Multiple diagnoses

[twinkenwisp]

Hello,

I am not even sure which category to post this question under, but I thought I'd start here. Over the years, I have been diagnosed with a string of different issues. Each time, it's an additional diagnosis, not replacing a previous one but supposedly in addition to, and unrelated to, the others. Am I crazy to think that maybe there is an umbrella disorder that encompasses all of these individual diagnoses? It seems to me that it's either that, or I am incredibly unlucky... So far, I have:

Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease

Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia

Factor V Leiden gene mutation (heterozygous)

Lupus anticoagulant

Additionally, I seem to be prone to bronchitis, throat infections and sinus infections as far back as I can remember.

I also have a lot of trouble with one knee, but physical therapy actually seemed to make it worse, and xrays were unremarkable. It is crunching every time I bend or straighten it while bearing weight. This is getting worse - it used to only crunch when bending it while bearing weight.

Any ideas that could explain all of these issues under one condition instead of a string of misfortunes? I hate to think that I am just THAT unlucky.

Thanks!

[hava]

Something natural to help you get back to health.Pranayam works on your body systems to make them healthy and in turn reduce your symptoms gradually.Start doing the pranayam and keep a journal of what benefits you notice over weeks and months. Drink warm water and avoid cold drinks.
Build up your timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after one minute.
Kapalbhati pranayam -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for 20 to 30 minutes twice a day. Children under 15 years – do 5 to 10 minutes twice a day.
Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.
Anulom Vilom pranayam –
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril  
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril  
then -keeping the left nostril closed  deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 15 to 30  minutes twice a day.
Children under 15 years – do 5 to 10 minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.

Bhramri Pranayam -Close eyes. Close ears with thumb, index finger on forehead, and rest three fingers on base of nose touching eyes. Breathe in through nose. And now breathe out through nose while humming like a bee.
Duration : 5 to 21  times.
January 31, 2011

[twinkenwisp]

Hi Nicola, (and oona)

Sorry it took me so long to respond... my cold turned into bronchitis, and the infection ended up in my ears, eyes, sinuses, throat and one lung. Yay. So I'm on antibiotic pills, antibiotic eyedrops, mucinex and at night a cough medicine with codeine. Starting to feel a little better but I can't shake this headache that I've had for over a week. Ugh.

I can't seem to find the bloodwork report with the ANA, but I think it was a "weak positive" result. I don't remember the doctor mentioning any patterns... maybe I missed that. I'll definitely ask my rheumatologist about Sjogren's and Antiphospolipid Syndrome. The heart issue is Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia - my resting heart rate was averaging 150 to 165 over a 24-hour period on a Holter monitor. IST is basically idiopathic - they can't tell me what causes it. That's part of why I wonder if it's connected somehow to the other issues. I will update when I see my rheumy next month on President's Day.

[oona]

I have a positive ANA with two patterns (suggestive of a MCTD), but am not diagnosed with anything as yet and still waiting to see a rheumatologist. My heart rate is frequently between 120-150 bpm (by frequently I mean daily), still no diagnosis on this either. As for joint pain, this moves around a lot. My RA and Anti DS DNA are neg/normal, but there are also a number of puzzling things happening with me.

I would be interested to hear what you find out re: the UCTD / IST. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful, I don't think we're unlucky, I might be a question of the medical community needing to play catch up.

Best of luck!

[thyroidian]

Hi.
I would definately mention the Antiphospolipid Syndrome.to your rheumatologist when you go back.

Your lower than average Activated Protein C Resistance Ratio, maybe low due to the Positive Lupus Anticoagulant.

What was your positive ANA, was pattern was it? and what number was the titre?

You mention dry eyes. Have you been tested for Sjorgens Syndrome, this is an auto-immune condition, which causes problems in the joints, sinuses, chest, and can also affect internal organs.
I would also ask your rheumatologist to check you out for this also, as this is a condition often seen alongside the Antiphospolipid Syndrome too.

You say you take atenolol for your heart, do you have a heart condition too?

I see you have the Factor V Leiden too. this is also a blood clotting disorder,

I think you are taking the right medication which is the aspirin in people with clotting issues, WHO HAVENT, had a clotting issue.
If you would have had a clotting issue then anticoagulants would have been needed.

I wish you well, and i hope you mention the APS, which is Anti-phospolipid Syndrome, and also get checked for Sjorgens Syndrome too.

I look forward to hearing from you
Nicola

[twinkenwisp]

Hi Nicola,

Thank you so much for your advice. I am on atenolol for the heart, plaquenil for the UCTD, and one full-dose aspirin per day for the blood clotting disorders. I haven't had a blood clot myself, and my hemotologist told me that I am fine on just aspirin unless/until I have a clot. He doesn't need me to come back unless I decide to become pregnant. (I think I forgot to mention - I'm a 28 year old female - sorry)

My rheumatologist ran a lot of blood tests and most came back negative. (including Sed rate, CBC, Rheumatoid factor, Cyclic citrullinated peptide) Slight positive on the ANA though.Positive APRC INT, Lower than average APCR Ratio. I don't really know what each test means. My rheumatologist had a lot of x-rays done to check for polyarthritis (hands, wrists, knees - some of my biggest problem areas). I believe she also tested for Lupus and it came up negative.

I also have scoliosis and experience muscle spasms in my shoulder/neck at times, but I have an unrelated elbow injury that causes me to lift more with that side, so I think that's all that is. I'm also near-sighted and have a "nevus" on one retina, an astigmatism in one eye, and dry eyes that prevents me from wearing contacts, but I don't think those are related to any of the other issues other than the dry eyes. I've also had my thyroid checked a few times; no problems found any time with that.

I have a follow-up next month with my rheumatologist, so I can ask her to check on your suggestion.

Thank you again for your help! I really appreciate it.

-Cathy

[thyroidian]

Hi.
I hope i can be off some help, but you  state you have Lupus Anticoagulant?
Do you receive any treatment for this?

A positive Lupus Anticoagulant, blood test done twice over a period of twelve weeks, suggest Antiphospolipid Syndrome/ Hughes Syndrome.

This is an auto-immune blood disorder, and can be seen in many Lupus patients.

I would definately have a full auto-immune blood panel done with Lupus testing.

Do they treat the Lupus anticoagulant, and the Factor V Leiden?
Do you see a rheumatologist or a haemotologist for this?

Only i also have the Antiphospolipid Syndrome, and i get frequent infections, and it also as affected my joints also, knees being one of the mostly affected.

My rheumatologist told me that the Antiphospolipid Syndrome can affect the joints,
So maybe all your problems could be an umberella of this condition.
I would definately look into it.

Can i ask you have you ever had any clotting issues. ? like bloodclots? anywhere?

I would definately ask if this is the cause.
Good Luck.
Im here if you need anymore advice.
Nicola