Autoimmune Conditions ......

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Registered: 11-09-2001
Autoimmune Conditions ......
Sun, 08-29-2004 - 11:27am
Since so many of us have autoimmune hypo (hashimoto's) or hyper (Graves) thyroid conditions and we're always wondering about the connection between it and other autoimmune conditions, I thought this article might be interesting. The list of symptoms below the first article is a real goldmine of information. Cathy :)

A Look at Symptoms that Point to Undiagnosed Autoimmune Disease

by Mary J. Shomon

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is one of the most common autoimmune diseases. "Autoimmune disease" refers to a category of more than 80 chronic illnesses, each very different in nature, that can affect everything from the endocrine glands -- like the thyroid -- to organs like the kidneys, to the digestive system. Underlying all autoimmune conditions is the concept of autoimmunity. Autoimmunity refers to the process by which the immune system gets confused, and rather than protecting organs and cells, turns around and actually attacks those same organs and cells, producing inflammatory reactions and other serious symptoms and diseases.

Autoimmune diseases predominantly strike women and are more common during childbearing years, and frequently appear in women who have just had a baby, after periods of high emotional or physical stress or accidents, or during periods of hormonal change.

Autoimmune diseases also can run in families, and having one autoimmune disease increases your risk slightly of developing another. you should familiarize yourself with the symptoms of various autoimmune diseases, so you can monitor your own health, and the health of your family, for evidence of other conditions.

Autoimmune Disease Checklist:

A Handy List of Symptoms That Can Point to Possible Autoimmune Conditions, to Bring to the Doctor


by Mary Shomon

The following is a partial checklist of frequently-noticed symptoms of the most common autoimmune conditions. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it covers many of the common autoimmune symptoms and conditions. Carefully filling out this checklist and taking it to your doctor can be an important first step in getting appropriate testing and the right medical diagnosis. (For more information on autoimmune conditions, read, Do You Have An Autoimmune Disease? )

Fever / Body Temperature

_____ Elevated fever, higher body temperature - Lupus, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome

_____ Feeling cold when others feel hot -- Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

_____ Feeling hot when others feel cold -- Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism

_____ Low body temperature -- Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

Hair

_____ Hair loss, round bald patches on the scalp -- Alopecia Areata

_____ Hair loss, loss of facial and scalp hair -- Alopecia Totalis, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Lupus

_____ Male patterned baldness -- Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

_____ Excess hair growth on the face faces, necks, chests, abdomens, and thighs, in women - Cushing's Disease, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

_____ Loss of hair in outer eyebrow -- Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

_____ Hair is rough, coarse dry, breaking, brittle - Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism

Skin

_____ Hyperpigmentation, or dark tanning in skin -- Addison's Disease

_____ Painful skin rash, called dermatitis herpetiformis -- Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome

_____ Fragile thin skin - Cushing's Disease

_____ Skin that bruises easily - Cushing's Disease

_____ Acne -- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

_____ Skin rashes, especially "butterfly rash" on the nose and cheeks -- Lupus

_____ Sun sensitivity -- Lupus

_____ Skin thickening -- Scleroderma

_____ Skin ulcers on the fingers -- Scleroderma

Eyes

_____ Dry eyes -- Sjogren's Syndrome, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism

_____ Blurred vision -- Sjogren's Syndrome, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Multiple Sclerosis

_____ Eye discomfort or pain -- Sjogren's Syndrome, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Multiple Sclerosis

_____ Nystagmus or jerking, rapid involuntary eye movement -- Multiple Sclerosis, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

_____ Optic neuritis, inflammation of the nerves in the eye -- Multiple Sclerosis

_____ Unclear or double vision -- Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Multiple Sclerosis

Throat, Neck, Voice, Mouth

_____ Dry mouth -- Sjogren's Syndrome

_____ Hoarseness, husky or gravelly voice -- Sjogren's Syndrome, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism

_____ Difficulty in swallowing -- Sjogren's Syndrome, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism

_____ Mouth and nose sores -- Lupus

_____ Pale sores inside the mouth, called aphthus ulcers -- Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome

_____ Fullness or pressure, choking sensation in throat, lump in the neck -- Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism

