Multiple AutoImmune Diseases or a bigger picture?

[Misha29]

I am a 31 year old woman.  In the past 7 years I have been diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, Hypothyroidism (started after pregnancy) and now Arthritis.   Minor things I also suffer from are severe acne (cystic), canker sores- chronic, and allergies.  During my first and only pregnancy (3 years ago) I was very healthy and many of my conditions improved greatly which makes me wonder if they are all "immune" related as I have read that the immune system is supressed somewhat during pregnancy.

I should mention that I lead a very healthy lifestyle.   I do not (have never) smoked, I don't drink and I don't eat many processed foods.  I try to eat organic foods as much as possible also.  I also excersise regularly.

I seem to have a lot of inflammatory ailments and I wonder if there is something the individual specialists I see (Gastroenterology, Endocrinology) are missing?  Could I have some other kind of immune dysfunction?  I have been tested for lupus and AIDS (both negative).  I am feeling rather desperate these days as I feel I am too young to have so many medical issues and I want to get on with my life.  Do you have any suggestions as to a course of action for me?  

Any answers you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Misha

[Garth L Nicolson, PhD]

I think that you should look into chronic infections.  Infections such as Mycoplasma species or Chlamydia pneumoniae can cause all of the symptoms that you list and many more.  These infections also seem to improve during pregnancy, possibly due to a change in hormonal status that does not favor growth of the microorganisms.  They also are suppressed by long-term antibiotics, except for penicillin-type antibiotics which makes it worse, and you may have noticed that you felt better while on antibiotics but relapsed after stopping them.  Unfortunately, treatment takes a long time due to a number of reasons listed in one of my posts today, but most patients eventually recover.

[Misha29]

I should also mention I get almost daily headaches at times, it seems to correlate with the times I feel fatigued.

[Garth L Nicolson, PhD]

This is one of the more common symptoms found in patients with these infections, almost as common as night sweats, diarrhea, eye problems, dizziness and vision problems.  These are found in about 70% of patients.  It is also quite common to see such problems track with chronic fatigue, the most common symptom.