Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

I'm so sorry to hear about your trouble with the spinal headache- I had one after a spinal steroid injection that required a blood patch, and I know how painful that is.

As for your question, yes, I feel like I'm collecting diagnoses. Part of it is related to medication-I now have IBS, and I think it's from all the NSAIDS. I had some other problems before the RA, including hypothyroidism and severe spinal stenosis. I had meningitis as an infant and my mom is convinced that started off a chain reaction in my body that didn't show up until years later. I don't think that's exactly right, but it's as good a theory as any.

Raynauds was one of the first symptoms of my disease that I had. Mine is moderate, and I have already run through many heart medications (as well as Viagra - YES - Viagra) to treat it, without much success. I am now on Pro-Cardia, which my PCP favors for Raynauds. It has improved, but circulation problems to my hand and feet are a continuous problem. YES, they are all connected in most certainty; prior to my dx. I NEVER had circulation problems. Good luck,

(((Heather)))

I am so sorry to hear that you have water on the brain. I hope you are doing better after the spinal tap, and will continue to improve.

Where as I have not had the problems you have had, I definitely think that autoimmune disease collect friends the longer you have them. I have celiac disease, sjögren's syndrome, and autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

I too have raynaud's.

I also get migraine headaches, and I have severe food allergies (especially eggs), although I am not totally sure if these are related.

Aoife

I hope you find quick relief from your problem with fluid on your brain. That's got to be very scary. Quick relief from RA and everything else, too!

I convinced that many autoimmune problems are related, possibly with the same genetic susceptibility. I had irritable bowel syndrome for many years before a parade of other issues, including ulcerative colitis, fibromyalgia, Raynaud's and RA. I have a skin condition that I believe is related, as well, but I don't have supporting opinions, yet, not that it would do me much good.

Good luck with your neuro appointment, and best wishes with your treatment(s).

doug

Sorry to hear about all your pain. Hope you feel better soon. I was reading a little bit about cortisol studies done in relation to abused children(because I work with them and was one.) They stressed out baby rats by just having humans handle them at birth. Their cortisol levels remained elevated and they had all kinds of problems for life. Not to say that we're all abused children, but Stress response is definitely linked to auto immune disease. I know for me stress= more pain and problems every time. I haven't checked to see what's happening with those studies on brain - immune reaction lately. but, I thought it was very interesting. I too have had the number of diseases and problems progress and multiply.

I am so sorry to hear you are having a rough time Dawn.I hope it all gets sorted soon. *Hugs*

Yes.

Mine started with Necrobiosis lipoidica back when I was 18. The doctors told me it's associated with diabetes, though I don't have that in my family. So far so good.

Then later, I got pleurisy sort of out of the blue. And it returned when I got RA.

But before that I was diagnosed at 24 with hypothyroidism.

This is a fun journey, isn't it?

Now I think I might have Crohn's disease, although when I tell people this, they think I'm crazy. If I do have it, it's very controlled, only having flares here and there. Eating healthy makes a big difference.

I've also noticed that I most likely have Raynauds. It was pointed out to me back when I was 24....my toes were abnormally purple. At times even when it's not cold, my fingers seem to turn white. So I've made a conscious effort to do everything I can to keep my hands and toes warm, never allowing them to get too cold.

It's frustrating that we have to deal with so much and I'm sure it's frustrating for others too.
Hugs,
Sarah

I'm sorry to hear all of this is happening to you and hope you start to feel a lot better real quick. I think it's common for other diseases to come to those of us who have autoimmune disorders. If you think about it, your body is attacking itself, so if that process is ongoing, it makes sense that other disorders would be quick to jump on board and that our bodies can't defend themselves against all the attacks. I started out with an abnormal C-reactive protein which stayed constant for a number of years, then was diagnosed with Sjogrens, and about 5 years later with RA. Once when the doctor left the room and left my chart behind I took a good look at it and saw Raynauds written on it. My hands do get red, but he never told me that. Yet once the inflammation levels were down and I was responding to the meds, he told me my hands didn't look as blue. Who knows with these crazy diseases. Any way, I hope you are doing a lot better. Take care of yourself!

Dawn,

I think I must have been out of it when I replied last.

I am so so sorry to hear what you are going through. It sounds very scary and I hope you get some answers and pain free days coming your way.
Many hugs,
Sarah

hi dawn , i have just been diagnosed oct 2009 but have had extreme headaches since august, had mri last week awaiting results when have enough energy to go for the appointment, not sure if related yet. i am still getting over shock of all the symptoms, came on after recovering from flu thnen pneumonia. pray you are feeling well.g