Hi, I have only posted once previously but am now at the end of my tether and feeling really depressed. Have suffered various symptoms for about 30 years. Last year i suffered a pretty bad episode as I call it. When speaking to my doctor about it he advised it definitely sounded like a TIA and that's when he put two and two together and came up with Hughes Syndrome. Blood test were done and one showed "abnormal". He had immediately put me on Clopidogrel which has helped slightly. Referred me to Hematology but results came back negative so as I was seronnegative they basically washed their hands of me. He then referred me to Rheumatology and after a long wait I finally got an appointment last week. What a complete waste of time. The examination consisted of her feeling my muscles and then saying oh you've not got arthritis but fibromyalgia. Oh and you dont have APS as that only counts if you've had a miscarriage or a blood clot! I did explain i hadn't had a miscarriage but that was because I only had one child and didnt want any more. With regards the fibromyalgia, i said I was labelled with that about 30 years ago and am still adamant I don't have it. She basically refused me a blood test as there was no point since I had one last year with hematology. Basically I was sent away feeling that I was a complete fraud and was wasting her time. She didn't even ask me about any symptoms that i have such as Balance problems, dizziness, paralysis, memory issues, headaches, TIAs Irregular Heart beat. Where do I go from here? Any recommendations for even a private consultation with someone who knows about seronegative hughes.? Sorry If i am rambling, I am just so fed up that nobody apart from my doctor seems to want to help.
Where do I go now?: Hi, I have only... - Hughes Syndrome A...
Where do I go now?
I understand very well that you feel depressed at least!
You are not alone I can assure you. I should say that about 75 % of us have had an experience like yours or near by. It is so sad that it should be so very very difficult to get a Doctor who understands our illness. It is a real fight to get a Specialist.
You must try to go on looking for the right Doctor specialized in autoimmun illnesses like Hughes Syndrome/APS, Lupus, Sjögrens, Thyroidea and also Fibro.They often go hand in hand and are sort of "cousins". Often mixed together by a Doctor who is not knowledgable. Often a Rheumatologist without competence to autoimmun illnesses. Otherwise a Rheumatologist or a Hematologist are the Doctors of choice.
Yous said you were on Clopidogrel which has helped slightly. I think that is a better form of Aspirin or Plavix and they are only antiplateletdrugs and not real anticoagulationdrugs as you probably need one of those today after so many years. Also do you have high bloodpressure?
Many members have negative bloodtests from time to time and some of us also are sero-negative with negative antibodies all the time and who are diagnozed by symptoms and a family-history of these illnesses. They often run in families.
Stay here with us and we will try to help you.
Best wishes from Kerstin in Stockholm
As I usually say (hope I have not said it to you earlier) ; read Sticky Blood Explained" by Kay Thackray. She has Hughes Syndrome and writes about the different symptoms. A good book also for relatives to understand how it is to live with this illness. It is not quite new with the latest oral drugs but very good with symptoms there still are relevant.
Kerstin
Hi Kerstin, Many thanks for your kind words and support. I will go back and speak to my doctor regarding anticoagulants and see if he will prescribe. I have never had high blood pressure (thankfully). Strangely enough there are 5 siblings in my family, 4 females and 1 male. The male has no symptoms but all 4 females have varied/similar symptoms. However, when we try and explain this to doctors they don't seem interested. Also on the paternal side of my family there is history of strokes, heart problems but yet again, I haven't found any doctors who really seem interested.
Again, many thanks and best wishes
Katherine
Hi there, we feel your frustration, many of us have had similar. Where are you located? Did you see one of our recommended specialists? If not I can give you the ones relevant for your area in the UK private and NHS. Also Fibro, often turns out to be a low thyroid function, (the GP's and hospitals usually only do the unreliable TSH test), so many slip through the net with this and get told they have 'Fibro'. also low vitamin D, B12 and Ferriin and also Sjogrens Disease.
Regarding Thyroid tests, I do mine via the recommendations on Thyroid UK's charity website, they also have a forum on here, instead of just doing the TSH I do the around 11 tests, doing these showed up that I indeed had Hypothyrodism.
I was seronegative for Hughes Syndrome for years, which meant nobody thought to think of that, despite my history of clotting during pregnancy, but I have in the last few years passed two out of the three tests.
MaryF
Hi Mary, I'm in Glasgow, but unfortunately I did not get to see one of the specialists listed. We are just allocated appointments and that it. Im sure when I asked for a second opinion at Hematology I got to speak with a Dr Baggot who basically dismissed me because I had asked for a second opinion.
I am prepared to pay privately for consultations and treatments if I have to, although I will have to save up for it but it will be worth it if I can get some help. I will also go back and speak to my doctor (Dr Gilhooly) and show him both yours and Kerstins reply.
I would be grateful if you could recommend a specialist.
Many thanks for your help.
kind regards
Katherine
1. do the private thyroid testing including your B12, D and Iron If you go to Thyroid UK and look at their list of private testing available, as said my most recent was Blue Horizon, Thyroid Plus 11
The trio of disease as so frequently mentioned by Professor Graham Hughes' himself is Hughes Syndrome/APS, Sjogrens, and a Thyroid disorder. Add to this low vitatamin D, B12 and Iron and it all adds up to a difficult picture.
bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk/T...
2. Make sure you gather up as much paperwork as possible including any recent tests to form the picture, write your medical history and symptoms in bullet points etc! Here are the nearest specialists:
3. If necessary take your most articulate and firm! friend, relative, colleague or neighbour with you as back up, I have done this for people local to me, for other issues!
