Jodi Stanley and her doctors are still trying to figure out what’s causing a variety of symptoms that have changed her life.
“In 2013 I started experiencing a lot of weird symptoms,” Stanley said. “I’ve been a runner for a long time, but now I felt like I had run a marathon after going up just one flight of stairs.”
Initially, she attributed her leg fatigue, which only occurred on her left side, to the punishing training she did throughout the years.
But that didn’t explain her other issues: After working all day on her computer, her left arm was exhausted. She found herself watching TV with her left eye closed to avoid double vision. And she developed a searing pain in her left ear.
The quest for answers
Stanley was most concerned about her vision, so she began by asking an optometrist for new glasses, but was soon in the office of a neuro-ophthalmologist due to cranial nerve palsy.
He thought she might have myasthenia gravis, but the tests weren’t conclusive. A dose of steroids helped tremendously as a short-term measure.
“I felt fantastic for the first time in a year-and-a-half,” Stanley said. “It made me realize how fatigued I had been.”
Eventually she went to Paul Twydell, DO, a Spectrum Health neuro-muscular specialist who is helping her dig deeper into the cause of her issues. Stanley was thankful when MRIs ruled out a brain tumor and multiple sclerosis.
It appears she has an autoimmune condition.
Today about 50 million Americans—most of them women—suffer from autoimmune ailments, which develop when their immune system begins attacking their bodies, often for no apparent reason.
“Autoimmune diseases tend to come on more rapidly than other conditions,” Dr. Twydell said. “Patients may have a period with a lot of symptoms. Then, it may settle down for a while before the symptoms come back.”
For patients like Stanley, neurologists try to see what part of the nervous system is involved. This may require an imaging study, like an MRI, a nerve conduction study, a spinal tap, lab tests or a nerve or muscle biopsy, according to Dr. Twydell.
Don’t ignore what you can’t explain
If you’re plagued by random health issues, don’t brush them off or attribute them to stress. They could be the early warning signs of an autoimmune issue.
If you have the following symptoms, ask your doctor for help:
- Fatigue
- Bowel problems (diarrhea or constipation)
- Weight changes (gaining or losing weight without explanation)
- Unexplained skin rashes or hair loss
- Low-grade fever
- Difficulty concentrating
- Muscle aches and stiff joints
- Menstrual problems or multiple miscarriages
- Easy bruising
- Weakness or numbness
- Mouth sores
Some of the most common autoimmune issues include rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, anemia, Type 1 diabetes, psoriasis, alopecia, thyroid disorders, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, Graves disease and Guillain-Barre syndrome. Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia may also have an auto-immune link.
“Anytime someone has numbness, tingling, dizziness, blurred vision, weakness or trouble swallowing, they should be seen,” Dr. Twydell said. “An autoimmune issue can have stroke-like symptoms. But typically a stroke starts abruptly, while autoimmune issues start gradually and build up to something major.”
Getting through each day
Although autoimmune issues are chronic conditions without a cure, the right treatment and lifestyle changes can help, especially during flare-ups.
Today, Stanley eats healthy and gets extra sleep. And she tries to avoid getting stressed or overly busy, which make her symptoms worse.
“The unpredictable effects and many unknowns are frustrating,” Stanley said. “Your best approach is to be grateful for every disease that is ruled out, treat what you can and adjust to the rest.”
I have Raynaud’s and live in Michigan ,my figures tend to turn a greenish white with painful feelings until I can put them in warm water until they oink up…lately my figure are also being effected when I hold onto something even if it is not tightly . Is this the progression of Raynaud’s ?
Hi Marilyn,
Thanks for being a Health Beat reader. We suggest you reach out to your health care provider to discuss your health condition in detail. Need help choosing your physician? Call us day or night to receive assistance and advice about selecting a physician who’s right for you: 877-362-8362. Best wishes to you!
I have been diagnosed with Polyrheumatica Myalgia as well as Fibromyalgia. I have been searching for alternative help to reduce the potent medications I am and to improve the way I feel.
Hi Patricia,
Thank you for being a Health Beat reader and sharing your story. We suggest you reach out to your health care provider to discuss your health condition in detail. Need help choosing your physician? Call us day or night to receive assistance and advice about selecting a physician who’s right for you: 877-362-8362. Best wishes to you!
Hi. I have ankylosing spondylitis an I know what good an bad days are just enjoy the things you can still do. I over do it because I always did everything now I ask myself is it worth the pain. Hang in there
Thanks, Ted, for your kind words of encouragement! Cheers, Cheryl and the Health Beat team