Help, My Body is Killing Me

Although there are numerous different named autoimmune diseases, each with its own unique symptoms depending on the tissues being attacked, autoimmune diseases do share some common characteristics. The following core characteristics are experienced by the majority of sufferers of autoimmune disease symptoms:

Extreme Fatigue - Or, the kind of fatigue that is not alleviated by rest. This is experienced almost universally by autoimmune disease sufferers.

Muscle and Joint Pain - Whether it is general pain, burning, aching and soreness in the muscles or joint pain or aches, this symptom can also be found in almost every autoimmune disease.

Muscle Weakness - Feeling weak, particularly in the muscles, and loss of hand or arm or leg /thigh strength is a common symptom.

Swollen Glands - These can be all over the body, but especially in the throat area, under the arms, and at the top of the legs in the groin area.

Inflammation - Inflammation is a part of every autoimmune disorder. The warning sign of pain, especially when chronic, is a sign that something needs immediate attention.

Susceptibility to Infections - Frequent colds, bladder infections, ear infections, sore throat, sinus problems and yeast infections are common, with a slower recovery time, for people with autoimmune diseases.

Sleep Disturbances - Difficulty falling asleep and/or frequent waking is experienced by almost everyone with an autoimmune disorder.

Weight Loss or Gain - Changes in weight, typically in the 10 to 15 pound range, is often a sign of numerous autoimmune diseases.
Low Blood Sugar – Dysglycemia is also a sign of adrenal fatigue, common in many autoimmune disorders.

Blood Pressure Changes - Most autoimmune people have low blood pressure, though some have high blood pressure. Some experience feelings or dizziness or vertigo, fainting, palpitations and fluctuations in heart rate.

Candida Yeast Infections - Virtually all autoimmune diseases have gastrointestinal issues in common. Candida infestations, chronic parasitic infections, and H. Pylori infections may manifest as digestive disturbances, sinus infections, vaginal yeast infections or thrush.

Allergies - Many people with autoimmune disorders have numerous extreme food, chemical and environmental allergies and sensitivities.

Digestive Problems - Abdominal pain, bloating, tenderness, heartburn, cramps, constipation, diarrhea and excessive gas (looks like you're three months pregnant) reflect a condition known as "leaky gut syndrome", common with many autoimmune diseases.

Anxiety and Depression - Mood and emotional changes, panic attacks and excessive irritability are common symptoms in most autoimmune conditions.

Memory Problems - Often known as "brain fog", is a common autoimmune disease symptom that appears in most conditions.

Thyroid Problems - Many people have hypothyroidism, though some are hyperthyroid. Often this does not show up on a typical thyroid test and may manifest as low body temperature, a decreased metabolic rate, headache, chronic fatigue, cold hands and feet, inability to lose weight and excessive hair loss. There is a much longer list than this that a thyroid patient may exhibit.

Re-Current Headaches - Can manifest as migraines or severe headaches in some people.

Low Grade Fevers - This is very common, with some people experiencing this every day.

Pre-menstrual Syndrome - Autoimmune disease symptoms often increase around the menstrual cycle. Extreme bloating, painful cramps, heavy bleeding and irregular cycle are common.

Re-Current Miscarriage - This is a very common symptom in many autoimmune diseases.

Perimenopausal Symptoms – Hot flashes, sweating and fatigue are common with women going through their change of life but this is not normal.

As you can see, this is NOT an extensive list of autoimmune disease symptoms and it may be hard to believe that these symptoms are in any way connected. You are probably not experiencing all of these symptoms (at least we hope not), but if you are experiencing many of them, you're not alone.

We believe that more and more people are realizing that there is a connection between their various symptoms and illnesses, and this is the theory that is followed by most health specialists studying autoimmune disorders. Unfortunately, many medical professionals still treat the body like it is a conglomeration of separate symptoms, which is not working out too well for many autoimmune disease patients. We strongly believe that the symptoms of any autoimmune disease affect the whole body, and consequently the body needs to be treated as a whole.

My opinion is that all chronic health patients should be tested for autoimmune disease. Always keep on digging and search for every possible antigen – there is often more than one!

Suzanne’s story

“My mother died at age 56 from cancer. She had Cushing’s disease as a young woman and had surgery on her adrenal gland. Later she developed hypothyroidism and was on replacement hormones for that since I was a little girl. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she tried everything to get better; she had surgery to remove the tumor and at the same time they removed several lymph nodes. She did just as her doctor said; she was always that way. She went through chemotherapy and radiation and just got sicker and sicker. It wasn’t until about two weeks before she passed that she told me that she thinks she probably made a mistake. ‘I should have followed my own intuition,’ she said. You see, she became convinced that they were all connected, the cancer and the hormonal problems. The more I learn about autoimmune disorders, I am sure that her intuition was right. When I was diagnosed with hypothyroid at age 34, it was after my mother’s death and I made the decision there that I was NOT going to go the same route she did. I’ll admit, it took a lot of searching to find a doctor to treat me differently but it was worth the effort. I don’t want to get cancer; I don’t want the same fate as my mom, and I feel that I’m on exactly the right path. Autoimmune diseases can run in families but how you treat them makes all the difference in the results you will experience.”