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Tips for Getting a Proper Diagnosis of an Autoimmune Disease
Autoimmune Diseases | Last Active: Nov 8 1:40pm | Replies (54)Comment receiving replies
I have had several different ailments for 2 1/2 years, before that perfectly healthy. Originally flu lasting over a month, then sores in mouth and gums and sore throat, then inflammation in chest and upper arms, then arthritis almost overnight, all joints and muscles, then digestive problems eventually diagnosed as IBS as unable to establish anything else, saw psychiatrist who believed physical, not stress-related, then restless leg syndrome, sudden weight gain for no apparent reason, extreme tiredness, shingles three times.. Trying to continue exercising and walking. Eat healthy. Doctors say all different issues needing to be treated individually but treatments not working. I believe my immune system for some reason is attacking different parts of my body but apparently no tests for this and unable to find someone to help me. I am in Kingston,Ontario,Canada and getting desperate. Advice would really help. Thanks
Replies to "I have had several different ailments for 2 1/2 years, before that perfectly healthy. Originally flu..."
@tlgold Hello and welcome. You’ve described a real myriad of symptoms that you’ve been suffering with for 2 1/2 years and no one seems able to help you. @johnbishop listed some great information on thyroid disease for you to read. (And you mention that you believe your immune system is attacking your body. It sounds so familiar to me. I had multiple symptoms that I couldn’t make any sense of and neither could the doctors. When I was at my worst, an MRI was done that showed lesions on my brain. Doctors here still didn’t know what it was. We finally found an autoimmune neurologist at the university medical center. Who would have ever believed it was an autoimmune disease! I’m actually sitting at the infusion center getting treatment now.
Many autoimmune diseases are treated by rheumatologists. Call a large medical center or university medical center and ask for an endocrinologist (for the thyroid) and a rheumatologist (for possible autoimmune problems).
Will you make those calls and then let us know what you learn?
I have had similar sounds like Fibromyalgis
Best to see a RHEUMATOLOGIST
read up on it
Many systems are affected
Good Luck!!
Rhoda
Connect
@tlgold, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @erikas and other members. I know it can be difficult to figure out what's going on when there are so many symptoms. Some of your symptoms seem to be similar with those related to underactive thyroid - "tiredness, being sensitive to cold, weight gain, constipation, depression, slow movements and thoughts, muscle aches and weakness, muscle cramps..." - Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) - Symptoms - NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/underactive-thyroid-hypothyroidism/symptoms/
There are some discussions on Connect where you can read what other members have shared:
- Hypo and Hyper thyroid hell!!: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/hypo-and-hyper-thyroid-hell/
- Hypothyroidism Diagnosis: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/hypothyroidism-diagnosis/
- Thyroid disease's impact on other conditions: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/subclinical-hypothyroidism/
Have you ever had your thyroid checked?