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I have been told that i have mixed connective tissue disease, but I do not have the markers for it, just the symptoms. Anyone else experience this?

By Anonymous January 16, 2009 - 2:12pm
 
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I have seen several rheumatologists, and had every test done under the sun. My symptoms..fatigue, muscle pain, loss of flexibility, and others, seem to fit Mixed connective tissue, but the tests don't really confirm it. Could something else be going on here? I am currently being tested for celiac disease. What other kind of practitioner could I consult? I believe the "lens" that a rheumatologist looks through can sometimes limit them to only certain possibilities.

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Anon, have you been tested for fibromalagia? it shares many of the symptoms you're discussing. Here is a page that discusses fibromalagia:

http://www.healthblurbs.com/fibromyalsia-living-your-life-in-a-tired-and-painful-fog/

I'm interested that you're being tested for celiac disease, because the Mayo Clinic lists these primary symptoms of celiac disease:

Intermittent diarrhea
Abdominal pain
Bloating

And their secondary list of celiac symptoms is this:

Irritability or depression
Anemia
Stomach upset
Joint pain
Muscle cramps
Skin rash
Mouth sores
Dental and bone disorders (such as osteoporosis)
Tingling in the legs and feet (neuropathy)

And here's the symptoms Mayo lists for mixed connective tissue disease:

Fatigue
Muscle weakness
Joint pain
Joint swelling
Swollen fingers
Mild fever
Raynaud's phenomenon — blood vessel spasms that interrupt blood flow to the fingers, toes, ears and nose

You hadn't mentioned anything digestive, is that also going on with you?

Here's that page on celiac disease:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/celiac-disease/DS00319/DSECTION=symptoms

and on mixed connective tissue disease:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mixed-connective-tissue-disease/DS00675/DSECTION=symptoms

Please come back and let us know more about what's going on; how long you've had your symptoms, and what they've ruled out. Maybe we can help you more with some research or with one of our experts.

January 19, 2009 - 9:30am
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