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Arthritis (Expert Forum)
immune system gone beserk???
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
Kevin Pho, MD
Boston - MA
This forum is for questions and support regarding arthritis issues such as: Arthritis, Autoimmune Disease, Bursitis, Fibromyalgia, Gout, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Myositis, Neuralgia, Osteoarthritis, Polymyalgia Rheumatica, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sciatica, Tendinitis, Vasculitis.
immune system gone beserk???
by lilahfairy, Oct 03, 2005 12:00AM
im a 27 year old female. i have a history of joint problems (ankles, knee and hips... gp diagnosed osgood schlatters as a teenager but it never really got better.) repeated infections, and everyso often allergy-type-episodes such as breaking out ion hives for two weeks, or random rashes.
this summer i had six infections in three months. (throat, uti and oral)
now i am allergic again. my muscles ache(neck, back and arms are worst) and are tender to the touch in the morning when i wake up. my wrists and toes hurt. my right foot arch hurt when i walked today. this has been for the last 2 weeks. i itch over most of my body. i have an acne like rash over my face... cheeks and forehead. i became allergic to my pure silver jewellery and had a rash from that. i keep getting a tingling/numb sensation in my fingertips of my left hand. i have had 3 bouts of diahrroea last week. i feel very tired and tearful. i had shooting pains up the side of my back today. i seem to be worse in the evening. my memory has deteriorated in that last two months. i saw my gp who gave me hydrocortisone cream. went back. this one said i am 'evidentally quite an allergic person' and gave me a months course of fexofenadine. said to come back for more if it persists. i took the fexo yesterday and today and so far it isnt helping. took ibuprofen for the pain (as he suggested) but that didnt help much either. he said i seem allergic, but wont refer me for allergy tests. im getting so desperate im thinking of turning to holistic therapists. i am also experiencing psychotic type symptoms alot more than i usually do. theres an unreality about everything .
maybe he's right and im just mad and its just stress.
itchyandachey
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Oct 04, 2005 12:00AM
, Oct 04, 2005 12:00AM
Difficult to say without evaluation.
Certainly the constant itchy rash would warrant some form of allergy testing, including IgE testing for various antigents.
The tingling sensation in the fingertips may be caused by carpal tunnel or other nerve disorder/compression. A referral to a neurologist can be considered for electrodiagnostic testing.
Diarrhea can also have many causes. Infection should certainly be ruled out - but if it continues, a sigmoidoscopy can be done to evaluate for inflammatory bowel disease. If there is stress and anxiety present, you can consider irritable bowel syndrome as a possible diagnosis.
If the rash continues despite normal testing, you can consider a referral to a dermatologist. A skin biopsy can be considered to give a more definitive diagnosis.
These options can be discussed with your personal physician or in conjunction with a second opinion.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
http://www.straightfromthedoc.com
Certainly the constant itchy rash would warrant some form of allergy testing, including IgE testing for various antigents.
The tingling sensation in the fingertips may be caused by carpal tunnel or other nerve disorder/compression. A referral to a neurologist can be considered for electrodiagnostic testing.
Diarrhea can also have many causes. Infection should certainly be ruled out - but if it continues, a sigmoidoscopy can be done to evaluate for inflammatory bowel disease. If there is stress and anxiety present, you can consider irritable bowel syndrome as a possible diagnosis.
If the rash continues despite normal testing, you can consider a referral to a dermatologist. A skin biopsy can be considered to give a more definitive diagnosis.
These options can be discussed with your personal physician or in conjunction with a second opinion.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
http://www.straightfromthedoc.com
But your skin reactions, frequent infections, and neck and shoulder pain...are definitely hypothyroid symptoms. Doctors often miss this diagnosis in a person because the person doesn't fit the erroneous stereotype of older woman is who lazy and overweight. But I have seen that more frequently hypothyroidism presents as some type of cluster of assorted symptoms. My own case once just had skin disorder, asthma and sinus disorder, anxiety and digestive issues. Unfortunately, I was seeing 4 different docs for those conditions and so it took a while before I was able to get diagnosed. It took other symptoms appearing and increasing to a debilitating level. This is a problem in a culture that sees various specialists for their disorders.
So check it out. Ya just never know...