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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I was diagnosed by a rheumatologist with fibromyalgia. My blood test showed RA in my blood so my PC referred me to the rheumatologist and he advised I did not have RA but that my symptoms pointed to fibromyalgia. He prescribed a few different medications starting with gabapentin, which made me gain 30 pounds the first month so was switched to Lyrica that put even more weight on and stopped that. Then I was prescribed Savella. None of them seemed to help my problems so now I don't take a medication for it. My knees do swell at times and I do have pain in many areas. Tired most of the time as well but I have other issues too. Severe iron deficiency, Celiacs, IBS, & Factor V Leiden. I am trying to adjust with all of these at the same time and so far nothing seems to improve. I pretty much stay home all the time other than Dr appointments because of all the anxiety from my issues. I am 73 years old.
I held off on the jab. I wanted to wait and see how it faired because there wasn't enough research for me to agree even though it was recommended. I read articles from all over the world on how people were reacting to it and I continually looked on vaers. When I put all of my own illnesses into vaers I was shocked how many reports of new onset or worsening of these illnesses were reported in others. At the time I believed I had an autoimmune disorder but hadn't been diagnosed. There were so many reports of new onset of autoimmune disorders or worsening of current illness that I wasn't going to take a chance. I have had covid now, probably omicron, and have no residual illness as I supplemented like crazy.
Thank you everyone for your suggestions, I really appreciate you guys taking the time to comment and share your own stories. As an update I still haven't seen a rheumatologist, however, some other things have happened that I am waiting to be resolved before attempting to secure a referral.
I recently broke my left humerus, it's known formally as a medial epicondyle fracture. This of course is coincidentally where the joint is. So on top of my other symptoms, I can add bone fragility to the list.
Yay...
Anyway, I need my cast to come off and for that medical situation to be resolved before tackling my provider with any other problems. This honestly only has to do with me being ready for another problem so soon, however, I enjoy your wonderful comments and kind words. Just wanted to let you know I am doing okay for the time being.
@johnbishop thank you for your suggestion of palindromic rheumatism, you really are a gift to my journey through this and I just wanted to personally thank you for your kindness! I hope your own troubles are easing as well.
Much love ~ Lexa
Your symptoms are all found in many autoimmune diseases or other medical problems. To narrow it down take a look at your genes. You will need your raw DNA from a source like, Ancestry.com or 23 & Me. Download the raw data to your computer, do not open it. Go to: Codegen.eu. Download the DNA . In about 10 minutes it will analyze your genes and give you the top genetic medical problems, and genetic variation you have. It is very scientific and gives all references they used. It will also give the percentage chance for having the medical problems or traits.
I knew about some of my genetic diseases and problems and they all came up.
This will give you a chance to either pursue the genetic possibilities or eliminate genetic diseases. I don’t know a reaction to Benadryl is a good basis for predicting a medical problem. An autoimmune disease is very different from an allergic reaction.
Genetic problems come from a family member. Of course there are many medical problems that are not genetic. This may give you some answers so you can have a direction to go and eliminate some.
I wrote my first answer and then re read your situation. You mention Celiac. Have you been diagnosed with a blood test or endoscopy? It is genetic and if you have it you have to go on a gluten free diet. There is no medicine for it. It effects your entire body with some 200 symptoms. I found out at 72 it was the source of my lifetime of illness and medical problems. It causes damage throughout your body. After being positive for celiac we tested for its complications and I have osteoporosis, peripheral neuropathy and cardiac artery disease. I have a shunt in my thigh. All caused by the lack of digestion in the damaged small intestine. Without digestion you are not feeding your body the nutrients it needs to grow and maintain it self.
Lyme is likely. Do more Lyme tests than the standard antibody test.
Mold illness also behaves like Lyme. Take it seriously. There are mycotoxin tests you can order online.
Sorry to say I’ve had similar experience with Big deal doctors- “so you’re aging and have arthritis- what did you expect?!
Mayo group has helped me realize it’s my COVID Vax challenged immune system!
What to do???🥲🙏
To do??
My daughter is 42. She has hives, which now turn into bruises/marks when they clear up. She has terrible and random joint issues. One day, she may wake up and can't move fingers on one hand, or can't stand on a knee. It may last a few days, and then goes away. Iowa City has tested her, and determined she has "some kind of autoimmune disorder (but they don't know what). I've seen some of her test results. Some of them are off the charts, they are so high (like for inflammation). She is currently on 4 different antihistamines, daily, just to keep the hives away (and it doesn't always work), and keep from digging her skin to death. I was recently diagnosed with Sarcoidosis. We are trying to get her Dermatologist to do testing for that (her regular doctor told her it is rare and isn't proceeding). It can run in families! We will keep advocating, until she gets answers, but she has been suffering for well over a year. It is so frustrating. Mayo can't take her right now. I am praying that if she gets diagnosed with Sarcoidosis at Iowa City, she can get accepted to Mayo on that basis.
You are correct I'm totally frustrated with the system and have fallen through the cracks many times. On top of not feeling well I have to be administrative to deal with the insurance Medicare the doctors yada yada yada. I'm tired. I've had foggy brand causing balance problems for almost 3 years and I've had so many tests and nothing can be found that's obvious that warrants a diagnosis. It makes you feel unbelievable and it's so real. So frustrated.
@carsoncreek Your poor daughter. How frustrating to feel awful and get no answers. There are so many autoimmune diseases now and many of them are new. If Mayo Clinic is still difficult to get into, you can try university hospital or the Mayo Clinic Care Network:
https://mayoclinic.org/about-mayo-clinic/care-networks/members
Another good link for Mayo appointments:
https://mayoclinic/1mtmR63
Will you stay in touch and let me know how everything is going?