Scleroderma, Cushing's, Ankylosing Spondilytis

[Freerange]

Hello all

Has anyone here been diagnosed with all three conditions? I've been on low and high-dose steroids for decades to manage asthma and eczema. Over the years, I've had loads of 'issues' that I've (and various GPs) put down to menopause, ageing and steroids:

hep c > not hep c, yet antibodies present?

anxiety/ panic attack

skin rash/ hives (not eczema)

allergic reaction to own sweat

urine infection

reynaud's/ dead fingers, toes

split skin finger ends, heels

non-healing cuts/ bleeding

easy bruising

lower back/ joint pain

twisting/ swollen fingers

shoulder pain/swelling

tennis elbow/ tendon rupture

receeding gums

sweating/ hot flushes

cataracts

glaucoma

tender eyeballs/ blue areas on whites of eyes

I'm fit and healthy (at least, I think so) and have always done massive amounts of exercise: swimming, ballet/modern/tap and competitive horse riding and still do (I'm 62).

Over the last 15 years, I've noticed the above occurring with increasing regularity and severity. I'm now off the steroids completely, but now getting anaphylactic-shock type responses: swelling body, hives, narrow throat, etc. I insisted that my GP refer me to Respiratory and Endocrinology. I've also had 3x 999 call-outs in last 2 weeks but only yesterday did they actually take me to A&E. I was given adrenaline shot, IV anti-histamines and nebuliser and it all settled down. I'd presumed this was steroid withdrawal/psychosis plus asthma as a result of steroids being stopped at once 2 weeks ago. After talking to A&E consultant, he didn't agree with steroid withdrawal symptoms. He let me go home after I promised to 999 myself if the symptoms came back. The good news is, is that he's a friend of the senior endocrinology consultant, and he's going to get my referral moved up the list. However, I've also noticed lower back pain, shoulder and neck pain that comes with these 'episodes'. My tongue doesn't swell massively, nor my throat close as such, but I do have difficulty swallowing.

So my question really is, could it be one of the above, or even all three? Has anyone else been through this? (My mother, now deceased, and my maternal cousin had/have allergy/steroid/autoimmune problems), which is leading me to a genetic autoimmune disorder, and a combination of the above 3 conditions.

Sorry this is a long post, but my brain is now fired up

[cobr1]

over the years I've had a lot of these symptoms culminating a few weeks ago pleading with my GP for help, as ever it's me being referred for 'talking /community therapy' and advice not to get stressed while I wait for a Rhumy appointment

[Freerange in reply to cobr1]

Hi cobr1. Sorry to hear that, and I feel your pain! The most frustrating thing I've found about the whole thing over the years is the 'there, there, dear' attitude from medical professionals. 'Do you suffer from anxiety/panic attacks?', 'are you taking anti-depressants?' I have to say this has always been a male doctor, and more recently male paramedics. 'Mansplaining' and 'manspreading' are really starting to piss me off. I even had one paramedic chastise me for driving to a safe place when I started to feel wobbly, pre-anaphlaxism, and for looking at my phone (I was actually getting the answers to a question the ambulance guy had asked). I told him not to patronise me!... I reckon he was an ex-copper. As we are well aware, stress is something that has to be avoided at all costs, not exacerbated by the medics!! Ooops, am ranting again...

[cobr1 in reply to Freerange]

I have a female GP who thinks everything is stress related (unless you crawl in with your leg hanging off ) and although I agree that stress should be avoided by constantly saying don't get stressed it does the opposite !! I never used to suffer from anxiety but now I am, I have tried anti-depressants but didn't like how they made me feel, although would now try again because I feel so low