Fatigue, Sleep

_____ Chronic fatigue - Addison's Disease, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Sjogren's Syndrome, Lupus, Insulin-Dependent Type 1 Diabetes

_____ Insomnia -- Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism

_____ Exhaustion after minimal effort or exercise - Fibromyalgia, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Sjogren's Syndrome, Lupus

Muscles, Joints, Tendons

_____ Pain and tenderness throughout the body - Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Lupus, Sjogren's Syndrome

_____ Muscle weakness -- Addison's Disease, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

_____ Joint Stiffness - Scleroderma, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia

_____ Bone, joint and muscle aches, inflammation, and pains -- Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Cushing's Disease, Lupus, Sjogren's Syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis

_____ Backaches, unexplained rib and spinal column fractures- Cushing's Disease

_____ Deformed joints - Rheumatoid Arthritis

_____ Carpal-tunnel syndrome / tendinitis -- Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

Hands and Feet

_____ Raynaud's phenomenon (extreme sensitivity to cold in the hands and feet) -- Lupus, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism

_____ Swelling in hands and feet - Lupus, Scleroderma, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

Weight Changes

_____ Weight loss -- Addison's Disease, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Lupus, Insulin-Dependent Type 1 Diabetes

_____ Weight Gain - Cushing's Disease, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome

_____ Weight gain in upper body, abdomen - Cushing's Disease, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

_____ Rounded or puffy face - Cushing's Disease, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

_____ Increased fat around the neck - Cushing's Disease

_____ Thinning arms and legs - Cushing's Disease

Digestion, Gastrointestinal

_____ Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea -- Addison's Disease, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Scleroderma, Insulin-Dependent Type 1 Diabetes

_____ Recurring abdominal bloating and pain -- Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome

_____ Pale, foul-smelling stool -- Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome

_____ Gas -- Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome

_____ Increased urination -- Insulin-Dependent Type 1 Diabetes

_____ Constipation - Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

Pulse/Blood Pressure

_____ Low blood pressure -- Addison's Disease, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

_____ High blood pressure- Cushing's Disease, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

_____ Slow pulse -- Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

_____ Fast Pulse -- Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism

Mood, Thinking

_____ Irritability, anxiety and depression -- Addison's Disease, Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Cushing's Disease, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

_____ "Brain Fog," difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness -- Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Balance, Coordination, Neurological Symptoms

_____ Lack of coordination or unsteady gait -- Multiple Sclerosis

_____ Dizziness, vertigo -- Multiple Sclerosis, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

_____ Numbness, weakness, tingling or paralysis in one or more limbs - Multiple Sclerosis, Insulin-Dependent Type 1 Diabetes

_____ Tremor -- Multiple Sclerosis, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism

Food/Drink & Cravings

_____ Craving of salty foods -- Addison's Disease

_____ Increased thirst -- Insulin-Dependent Type 1 Diabetes

_____ Loss of appetite -- Addison's Disease, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism

Menstruation/Gynecological - Women

_____ Irregular or absent menstrual periods -- Addison's Disease, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Cushing's Disease, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

_____ Cysts on Ovaries -- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Fertility and Sex Drive, Pregnancy

_____ Infertility or decreased fertility in women -- Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

_____ Decreased fertility in men- Cushing's Disease

_____ Reduced sex drive - Cushing's Disease, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

_____ Recurrent miscarriage - Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

Breathing

_____ Increase in snoring -- Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

_____ Shortness of breath and tightness in the chest -- Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

Especially in Children

_____ Delayed growth in children, failure to thrive in infants -- Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Cushing's Disease, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

Blood Changes

_____ Unexplained anemia (low count of red blood cells) -- Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome

_____ High cholesterol levels -- Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

Blood Sugar Changes

_____ Hypoglycemia/low blood sugar -- Addison's Disease, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

_____ High blood sugar- Cushing's Disease, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)