Lupus???

[Betsyboo321]

Help, I'm a mess!  MS diag in 1994, I know I appear to have hit the autoimmune lottery.  Sjogrens was this weeks latest with lupus lurking.  +ANA (been ad high as 1:1200 but appears to be stable at 1:320), +anti ssa, low c3 & c4, vit d & mag.  Also extreme fatigue, elbow, knee & bone pain but rheumy says not joint(epicondylitis?).  Also saying double stranded dan is neg, so not lupus?  Could Sjogrens cause all of these pains?
  

[Dr Santos]

Hi Betsy,
Thanks for the updates. Hang on and stay positive always.It is good to know that anemia levels has improved and that you will be seeing your specialist in a few weeks.  You may also benefit from support groups in the net or in your local community.  There is a forum here in Medhelp for MS patients that you can also check out. In my experience, simply knowing that other people share the same symptoms and experience is a source of strength for some patients I have encountered. Hope to hear about your updates and best regards.

[Betsyboo321]

Thanks for your response.  The Plaquenil is giving me some relief but it is hard to know if it is the MS or Sjogren's symptoms that are giving me the grief.  The burning feet, ringing ears and throbbing elbows are at the top of the list.  I see my rheumy in a couple of weeks for another blood letting.  I have been anemic and high sed rates in the past.  The rates have returned to the lower side of normal for anemia and borderline (19) for sed rate.  I'm just so tired of feeling lousy at the ripe age of 46!  Thanks for your insight you are a caring physician!
Betsy

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you? Symptoms of Sjogren's syndrome can involve the glands, such as the lacrimal or salivary glands or other organs of the body. Extraglandular problems include joint pain or inflammation (arthritis), Raynaud's phenomenon, lung inflammation, lymph node enlargement, and kidney, nerve, and muscle disease. Further evaluation may need to be done if the pain was found to be not associated with the joints. With Sjogren's,  production of autoantibodies against body tissues is present and can be detected through blood testing such as what was done with you. Anemia and abnormal blood levels of markers of inflammation or sedimentation rate can also be seen. Talk to your doctor about the management plan to ease any anxiety or worry. Take care and do keep us posted.

[selmaS]

  Hi...were u tested for Ehlers-Danlos?....or Joint Hypermobility....they can cause the pain u mention....

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Ehlers-Danlos-Syndrome/show/417?camp=msc

"selma"