get worse and worse. Now I have another infected tooth that needs to be removed but I feel so weak - not sure if I should. Go under anaestheia and undergo the violence of that surgery again .
Tri-geminal nerve was possibly damaged some years ago with dental work.
My rheumatologist said my PCP should send me to Stanford for rheumatology cuz they can consult with neurologists etc . Stanford wont have me cuz they are “impacted” and they dont give second opinions anyway. So now I’m left with no one .
Just you guys

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