Multiple health issues, overlapping symptoms
 

I know there are many people here that have more than one chronic health issue going on, unrelated to each other (maybe).

I remember how offended I was after my MS diagnosis when it dawned on me that I still had arthritis and IBS (makes sullen face). That's not really fair to have more than one thing, don't you think?

Anyway, I'm wondering if those of you with two or more "diseases" or conditions find that they exacerbate each other? Or do you have what I call "overlapping symptoms"? For example, sometimes I don't know if pain is from MS or arthritis. Or if anxiety is an MS thing, or a generalized anxiety thing. Or both.

I'm not explaining this very well, but hope somebody can figure out what I'm asking!

hi B,

i guess generally i know which illness is presenting with what sx.
i see where it's very possible tho.

bet this doesn't help.

You explained it great. I completely agree with you, I was also bummed when it dawned on me that MS didn't explain all of my symptoms and they figured I had something else to go with it.

For me pushing it doesn't just upset the MS, but also the HypoKalemic Periodic Paralysis.

I don't so much have overlapping symptoms. But most meds that can help with MS symptoms (like muscle relaxers) aggravate the Periodic Paralysis. The big one that messes me all up is that Steroids land me in the hospital I get so bad that I almost can't breath from the Periodic Paralysis.

I also have Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. Most of the treatments for that are contraindicated by the Periodic Paralysis, but with that one we deal by treating the Periodic Paralysis and dealing with what little bit of the POTS that we can't get under control with just beta blockers and Allegra.

Now they think I have something else to go with it.:eek: I don't know how much more of that I can handle, I think I'm just going to tell them no, they have to take it back. I already have enough medical issues to deal with and refuse to take any more.:winky:

I really think there should be a one illness/condition limit for each person. Nobody should have to deal with more than that.:winky:

I find though that I never know which doctor to call when I have a problem. I had to go to the dentist recently for jaw pain only to find out there was nothing there to cause the pain, yay it's just my MS! I was actually hoping it was a cavity or something, then they could fix it and I'd be done with it. But oh well.

I already have 7 specialists and don't want anymore. We are all in a holding pattern in the sense that we really aren't doing anything new for treatment (new symptom meds, but not treatment) and really nothing new, other than new symptoms.

I hope things are getting better for you.:hug:

I know what you're talking about, B2Y...I have fibro, osteoarthritis and IBS along with our friend MS...the fibro, IMHO, is a part of the MS...but the pain is different than the spasticity, at least for me. The fatigue feels the same tho...
the IBS can be triggered by stress for me, as well as MS sxs...but I have read that IBS is under the sxs of MS too.
I do wonder about the arthritis...I know that both my dad and mom had it, so I drew the lucky short straw on that one...
How about depression? Ugh, I know it's associated as a sxs of MS, but it's horrible enough on it's own...

I never seem to blame my good mood on MS...although that could be IEED...:p another sxs of MS...

Well, I have RRMS, I have had open brain surgery to clip an intra-cranial aneurysm, I have ITP (autoimmune low platelets), and supraventricular tachycardia a prolapse, and a half a dozen other things.

I gotta tell you, I cringe when I go to a doctor and they want my medical history.

I can almost hear them saying 'are we there yet???' as I go through the list.

Lyn

lol. ain't that the truth! i remember when my kids were little and we had to give a family medical history, by the time the dr was done with my family, he was not interested in hearing about dh's side!

I agree! One is enough.

B2Y -:hug: It does suckth very much. I hate going to the dr and the last time I went I have a series of testing to go through for some other possible disease process going on. UGH! That was back in August and I still haven't gotten the blood tests done. :o

I have overlapping diseases
 

Right now I am itching like mad, and I don't know whether Porphyria or Polycythemia Vera did it. It probably isn't MS. But MS neuro symptoms overlap a lot with Porphyria. And Porphyria makes it nearly impossible to take many of the MS medications.

I was in the ER yesterday and had a phlebotomy, and the crew were very good about remembering my porphyria. Careful with eye drops, looked them up to see if safe, and gave me a high carb breakfast. I can get a Porph exacerbation of other illnesses are not treated well.

Right now, itching, but my eyes are better after the phleb. I believe that eye
problem was due to high hematocrit, a PV event, not due to MS, although in the past I did have very severe eye problems with MS--but differerent eye
problems. Optic neuritis is not very much like foggy, painful eyes. Then I had double vision and blind spot; I did have pain from too much light or watching TV.

Swank said that MS could be diagnosed by slowly moving blood particles; my PV involves thick blood. I don't know if Porph has anything to do with that, but I do know that eating the low fat diet Swank invented for MS also
helps Porph. I am not sure it helps PV but probably does because it may
keep arteries clear, allowing the thick blood to pass through.

Yes it sucketh having so many entrees in the cafeteria of life's ailments.

Mariel

Hi B2U,

I remember the good old days when I had a general family doctor. Now I do have a PCP, but every doctor besides him (Internal medicine) all of my other doctors have ologist after their name.

From eyes (dry eyes), ears (2 problems), Thyroid, tummy, Neuro, skin, endo, allergy, and the list goes on. All gave me a name for my other diseases. :eek:

None are really life threatening, TG, as long as I am careful, but they are confusing, and mix up my symptoms.

