Hypothyroid or Lupus or what?

Allergies, blood and immune system
1

Hi;

I'm new to the forum and have recently posted on the hypothyroid section.

I am a 54 year old woman and have visited my doctor re. menopause symptoms; tiredness,poor sleep, hot/cold nightsweats,loss of libido since age 50 but only started hrt a month ago .

In the last couple of months, symptoms have got worse including dizziness/loss of balance so bad I'm frightened I'm going to pass out.

10 days ago I had a dizzy,weak legs,numb feet and disconnected episode when out with a friend and I've been housebound except visiting my doctor eversince.I'm ok if I do nothing and have short bursts of energy before my muscles go wobbly, I get out of breath and dizzy.

I've had lots of blood tests including ana and tsh and the only low reading was on my white blood cell count, but the doctor isn't bothered about that.

I think I've got an auto-immune problem and have many symptoms of hypothyroid and a family history and have asked my doctor for further tests to rule it out.

So why do I wonder if it's mild lupus instead? I prob. have vitiligo (def. got small white patches on both arms) and def. got raynards syndrome.Since my mid-twenties I have been very sensitive to sunlight with turbo-charged prickly heat, red raised rash, severe itching and bad cold shakes in the night if I expose my skin too long on holiday.Air-con. on holiday is also a nightmare as I start the night with hot sweats and wake up later with cold shakes.

The other thing that makes me think lupus is that i have had this "non-flu" two or three times a year for several years,although only occasionally with severe joint pain, usually weakness and very prone to mouth ulcers and cold sores.

I know that there are lots of things it could be but I'm refusing to explore the depression/cfs/ibs route before the others are ruled out as I think I've got them as a result of, not a cause! also fed up of the "it's your age" although hrt has cut down some of the night sweats.

Sorry for the extreme length of this post, just exploring answers.

cheers.

 

2

Hi Then please force your GP to take your problems seriously! He needs to test you for autoimmune diseases and the test is an ANA. This is the main test for autoimmune diseases. You need to think before you go is there any family history as usually ther will be a clue. Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriasis, breast cancer, inability to have children. Painful periods in a family member. prostrate cancer, asthma skin problems. This is NOT YOU! Now think about yourself as all autoimmune diseases are very complex. Childhood illness, problems, are you double jointed, asthma, eczema, childbirth, operations, rashes, pain, tiredness. 

You certainly have several related problems, Raynaulds, vitiligo, skin sensitivity and heat intolerance, shivering mouth ulcers. 

Next get your GP to test for Coeliac if you have IBS. If your family history is down the Psoriatic line you may have negative bloods if your GP then looks for RO and LA and the lip biopsy too thinking of Sjögren's! Do you have any history of skin problems? PCOS which might have given you painful heavy periods. Unfortunately GPs are rushed off their feet these days and don't have the time that they used to to look at your past history. To make matters worse some never kept proper records until they had to! I am so very sorry that you are in this state. If you would like to chat further about autoimmune diseases please do come into British Sjogrens a FB group fun by BSSA members for BSSA members. I have seronegative SS and SLE so I do know all the problems you face. Have you ever had swollen glands or very dry eyes and mouth. 

 

3

Hi,Pam;

We def. have a family history of thyroid problems and onset diabetes but I'm not sure about any of the others.

I've got very itchy eyes recently and they weep sometimes and my skin gets itchy; I could scratch my scalp off sometimes.

As well as sun allergy I am allergic to a lot of moisturisers and blow up like a red incredible hulk so I only risk "simple" products and following some really bad sun allergy I discovered that I'd become allergic to the suntan lotion as they've changed the formula on my beloved piz buin "sun allergy" lotion which would let me sun myself for a few minutes.have wasted loads of money on other allegedly sun allergy/hypoallergic lotions.

I've never had children and my periods stopped aged 40 when they moved me from the combined pill to the mini-pill which was around the time I started to get hyperactive thyroid and was on tablets for 6 months.Decided to take myself off the minipill last year at age 53 and had a lovely month of withdrawal symptoms; stomach cramps,headaches,aching muscles and nausea...just one of the great things they don't tell you about being female!

4

Hi, Pam;

thanks for the info.

think the fog is starting to lift (touch wood).

may need to row back on thyroid with my gp although i'm pretty convinced i've got autoimmune something!

take care  .x