1. < Autoimmune Diseases

Limited Scleroderma or CREST Syndrome: What helps?

Posted by shasmith @shasmith, Feb 25, 2019

Diagnosed with CREST 8 years ago. Last 4 years I find more symptoms are surfacing, (acid reflux, heart burn, can’t eat past 4pm, fingers and toes are twisting, Reynauds has gotten worse, heart beat is sometimes very fast, dry skin, aching joints, dry eyes, cramping muscles in hands and feet, and restless legs). Doctors just brush it off when I mention these things. I don’t want to sound like a hypochondriac, but I’m getting very frustrated about the pain and discomfort. Am I crazy, or should I keep searching for a doctor that will at least check?

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shasmith | @shasmith | Oct 2, 2019
In reply to @fracturedd "Do you have a persistent cough? Do you take any kind of digestive enzyme? I take..." + (show)
@fracturedd

Do you have a persistent cough? Do you take any kind of digestive enzyme? I take 2 nexium before bed,digestive enzyme/ginger tumeric kombucha,and a very healthy clean diet. These are a couple things that have helped me with the reflux part of crest/scleroderma. It is important to get the reflux under control to protect your lungs!!

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Forgot my password and just found my cheat sheet... not persistent but every now and then I have a dry tickle cough. Taking magnesium which seems to help. Burping foam is annoying.. Finally having a scope run next week. Hopefully we can find something that helps. My doctor has never had a patient with CREST before. Does low hemoglobins go with these gastric issues? All of a sudden having that to deal with too and all test so far are clear. GED next week we shall see.

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3 replies
shasmith | @shasmith | Oct 2, 2019
In reply to @shasmith "Forgot my password and just found my cheat sheet... not persistent but every now and then..." + (show)
@shasmith

Forgot my password and just found my cheat sheet... not persistent but every now and then I have a dry tickle cough. Taking magnesium which seems to help. Burping foam is annoying.. Finally having a scope run next week. Hopefully we can find something that helps. My doctor has never had a patient with CREST before. Does low hemoglobins go with these gastric issues? All of a sudden having that to deal with too and all test so far are clear. GED next week we shall see.

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Also now having hiccups that come out of nowhere. This is a crazy mess. Don’t know what to be more worried about!

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1corinthians926 | @1corinthians926 | Oct 4, 2019

@shasmith I have Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease with antibodies for CREST. I went to Mayo and they were very thorough in their evaluation (as long as you make the requests for diff appointments). They even do a nail fold study and a circulation study to quantify Raynauds. I think they fit 15 appointments into 1 week, which was impressive. They couldn’t do much for me but your symptoms are much more specific. Let me know if you want more info on the diff specialists/which ones I saw.

A question for you as well- do you have fatigue and brain fog?

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fracturedd | @fracturedd | Oct 4, 2019
In reply to @shasmith "Forgot my password and just found my cheat sheet... not persistent but every now and then..." + (show)
@shasmith

Forgot my password and just found my cheat sheet... not persistent but every now and then I have a dry tickle cough. Taking magnesium which seems to help. Burping foam is annoying.. Finally having a scope run next week. Hopefully we can find something that helps. My doctor has never had a patient with CREST before. Does low hemoglobins go with these gastric issues? All of a sudden having that to deal with too and all test so far are clear. GED next week we shall see.

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Most definitely you should find a rheumatologist who specializes in scleroderma/Crest. My rheumatologist usually does a CBC panel which includes testing hemoglobin levels. Hemoglobin is a protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. Very important to sleep on a incline and take nexium before bed until your doctor prescribes you something. This is why you are burping foam. Also don't eat before bedtime. Borage oil, gotu kola, and bikram yoga have helped my disease tremendously.

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1 reply
fracturedd | @fracturedd | Oct 4, 2019
In reply to @fracturedd "Most definitely you should find a rheumatologist who specializes in scleroderma/Crest. My rheumatologist usually does a..." + (show)
@fracturedd

Most definitely you should find a rheumatologist who specializes in scleroderma/Crest. My rheumatologist usually does a CBC panel which includes testing hemoglobin levels. Hemoglobin is a protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. Very important to sleep on a incline and take nexium before bed until your doctor prescribes you something. This is why you are burping foam. Also don't eat before bedtime. Borage oil, gotu kola, and bikram yoga have helped my disease tremendously.

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Good luck on your tests!

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1corinthians926 | @1corinthians926 | Oct 9, 2019

@fighter It is the limited form of scleroderma and an acronym for

Calcinosis
Raynauds
Esophageal dysmotility
Sclerodactly
Telangiectasia

which are the defining characteristics of the disease.

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Mentor
Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Oct 26, 2019
In reply to @shasmith "Forgot my password and just found my cheat sheet... not persistent but every now and then..." + (show)
@shasmith

Forgot my password and just found my cheat sheet... not persistent but every now and then I have a dry tickle cough. Taking magnesium which seems to help. Burping foam is annoying.. Finally having a scope run next week. Hopefully we can find something that helps. My doctor has never had a patient with CREST before. Does low hemoglobins go with these gastric issues? All of a sudden having that to deal with too and all test so far are clear. GED next week we shall see.

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@shasmith Haven’t heard from you in several weeks. You were scheduled for a scope—did it show anything? How are you dealing with all your symptoms?

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punky1973 | @punky1973 | Oct 26, 2019

Hi. I just received my biopsy results about 3days ago. I have nash and aih and stage 1 liver cancer. So iam kinda taking it all in right now.

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1 reply
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Oct 26, 2019
In reply to @punky1973 "Hi. I just received my biopsy results about 3days ago. I have nash and aih and..." + (show)
@punky1973

Hi. I just received my biopsy results about 3days ago. I have nash and aih and stage 1 liver cancer. So iam kinda taking it all in right now.

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That is a lot to take in, @punky1973. Has your medical team made any suggestions for treatment, yet?

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1 reply
punky1973 | @punky1973 | Oct 26, 2019
In reply to @hopeful33250 "That is a lot to take in, @punky1973. Has your medical team made any suggestions for..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

That is a lot to take in, @punky1973. Has your medical team made any suggestions for treatment, yet?

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Not at this point.i have another appointment on 11/4

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