I have to sit down with one doctor, or the other, and together we try to figure out what problem is causing which issue. Sometimes one disease aggravates the other. Oh the fun, NOT!

I know exactly what you mean B2U. :hug:

If you have one part of your body that gets attacked, it is likely that other parts will be attacked by other problems. It seems to be our weaknesses.

Yup, Lady, you DO know exactly what I mean. Exactly.

And it's not just the doctors (and I, of course). It's those other people. You know, the ones that just assume it's my MS when I can't go somewhere or don't feel like doing something. (Why should they NOT assume that)

I'm guilty of just "letting" them think that, instead of half the time trying (trying) to explain, "No, this time my IBS is acting up. Oh, you don't know what that is? Sit down, I'll explain it to you."

Or "Gee, I'd love to, but my chronic infection is flaring and I can't wear clothes. Got anything I could participate in wearing my jammies?"

Or "My MS is fine today, thanks, but my ankle is so swollen I can barely walk and my fingers won't bend."

Or "I'd go with you, but I was up all night with anxiety and nightmares, and my brain is fried."

And the list goes on. The big problem is, God love 'em, they'd soon start thinking, "Hmmmmmm. I wonder how many of her ailments are...um...real, ya know what I mean?"

Especially when I'm never sure myself what's what. Aaaargh.

Multiple diagnoses? I think I'm the poster child for this one. Not counting the wrong guesses the final count determined by the specialists I see is a minimum of 6.

Each time I went to a new specialist they would say something like, "I've only seen 5 patients like you in my whole career and I will be treating you by "shooting from the hip" due to the complexity of your case." Now, if that doesn't give one a great deal of hope.

I don't even worry about trying to attach a symptom to a specific condition or disease. What difference does it make anyway? In addition, I've been offered treatments to "assist in controlling the symptoms" from grossly high dosages of heavy narcotics, IV infusions, and most recently the implant of electrodes in my brain. Ahhh! NO!!!

I am now on a minimum number and dosage of meds to prevent that conflict. Deal with the symptoms as the arise to the best of my ability. What I will not do is compromise how I want to live my life, or what's left of it, for the sake of meds or symptoms.

Hi Craig :Wave-Hello:..nice to see you.:hug:

I agree, it's devastating to go to Dr after Dr only to find that you have yet another illness, disease or syndrome. I have been experiencing chronic pain for over 20 years. Starting with migraines at age 8, fibromyalgia at 14, degenerative disc disease at 18, ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS at 21, Arnold CHIARI at 25, and now Multiple sclerosis . at 28. Now I am confined to a wheelchair and am going blind in my right eye and have symptoms that don't fit with any of the diagnosis' I have so far, including a bleeding ulcer- which makes taking meds for autoimmune diseases difficult due to the possibility of bleeding out from a perforated ulcer. Filling out medical history becomes is like writing a novel, and hurts thanks to carpal tunnel syndrome and extensive nerve damage. I'm sure that you have all experienced the same looks that you get from New docs, as if you are a crazy hypochondriac, especially since I am so young. I am at the point now where I just want to give up, the pain and constant tests and pills and injections and not having just one diagnosis to deal with is almost too much to bear. If not for my children I likely would have already. The brain surgery almost ended me last year (surgery is difficult due to a mitral valve prolapse) but if I can survive that maybe I can find the strength to keep going. So I am right here with you all, and would be glad to give and receive support.I am new to the group but I look forward to getting to know you all.

Welcome CGirl, good to have you join us. It sounds
like you have a lot on your plate, for such a youngster.

I hope we can be of some help and comfort for you.:hug:

Well I have the MS obviously. Then I developed anemia. I've always had major depression -- What came first? Chicken (depression) or egg (MS)?

I have 2 new diagnoses in the last few months.

1. Some POTS related disease -- postural orthosratic hypotension. I have low blood pressure and rapid heart beat that skyrockets from sitting to standing. There is no cure. Just drink Gatorade , water, and eat a lot of salt.

2. Seborrheic dermatitis. On the sides of my nose and now causing crusting and puffy flaking under my eyes. I hate it. I discovered this is common with people who have neurological diseases like Parkinson's and MS. There is no cure. I can use steroid cream which apparently thins your skin.

These things must run in clusters, especially the autoimmune related stuff. Once your immune system is out of whack it seems like any and all immune related issues can pop up.

SIGH........both the POTS and SD appeared after having a months long foot infection that involved weeks and weeks of antibiotics.

Thank you for your warm welcome! I look forward to getting to know you all better!:)

We are all connected through the pain we experience, so I am happy to finally have people who truly understand what pain and constant suffering feels like for us, and there is only so much family can really understand since they may not have been through the same issues. Our pain scale is much different I believe than people who have never been seriously injured or sick.

Chiari - You do have the strength to keep going. You have been doing it right along since you were much younger. Hang in there and know that we are here to help you through this.:hug:

like many of us, I also have more than one "thing". My husband says it makes me special (uh, thanks but no thanks), my mother says "when you do something you do it big".

What really cracks me up are those one size fits nobody medical office forms. They give you maybe two lines to list your Rx, dosages, reason for taking etc and maybe a few lines for "other health issues"

I learned a long time ago to print out a list on my coputer - then I can just write "see attached" *I do get a giggle out of watching the staff's/MD's eye bulge when they see the printout.