Help needed please

[MrsAllen76]

Hello all,

I really admire you all and think some of your stories on here and shared experiences are amazing.

I need some help badly! I was diagnosed in 2008 as hypothyroid and I take Thyroxine for this. Then in late 2008 I had a serious car accident and since then I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia as I started getting exhausted and really annoying body twitches all over my body.  Apparently I had all the pain points required for fibro.  MS was ruled out as I had a brain scan which showed no lesions on my brain. Anyway, cut a long story short, I have recently been told that I have type 2 diabetes and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome as I put on quite a lot of weight after the accident and me and my husband have unsuccessfully tried to get pregnant.  My periods are getting further apart and I have quite thick and embarrassing hairs on my chin!!

Anyhow, my reason for being here is that I think I may not have fibro.  I think it may be sjogrens.  The reason being is that I have always been a very thirsty person and my mouth gets so dry, but in recent years, my mouth gets stuck together its so dry. It feels like I am spitting feathers! I have to make sure I carry a bottle of water with me everywhere! I get strange itching on my hands and feet and they itch so bad I rip the skin off, then it just goes away.  My eyes get so dry sometimes they sting and it hurts to open them. I used to have terrible problems with my eyes as a child in that I would wake up and they would be stuck together! I have become incredibly dry down below and I have never had problems there before. I have ALWAYS got thrush! I get awful split sores at the sides of my mouth all the time.  I also suffer bouts of really painful lie bumps and ulcers on my tongue.  I get diarrhea for no reason whatsoever. I have tried eliminating some foods and there's no rhyme or reason to it.  I get tonsillitis all the time and even when I don't have a sore throat, it hurts to swallow. I get strange pains in my throat ( like a burning sensation) and in the right side of my chest ( I have always been told this is the fibro or tietze's syndrome, but I wonder if my glands are swollen).  I also get pains in my armpits like swollen glands. I get bizarre pains and swelling in my arms and fingers. And the worst thing for me is sweating. I can be doing nothing and I sweat on my head, neck and face like I have had a bucket of water tipped over me. It's so embarrassing, I avoid social situations as much as possible.

I feel like the doctors don't listen. They just think I am fat and lazy and sit around eating sweets and chocolate all day and that is far from true. They seem to blame everything on the diabetes, but my blood sugar on diagnoses was only 7.4! I don't know what to do. I could use some of your opinions and experiences so I can go and talk to the doctor and try to be firm with them. I just want my life back. I hate being ill all the time as its not fair on my husband. Any advice or words of wisdom are hugely appreciated!!   

[jazzlover]

Welcome!! I would ask to be referred to a rheumatologist and/or ask your doctor to test you for Sjogren's. It may or may not come back positive.

Your sweating may be from the PCOS. I don't sweat at all anymore.

[AMW71]

Parts of your situation and many of your symptoms (dry mouth, itching, dry eye, diarrhea, difficulty swallowing, sweating on my head, pain and swelling in fingers and toes) are similar to mine.  I am 41 and not yet diagnosed but fear it's Sjogrens.  My GP blames everything on my weight and diabetes (even though my A1C has been running between 6.2 and 6.4 for years).  I, too, have been diagnosed with PCOS and am hypothryoid (these are not new diagnoses for me).  I am seeing a Gastroenterologist currently as my Liver Enzymes are slightly elevated and I have lots of abdominal pain.  She's still testing me.  I'm in the process of researching Rheumatologists and will be making an appointment to see one in an attempt to get to the bottom of what seems to be a systemic issue for me. 

All that being said, I agree with jazzlover...see a rheumatologist.  From everything I've read on here, that seems to be your best bet in getting a definitive diagnosis or at least being treated for your symptoms.

Good luck.

[Dolly Dimples]

Hello Mrs Allen. You quite possibly do have SS and I also think you need to see a Rheumatologist.
  You do not say which country your living, but either ways you need to seek attention and treatment.
   Do you use anything for your dry areas, if not 'its time to do so!
There are eyedrops, creams. etc' and lots of potions that will help
   Read some of our back postings and you will find helpful advice, but first get yourself seen to by a specialist.
                 Good luck, Dolly

[artsyamerican]

Bless your heart I feel your pain! I too have Type 2 Diabetes which went totally bonkers after taking steroids...so I ended up having to take Metformin.  Which since I started taking Metformin as well as Plaquenil...most of my Sjogrens symptoms have subsided...plus my liver and kidney enzymes look normal for the first time in forever! Don't forget Type 2 Diabetes is also considered an autoimmune disorder.  I think once you have one....the Captain blows his whistle and ushers all the others in! Ugh.  I agree with seeing a Rheumy.  I pray you find a good one.

[susanep]

I agree with what the others have said. I know it becomes frustrating.

I also have hypthyroid, polycystic ovaries, fibro, was diabetic, but now it runs low, I have sjogren's, and lupus.

Please do begin by seeing a rhuemy.

susanep

[MrsAllen76]

Bless all of you, thank you so much for your responses. I am from the UK but I have private healthcare so I will ask to be referred back to the Rheumatologist. Artsyamerican, I totally agree with you! I really think that once you have one autoimmune disease, they all come out of the woodwork! But all your words have been really encouraging and I really appreciate it. Thank you all sooooooo much! Xxxx