vitiligo with other non-specific symptoms

[jayem102]

40 yr old female.  Diagnosed with vitiligo 2 yrs ago.
Was told it was not associated with other autoimmune disorders, although I have since learned that it is sometimes. No tests were done, just visual diagnosis. Was given topical steroids.  No effect.  Spreading, though mainly on hands and face still.

Have since developed new symptoms and other symptoms that have been mild and / or intermittent for years have gotten worse.  Not sure how to proceed.

Worsening symptoms:
Fatigue (now getting rather extreme, even after seemingly a long sleep).
Small (2 - 10 mm) red (non-itchy) flat, flaky or scaly patches on peripheral limbs (esp. legs) that do not respond to topicals of any kind.    Now appearing on face.
Lower back pain
GI dismobility (usually constipation despite lots fiber water and exercise), sometimes diarrhea.  
Also general abdominal discomfort (tender), sometimes more painful. (Was diagnosed “symptomatically” with endometriosis a number of years ago but nearly continual use of birth control pills control those symptoms very well.
Sleep disturbances.
Nausea

New symptoms:
Leg pain (almost exclusively left side) sometimes with coldness of limb (verified by husband) followed by "release" to tingling "hot" sensation (like stepping into a hot shower after being in the cold).   This occurs always in left leg and is sometimes help by topical calculates.
Leg pain is sometimes accompanied by erthymas (rash like or "vascular" patterned); again left side.
General feeling of "illness" e.g.: tired, general muscle ache and muscle fatigue, intermittent sore throat, running nose and watery eyes - like I'm always fighting something off but it never gets very bad.
Occasional shortness of breath
Temperature dis-regulation (hot cold chills).
Headaches

Increase of B12 seemed to help skin, muscle pain, erthymas and fatigue for a bit, but not as much anymore.

The symptoms are so wide spread and non-specific I really don’t know if there is anything else really wrong or if I should be worried.  Or if they could be associated with the vitiligo or another autoimmune problem.
What tests do I need?  What type of doctor should I go to?
(Other fact: sero-converted for TB (skin test postive, chest Xray negative, symptoms negative about 12 years ago while working in a hospital. 6 months propylatic antibiotic treatment - no problems).
Thanks for any advice.

[jayem102]

mistyped in above: under new symptoms:  " topical calculates" should read "topical salicylates" such as myoflex, nuprin rubs.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

'Vitiligo may be associated with other autoimmune diseases, especially thyroid disease and diabetes mellitus. Other associated autoimmune diseases include pernicious anemia, Addison disease, and alopecia areata.'

Consult your doctor to rule these out in your case. You should ask your GP to refer you to a specialist.

You could read more about this at the following link -

http://www.emedicine.com/DERM/topic453.htm

Let us know if you need any other information.

Regards.

[muaaz]

The most important symptom of vitiligo is usually the appearance of a light colored patch in the skin, referred to as de-pigmentation. This de-pigmentation (loss of skin color) may vary in shade from patient to patient and also from one patch to the other. Such white patches are more common on the peripheral parts of the body (like face, hands, torso and genitalia) which are more exposed to sun light. This distribution is some time called centrifugal distribution.
The white/lighter color patches of vitiligo are more easily seen in the dark skin. Vitiligo may be noticed only in winter in the white races when the surrounding skin is tanned, and vitiligo affected skin stands out by contrast, so vitiligo diagnose in white races is relatively difficult.
The skin in vitiligo patches is usually sensitive to sun (photo sensitivity) and sun burns are common symptoms of vitiligo.
Similar white patches can be seen on the mucus membranes (the internal surfaces of the body like inside of mouth, nose and private parts) of certain people.
Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease and is hence associated with many other auto immune disorders, especially thyroid disease. It is common to have more than one members in the family who are effected by vitiligo.
Hair in the affected area may also lose their pigment and may even fall down in extreme cases.
Eyes may be affected in vitiligo by a condition known as uveitis (inflammation of choroidal layer of the eye)