MCTD Support Group
Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) or Sharp's syndrome is a human autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body. MCTD combines features of polymyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and systemic scleroderma and is thus considered an overlap syndrome. MCTD commonly causes joint pain/swelling, Raynaud phenomenon, muscle inflammation, and scarring of...
Hi Everyone,
Well I just got a concrete diagnosis of MCTD this past Friday.
It all began the week of Easter....I went to my GP with L wrist and hand swelling I had going on two weeks. I thought I may have injured myself but nothing happened that I can pinpoint would be the cause...also my L shoulder had been hurting for a few months...I figured you turn 40 and aches and pains are just part of it. My arm felt painful and heavy, kinda like when you get a shot only that pain was in the whole arm.
Both hand were blue, but I was cold and thought that was why as it happens from time to time. She had me take off my shoes and socks...blue toes as well. I was send for an arterial doppler on my left arm (fingers slightly bluer and colder) to be sure no clotting in my arm, a series of xrays, and blood work which she said she also wanted to test me for auto-immune diseases because of the joint pain and Raynaud's.
Doppler was good. X-rays were good too. My blood work showed high ANA and RPN as well as low Vitamin D.
She mentioned MCTD since my RNP was high and suggested I go to a Rheumy for further testing and evaluation.
On Easter weekend (3 days later), my other wrist and thumb began to hurt and swell and I had 99.8 temp....on Sunday my L foot by my big toe began to pain me and was hot to the touch while the other toes were cold. The low grade temp lasted for a few days. She told me it may be a while before I can get in to the Rhemy but she will treat me in the interim. She was right - it took 3 months to get into him.
The pain in my hands and arms stayed constant these 3 months, some days better than others....I had another 'flare' two weeks ago.
I loved my Rheumy....he was great! He placed me on Paquinal, a beta blocker high blood pressure med for my Raynaud's and Livito Reticularis, a prescription NSAID and Tramadol for the pain. I am hopefull that these meds work as I will do all I can to stay away from Prednisone - I do not want to go that route although I know the future may deem it.
His lab took 12 viles of blood from me Friday - most I have ever had taken at one time. I wonder what will show up. I have already had ANA positive twice and RNP positive twice as well at 5.2 then 7.8 two weeks ago.
I just want to feel normal....so sick of waking up feeling like rigamortis has set in.....so painful to get moving.
Just wanted to share my story .... hope to be friends with some of you who are going through the same.
God Bless!
Alaura
Well I just got a concrete diagnosis of MCTD this past Friday.
It all began the week of Easter....I went to my GP with L wrist and hand swelling I had going on two weeks. I thought I may have injured myself but nothing happened that I can pinpoint would be the cause...also my L shoulder had been hurting for a few months...I figured you turn 40 and aches and pains are just part of it. My arm felt painful and heavy, kinda like when you get a shot only that pain was in the whole arm.
Both hand were blue, but I was cold and thought that was why as it happens from time to time. She had me take off my shoes and socks...blue toes as well. I was send for an arterial doppler on my left arm (fingers slightly bluer and colder) to be sure no clotting in my arm, a series of xrays, and blood work which she said she also wanted to test me for auto-immune diseases because of the joint pain and Raynaud's.
Doppler was good. X-rays were good too. My blood work showed high ANA and RPN as well as low Vitamin D.
She mentioned MCTD since my RNP was high and suggested I go to a Rheumy for further testing and evaluation.
On Easter weekend (3 days later), my other wrist and thumb began to hurt and swell and I had 99.8 temp....on Sunday my L foot by my big toe began to pain me and was hot to the touch while the other toes were cold. The low grade temp lasted for a few days. She told me it may be a while before I can get in to the Rhemy but she will treat me in the interim. She was right - it took 3 months to get into him.
The pain in my hands and arms stayed constant these 3 months, some days better than others....I had another 'flare' two weeks ago.
I loved my Rheumy....he was great! He placed me on Paquinal, a beta blocker high blood pressure med for my Raynaud's and Livito Reticularis, a prescription NSAID and Tramadol for the pain. I am hopefull that these meds work as I will do all I can to stay away from Prednisone - I do not want to go that route although I know the future may deem it.
His lab took 12 viles of blood from me Friday - most I have ever had taken at one time. I wonder what will show up. I have already had ANA positive twice and RNP positive twice as well at 5.2 then 7.8 two weeks ago.
I just want to feel normal....so sick of waking up feeling like rigamortis has set in.....so painful to get moving.
Just wanted to share my story .... hope to be friends with some of you who are going through the same.
God Bless!
Alaura
Mary Ann
We are here if you have any questions
beth
Welcome to the group. You'll learn a lot here and meet a lot of great people.
Sharon
I have only been on the Plaquenil for 4 days and I swear I already feel a difference in my energy and my stiffness! If I stayed in a position for 10 min I would get stiff but not so bad in the last day or so....still have pain but not that constant - more intermittent. So is it normal to have such a reaction so quickly?? If this is now I am so very hopeful I can feel 'normal' (what is that??? lol) again!
The only thing I notice different that could be from the meds is I am ITCHING A LOT! Mainly on my back and chest. Also not hungry at all....I find that just fine by me. Been wanting to take off 15 - 20 lbs so if is does that too that is a bonus.