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...

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Mctd

Hazele3474
Hazele3474

Ok so here is my story I suffer from all over pain went to my family dr and she had me get blood work done all that came back was a postive ana ok short story ended up having lyme got treated ! Still having brain fog and pain went back to my rheumatologist had more blood work done still ana positve but lyme came back negative so that's gone. But still very tired and in pain so she put me on Plaquenil and diagnosed me with MCTD. I have had 2 more ana tests both positive still! I don't know much about this disease and how serious I should take this.all I know i am 41 and I feel like my body is giving up:(

MToennis
MToennis
I had to think about how to answer this one! Lyme can morph into other disorders. I have a friend that started with Rocky mtn Spotted Fever and ended up with RA! Usually, you have a tendency toward an autoimmune disorder and it comes out due to the stress of the disease. I know a lady with ulcerative colitis that started out as gall bladder surgery. As for the severity of MCTD, it can be very severe or not so much. Some folks on this site are very ill and some have died, others just keep going and are doing well. I take about 20 pills a day. I went to the Dr yesterday and asked him about getting off some. He said, you take a lot of meds for someone who looks so healthy and is so active. I think if I changed anything, you would not be so healthy.
Normally, I would just tell you to read past posts, but this new site is really screwed up. So I suggest you read some of the posts you can find and look up info about MCTD on webmd or other reputable sites. Remember, there are a lot of quack sites that just want your money.
I recently read about a cure for cancer from some plant in the amazon and "Why is the government not exploring this great option?" Well, in research, I discovered the CDC did look at this plant and found it was able to kill cancer cells but killed normal cell faster so you had to be dead before it worked. Just one example.
Also, dont worry about being dead right away. I have had this for 10 years and am trucking along fairly well. KAT has had it for about 30 years!
Good luck!
Mary Ann
kmaharg
kmaharg
I have had a positive ANA and positive RNP for years now, I was first tested in 2012. I have other symptoms such as geographic tongue, high frquency tinnitus, calf fasticulations and an abnormal leg muscle MRI. Trying plaquenil but it doesn't seem to do much for me. Do you have any other symptoms?