I enclose both NHS and Private, sometimes a private appointment can bet your NHS care back on track. I had to do this myself and others have. there is so much work to do in raising awareness.
SCOTLAND NHS – SPECIALISTS:
Dr Julia Anderson
Consultant Haematologist
Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre
Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
51 Little France Crescent, Old Dalkeith Road
Edinburgh, Scotland EH16 4SA
Telephone: 01315 361000
_______________________________
Dr Catherine Bagot
Consultant Haematologist
Department of Haematology
Glasgow Royal Infirmary
84 Castle Street, Glasgow, Scotland G4 0SF
Telephone: 01412 114000
_______________________________
Dr Colin Baines
Consultant Rheumatologist
Medicine and Cardiovascular Group
Ninewells Hospital and Medical School
Dundee, Scotland DD1 9SY
Telephone: 01382 633883
_______________________________
Professor Jill Belch
Consultant Rheumatologist
Medicine and Cardiovascular Group
Ninewells Hospital and Medical School
Dundee, Scotland DD1 9SY
Telephone: 01382 633883
_______________________________
Dr Jenny Boyd
Consultant Obstetrician
Department of Obstetrics
Whyteman's Brae Hospital
Kirkaldy, Fife KY1 2ND
Telephone: 01392 643355
Dr Alexander Doney
Consultant Physician
Ninewells Hospital and Medical School
Dundee, Scotland DD1 9SY
Telephone: 01382 660111
_______________________________
Dr Douglas Gentleman
Clinical Director
Centre for Brain Injury Rehabilitation
Royal Victoria Hospital
Jedburgh Road
Dundee, Scotland DD2 1SP
Telephone: 01382 660111
_______________________________
Dr Helen Harris
Consultant Rheumatologist
Department of Rheumatology
Fife Rheumatic Diseases Unit
Whytemans' Brae Hospital
Kirkcaldy, Fife KY1 2ND
Telephone: 01592 648193
_______________________________
Dr Rajan Madhok
Consultant Rheumatologist
Department of Rheumatology
Glasgow Royal Infirmary
84 Castle Street
Glasgow G4 0SF
Telephone: 01412 114000
_______________________________
Dr David Marshall
Consultant Rheumatologist
Department of Rheumatology
Inverclyde Royal Hospital
Larkfield Road Greenock
Scotland PA16 0XN
Telephone: 01475 505106
Dr Martin Perry
Consultant Rheumatologist
Department of Rheumatology
Royal Alexandra Hospital
Corsebar Road Paisley
Scotland PA2 9PN
Telephone: 0141 314 9557
_______________________________
Dr Judith Roberts
Southern General Hospital Maternity Unit
1345 Govan Road, Glasgow
Scotland G51 4TF
Telephone: 01412 011100
_______________________________
Dr Robert Campbell Tait
Consultant Haematologist
Department of Haematology
Glasgow Royal Infirmary
84 Castle Street
Glasgow, Scotland G4 0SF
Telephone: 01412 114000
_______________________________
Dr Asad Zoma
Consultant Rheumatologist
Department of Rheumatology
Hairmyres Hospital
East Kilbride, Glasgow
Scotland G75 8RG
Telephone: 01355 585000
SCOTLAND - PRIVATE SPECIALISTS:
Dr Helen Harris
Consultant Rheumatologist
The Edinburgh Clinic
40 Colinton Road
Edinburgh, EH10 5BT
Telephone: 0131 447 2340
Dr David Marshall
Consultant Rheumatologist
Ross Hall Hospital
221 Crookston Road
Glasgow G52 3NQ
Telephone: 01475 633777
_______________________________
Dr Asad Zoma
Consultant Rheumatologist
BMI Ross Hall Hospital
221 Crookston Road
Glasgow, Scotland G52 3NQ
Telephone: 01418 103151
MaryF
Hi Mary. Many thanks for all of your help and information. I'll get onto things and hopefully get back on track to finally finding a solution to my issues. Just knowing this forum is here really helps
Kind regards
Katherine
I wish you good luck to find your Specialist! The Doctors are not interested because they do not understand our sticky blood and Doctors do not like when they do not "get" what the patient says.
Tell us how it goes for you!
Kerstin
Hi Ladykate
Ask your gp to refer you to Dr Madhok at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. He is a fantastic Consultant Rheumatologist. I was a patient of his for many years I have SLE and APS. I moved house so transfered to Dr Crosby Consultant Rheumatologist at the Queen Elizabeth. Hope you get the help you need.
Mrsm1988
Your observation that the females and your family had issues but not the males really struck a chord with me. In my family, after many lives and decades a futile searching, it has bern semi- officially established ( meaning some drs but not all) that us superior, female Donahue descendants pay for our superiority via a hormone imbalance. Now that I have passed menopause, I am no longer affected. But prior to that I finally had a doctor who prescribed a locally compounded progesterone cream. and boy did that stuff ever make me feel wonderful! and some autoimmune diseases such as lupus – and recall that APLS is often related to lupus – are driven into flares by estrogens.
Many thanks for the information. Much appreciated
Don't give up, many of us have had similar experiences but please keep trying to find answers. What a lot of fantastic information and encouragement in the previous responses. Good luck.
Hi and welcome.
My colleagues have given you good advice, which I concur with.
Dave
Many thanks.
No idea where to go next
Diagnosis
Discharged from Lupus unit !
Should I push for a diagnosis of APS?
Scary Update on a thread of mine
