Undiagnosed Autoimmune Disease - No one will listen to me
Hello All - so would love some advice or thoughts.
I'm 43, wife and mother of 3. In May 2017, healthy but slightly overweight, I went to visit family in Texas and had strep throat (which I had about 4 previous times in the previous 2 years). Took antibiotics full round, returned home. Two days after finishing antibiotics, I woke up and could barely even move (couldn't even pull my covers over me, barely walk, severe joint pain muscle pain, you name it. Went to Doc and they sent me to rheumatologist.
They ran so many test with really no avail. The only thing that came up positive was HLA-B27. At the time ANA was negative.
Over the last six years it has been just so much joint pain, muscle pain, muscle weakness. They tried plaquinel first, nothing. Then started my process of biologics. I moved rheumatologist a couple of years into it and she ran more test, but still not much answers. I was put in the spondyloarthropathy category, but really unspecified. My new rhematologist over the last few years has been thorough but has really put me in the complex sector of things. Here's current breakdown:
> have Chronic Kidney Disease, unspecified found in 2008 with proteinuria only; two kidney biopsies only showed some scarring but nothing else
> Clinically: Knees, Elbows, Ankles feet inflammed, swollen, heat; muscle weakness in arms, some tingling in arm and thigh; right SI joint pain (chiropractor manages well); weight gain from predisone and lack of mobility); ringing ears, tops of hands swell for several days at a time; ankles swollen throughout day; itching skin, some low grade fevers at time; High blood pressure; fatigue, cant focus; memory bad
> CRP and ESR both elevated in the 80's - 100's most of the time, can dip down to 50's, 30's if biologic works
> New last month ANA: Positive, 1:2560, Homogenous
> ANA Antibidies: dsDNA was 1, all other antibodies were <0.2 (ALL within normal range) :/
> Vit D: deficient (lowest 11, highest 32) last 5-6 years, currently on 100,000 dose
> Vit B: also low, currently taking injections every other week
> Homocysteine: elevated
> CBC: all normal except elevated WBC (prednisone) and HBG slight low; RDW slight elevated
> CMP: all normal except for creatinine (High) and GFR (Low) from CKD
> All GI scans normal (with only a little GI involvment)
> On my six biologic with doc submitting under Ankylosing Spondylitis
> All Thyroid testing normal except Reverse T3 Elevated
> No RA positive labs
> Started seeing Functional Medicine Practitioner and did mold testing, negative; she is going to help me get rid of inflammatory foods to hopefully help some
Really just frustrated at lack of answers! I know my Rheumatologist is doing her best…I’m just complex. My insurance just denied my next infusion because of dx of 'undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy' being experimental. Doc is considering change of dx to seronegative RA so we have option of a IL-17 drug instead of TNF Blockers. So trying to consider that option.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
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Your symptoms sound very similar to mine… You may want to look into Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. This link is to a guide for any doctor to begin the diagnostic process…it may also be good to have all your vitamin levels checked. It is also very common to have a gene mutation that impact absorption of vitamins…but easily treated…ask for a MTFHR gene test.
https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/wp-content/uploads/MCAS-Primer-for-the-Gastroenterologist.pdf
As for itch, which is a super common symptom of so many medical problems…I take an otc supplement, Beta Alanine, 750 mg kills the itch for me…someone on a Facebook group for itch related issues discovered it…it is typically a preworkout supplement but at a higher dose…I buy the NOW brand on Amazon.
Keep in mind that true MCAS is similar but different than what we as Long Haulers experience. It basically takes a bone marrow test to diagnose true MCAS. My labs were all normal but my allergist pegged it for me. Histamine Intolerance with Mast Cell involvement. Walking into a doctors office with an internet diagnosis in hand can backfire the Physician Ego. My Allergist is an exception to that rule thank goodness.
Your symptoms are similar to mine. My allergist pegged my flushing syndrome as Histamine Intolerance with Mast Cell involvement. He put me on Xolair Shots and I responded well. I could have been better a year ago but my PCP put me on Lipitor in June 2021. He ignored my symptoms as LH Covid BS, whiney, faker and turfed me to my allergist to manage my care. I ended up with Severe Rhabdomyolysis (or some other auto immune myositis that can be statin induced) and in Kidney failure headed for dialysis. Then he quit as my doctor as he had the labs in his hands that showed kidney failure. No providers except my allergist, are bothering to help me figure out the diagnosis but he doesn't really know in detail what should be managed by a Rheumatologist. Its been hurry up then wait 3 months for the next appointment. With your symptoms you should consider seeing both an Immunologist and Rheumatologist that will work together as a care team to address problems. Of course dont laugh, because I'm still trying to get that combination. I have a great allergist. I just need the referral to Rheumatology to go through.
I've been at this for 2 and 1/2 years but the LC symptoms were masked/mimicked by a non covid, provider induced problem that should have been easily identified by reviewing my med list. Don't dismiss factors outside of Long Covid. I could be done with Long Covid, IDK because the problems I have now could be statin induced or complicated by Long Covid. I just keep hoping the Rhabdo will finally resolve and nothing else will pop up. Fat chance!
