Confusing symptoms
I have read that there are very few lupus/ra patients and understand that some symptoms are very general and could characterize the majority of different autoimmune connective tissue diseases, but I currently sit here with a pos RA factor, pos ANA and disfiguring fingers (aches, fatigue and most normal symptoms of RA) and a huge chanker sore in the soft part of mouth by my cheek, a rash (looks like tiny red pinpricks) on my chest (that gets more pronounced in sunshine), recurrent kidney issues, a discoid rash on my wrist that was dubbed a fixed medication reaction (just happens to react to antibiotics that you are supposed to avoid sunlight with)...to top it off, I'm experiencing periodic menopausal symptoms (hot flashes and night sweats)...I have extensive family history including: RA, Lupus, Scleraderma, possibly marfaran and AS...I think genetic testing would be helpful to give final diagnosis but don't know if it really matters that much as far as treatment...does anyone have any experience with odd symptoms that fit into other diseases? Just wondering...
Hi Virginia, symptoms for RA can vary a great deal along with side effects from medications/treatments. Here's a page on the website about RA symptoms: https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/symptoms/. Some folks with RA also experience related autoimmune conditions. It's a good idea to talk with your doctor about your symptoms to see if other issues are affecting you and if your treatment plan should be adjusted. -Kelly (Site Moderator)
I don't have a rheumatologist at present, not able to work so no insurance...it's just that all of the diseases have "hallmarks" and any other symptom can be attributed to that specific disease, but when I look at my family history and my symptoms and labs....the rheumatologist that I have seen in the past was less than helpful and my sister is seeing a top rated rheumatologist in New York...they don't even know what to label her illness after years...currently she has been dubbed "undefferienciated mixed connective tissue disease" with scleroderma as her primary symptom, even though that is the one component in her blood work that she is lacking to be dubbed true MCD...I'm not taking any medications...I was petrified that I would catch something fatal (RN dealing with antything from TB to MRSA to ??? while in severe pain and totaly run down with fatigue and all the other lovely symptoms...and very frequently sick with sinus, ear, bladder ect)as I can see that the longer my immune system plays havoc on my, well, everything and more and more permanent damage occurs...I'm trying to get a plan in order so I can quickly get on something...funny enough, I had 2 out of 6 patients one night that had both just started the medication (I can't spell it, or spell much of anything with my memory now) jelzan ... both so ill with respiratory infections that they were borderline ICU...mental note taken...don't think I want that medication...but I need something maybe try methotrexate...but I'm so sick and tired of being sick and tired...I had a skin biopsy on the discoid rash on my wrist hoping that it was lyme disease...that I could be cured of feeling this way...2 different times I have been told how odd my health is...2 of my teeth were fused together...not in the roots - 30 years of dentistry and he had never seen that before...the surgeon that operated on me after I had a tubal pregnancy rupture...(which is very rare itself...like 1 in 1,000,000 after having your tubes tied)tells me that "all my insides are stuck together" and he too had never seen anything like it in his career and retired soon after my surgery...I asked him what it meant? what should I do? He replied "Nothing" and walked out of the room...this is why I have anxiety and lack of faith in doctors/dentists...and I had a stroke in my late 20's from welbutrion (that I was taking to try to quit smoking)...but I never had it confirmed because I didn't recognize the symptoms until I was in nursing school and by then, the symptom (studdering) was almost completely gone...I have no faith and frankly not much hope...and I am feeling sorry for myself about not being able to work in the field that I love anymore...I can't hold down I job unless I get my symptoms under control...I'm ranting and I'm sorry it just makes me feel worse to rant, feel like a dog chasing his tail............
