Does this sound like something auto immune to you?

[Catabogus]

I know no one can diagnose me on an Internet forum! But GP appointments are like gold dust and I’d like to go to my next one (which is weeks away, and it’s 5 min by telephone only) armed with a bit of information.

So if I list some of the symptoms below, could anyone please tell me if this sounds like some kind of auto-immune disorder, or if you think I’m just stressed and overworked? I’m 40 so did consider peri-menopause but blood tests show my hormones are all A-ok.

Symptoms:

• hair falling out
• bad brain fog and forgetfulness
• painful feet (stiff and clicking joints)
• gastro upset
• deep tiredness
• very dry and itchy eyes
• red painful patches on tongue
• rad facial rash/flushing on cheeks that comes and goes
• muscle pain especially in hips and outer thighs
• low platelets (on recent blood test - everything else on it was fine)
• easy bruising, purple spots on legs, slow healing (related to platelets?)
• very irritable and snappy and not very fun anymore!

I realise this could be a lot of separate unrelated issues, and I won’t have time to raise half of these in my GP phone call, but I’m interested to see if anyone thinks they might be linked? And if so, to what?

Thank you very much indeed!

Hi OP. I have some similar symptoms to yours and suspect that I have Sjögren’s syndrome.
www.nhs.uk/conditions/sjogrens-syndrome/
Lots of autoimmune issues in my family (type 1 diabetes, coeliac, multiple allergies).

I have Sjogrens and agree, @Catabogus sounds like she could have it so tests needed The NHS description is very basic, it's a complex disease, systemic like lupus etc.

I’m inclined to lean towards Sjogrens and Lupus. Auto-immune diseases kinda hang out together unfortunately. Have you also tested your blood glucose levels?

Well, I had the blood tests done and they’re all absolutely fine, apparently, and the GP says there’s nothing wrong with me.

He’s never met me, obviously, because he’s new and it was a 5-min telephone appointment, but he seemed pretty certain. My platelets are still a bit low but apparently some people are “just like that” and it doesn’t mean anything. Meanwhile I still have all the symptoms I listed in my OP.

In fact he offered to put me on a waiting list for talking therapy if I want <confused> I said I’d think about it.

Some auto immune conditions don’t show up on blood tests. For Sjogrens diagnosis is by lip biopsy.
I hope you get some answers.

I spent 5 years being told by GPs that there was nothing wrong with me because my blood tests were normal. Implying it was in my head. Or my lifestyle (yet I was very fit and healthy till symptoms began)

Finally, thanks to an observant optician, I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis this summer. I was seriously ill that whole time yet GPs were dismissive.

You know your body best. Don't let one GP put you off getting to the bottom of this.

Please ring your surgery and ask for your blood test results, they will give them no problem. Have a look if ferritin been tested? What they say is a normal and within the range might not be so as I was told for many years that frrritin of 20 is ok as it’s within the range. Do keep all your blood tests copies on you, it really helps with showing to a numerous gps what might be happening with you personally.

Agree . My blood tests for myasthenia gravis were negative but thankfully I had a switched on GP (post optician letter!) Who referred me to neurologist, and I was diagnosed from examination ,and symptoms plus an electrical current test.

The myth that negative blood tests means "not ill" is not just infuriating, it could have cost me my life

what helped me - to have a blood test done privately and taking those results to an NHs GP. Medichecks have 25 per cent off on some tree sets at the moment, they are brilliant as results come with some comments from a doctor

Sounds like Hashimotos. Get a full thyroid panel and make sure they include TPO. Also check vitamin D levels