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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Strange symptom

klwfroggy
klwfroggy
Ok, this is going to sound strange, but on Saturday night, I got this sharp pain between my armpit and my breast, kind of where the muscle or tendon goes. It was really sharp, so I went to look in the mirror to see if something was poking me and there was this red area. About an inch wide and two inches long. I could tell it was swollen, but no lumps or bumps or bites of any kind. The next morning, it was still sore, but not quite as red, but I could see a swollen lymph node nearby in my armpit. It is still sore and now it is pink, and the lymph node is still swollen. I get swollen lymph nodes all the time, so is this a coincidence, or is this because of the lymph node? Any advice or can anyone relate?
Thanks
-Kate
deleted_user
deleted_user
Do you think it could be shingles?
klwfroggy
klwfroggy
I don't think so. No rash has appeared, and although it is still swollen, it isn't red anymore, so hopefully it is going away. Guess I just have to wait it out. Thanks!
Catalyzt
Catalyzt
Probably a swollen lymph node, which I also get occasionally, and which my doctors ignore with a certain aggravating insouciance.

I would get it looked at if it doesn't go down immediately. It's probably MCTD, but a swollen lymph node can be almost anything.

God, I hate new symptoms. Like, "Oh, crap, what now?" (With me it's tinnitus.)
deleted_user
deleted_user
also had in the past swollen painful lymph nodes with no explanation. they come and go.
deleted_user
deleted_user
what about the tinnitus? is it a symptom of MCTD/Lupus?Sjogren'? I am going crazy with this at the moment, I usually have it all the time, since forever, but never as bad as it is now. I just came of prednisone, was on it for 4 weeks for pneumonitis possible caused by methotrexate or disease progression? they are not sure. if anyone knows about this please let me know.
klwfroggy
klwfroggy
Tinnitus is not neccessarily a symptom of MCTD. I don't know if it is a Sjogren's symptom or not. Really anyone can get it for any number of reasons, but the ent told me that it is caused by damage to the nerves in the ear. I have severe high pitched hearing loss, and that is why I have it. They don't really know why I have the hearing loss. They say it is a possibility that I have Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease, but it is also a possibility that the plaquenil did some ear damage. You can get hearing aids that help or there is biofeedback and ear training to block out the sounds, but nothing that really gets "rid of it". If it is driving you crazy, you should go to an ENT. I should have gone earlier, they told me they could have helped me more when it first started, but now the damage is done.
-Kate