@kasb. I am so sorry you are going through this. I am in shock with all the stories I hear and my own medical journey about how great our medical system is supposed to be. This shouldn’t happen.
Did you look at the link I provided? It is not a internet diagnosis but rather a paper written by the top MCAS Doctors in the country.
Don’t give up. It took me almost 15 years to get a diagnosis. I had a lot of the same symptoms you have but more added to it. I was finally diagnosed with stiff person syndrome. Only 7000 people in the world have been diagnosed with this disease. With it being such a rare disease there really isn’t a lot of study into it. Finding out it is a progressive disease also didn’t bring any relief. Because I don’t have the antigen marker in my blood it is still hard for me to get Specialists to agree on the diagnosis. Therefore, no treatment.
Wondering if this link might offer any insight?
https://www.healthcentral.com/slideshow/what-causes-rheumatoid-arthritis
Hello! I have never commented in the past 2 yrs since I’ve found this site, so I apologize for the lengthy comment - but have used the Mayo Clinic Connect as an amazing “Real-People in My Shoes” resource as I went on my own journey the past couple years (NON-COVID or VAC related; so many people’s symptoms became noticeable with those 2 scenarios). My lab tech where I’ve had my numerous blood tests drawn has become another valuable resource in my journey, she told me about a website - https://www.ultalabtests.com/ - when I was running into closed doors everywhere as well. I have since created a wonderful medical team of Rheumatologist & ARNP at the practice, PCP, Dermatologist, Optometrist, Psychologist/Therapist (YES - one of the most valuable team members since more than my body has been affected & my mental health has taken one of the biggest tolls!) and today after a much anticipated 5-month wait, I’m seeing the Neurologist for the remaining symptoms that no one can determine the cause!
The website I included above does not go through your insurance or a need to be seen physician to order tests! It gives a fair price as well as often there are sales (99% of the time, a test is going to be on sale, so wait for it and sign-up on the site as it’s free to become a member). I had always wondered my blood type & started with that one, they give you an order to bring to lab for draw & all results go directly to you! They have every single blood test imaginable from what I can tell and their support agents are very helpful in answering questions. For example, I may soon no longer have insurance, therefore, I will be using this site to order my tests that my physicians order since it will be much cheaper than going through the lab directly w/ my doctor’s blood order.
My best advice to you is DO NOT STOP RESEARCHING - be knowledgeable about your symptoms, organized with your thoughts or questions and make good use of that 12 min you’re going to get when you’re alone w/ the doctor. You have to be your own advocate (so many people say that) but if I was not persistent through this process, I wouldn’t have a diagnosis at all, I wouldn’t have medications prescribed to help minimize the symptoms at least a little bit and I wouldn’t have found a team that I felt was as dedicated to restore my quality of life to the best of their ability as I was.
Don’t be afraid to look elsewhere for a new PCP - this was the key to my journey. I fired my previous one since they did not see the sense of urgency I did since I was declining so rapidly with no answers. My new PCP was able to send referrals to the multiple specialists needed to keep digging until we find all the answers for everything. My first visit with him, I was distraught, frustrated, exhausted, in pain, confused, angry, sad - everything you can imagine and essentially wept explaining what I was going through day after day. When I apologized for breaking down, he simply grabbed the tissues and said “You don’t have to apologize. You cry as many tears as you’d like. I can’t imagine what you’re going through but I’m not stopping until we get it figured out.” I knew I had found THE one!!! When you have a doctor that says “Stop googling! I am your google. Send me a message and ask me anything on your mind” - and you actually believe them - then you’re on the right path!!!
My dx: MCTD (Mixed Connective Tissue Disease), Hashimoto’s, Dysthymia (Persistent Depressive Disorder) & Fibromyalgia
Sounds like I have written this as it's so like my story. I'm waiting for ANOTHER MRI ordered by a different Rheumatologist . I have had pain in my neck and shoulder since 10th May 1983,I know this as it came on within a few hrs or having my 4th/last child.I had never heard of Lyme till I was in my 40's. While living in Hong Kong for 2 yrs around the time the pain started and having multiple mosquito bites I had 2 bites that came up as the typical 'Bullseye' and had no idea there was a test that I could have done so long after.The Rheumatologist ordered one 2 weeks ago which came back NEG. I have had muscle pains/spasms for the last 39yrs. In my 50's I was diagnosed with OA so ALL the Dr's are off the hook from then on because now they have an excuse::::::::::: "It's your age you have osteoarthritis, there is nothing we can do for that" . No reaction from my GP when I said "my life has just passed me by and I sit on my sofa waiting to die" What the hell is wrong with the Canadian health system. SO, KASB fight them while you are young enough and do your best to get a diagnosis.Good luck I hope you fin some treatment.
@anniebrook - My experience is probably totally different from yours, but I gave birth to my second child in April 1983. Turns out I damaged my right shoulder pushing the baby out! It’s still a problem.
About the same time I was diagnosed with 2 disintegrated cervical discs that causes right arm weakness.
I hope your upcoming MRI will give you some answers that will lead to pain relief.
My daughter lives in Sweden with a similar health system as Canada. She has spent years trying to get help for chronic pain and exhaustion- so far nothing.