Question:
Mich…. Simply put (not a physician)… Yes I believe autoimmune diseases could cause the symptoms you describe. —
Response:
Hi there, I have lupus & one of my best friends has interstistial cystitis (sp?) & she is now developing other autoimmune problems; raynaud’s, hair loss, weight loss, ruptured vessels, etc. It might be worth it to mention it to the doc. Candis – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->My mother, in her 70’s, has a variety of perhaps unrelated symptoms which >Doctors can’t find a reason for. These include unexplained weight loss and >frequent bladder infections over the last couple of years, frequent >"achiness" with no fever, headaches, and occasional bouts of unexplained >diarrhea. Her doctor recently noted that she is losing pigment in the skin >of her arms. For many years she has also had periodic flares of another skin >condition – for no apparent reason she develops sores on the pads of her >fingers which bleed and scab and can last weeks or months. She has for many >years had cold feet and hands. She has what has been diagnosed as >osteoarthritis in her hands and neck and is often very painful. >She has undergone blood tests (including Thyroid), x-rays and scans >(including digestive and urinary tract) and Doctors can find no reason for >the weight loss or bladder infections. I do not think they have done any >immune testing but probably have no reason to suspect this. However – I >myself have recently been diagnosed with connective tissue autoimmunity (not >at this time severe enough to label Lupus). I know these conditions can run >in families. I have Raynauds which I suspect my mother may also have based >on her cold extremities. Both she and I have problems with dry mouth, >especially at night, and bring glasses of water to bed with us. >I have not told my parents about my own diagnosis (why upset them when my >condition is mild) and I do not want to worry them unnecessarily by >suggesting autoimmunity, but on the other hand it would be nice if she was >diagnosed with something which is treatable, for which meds can be >prescribed to ease her discomfort and improve her health. >Can autoimmune conditions cause/contribute to fairly sudden weight loss and >bladder infections? >Thanks for your help. >Mich >(remove nospam from return address to email me directly)
Response:
My mother, in her 70’s, has a variety of perhaps unrelated symptoms which Doctors can’t find a reason for. These include unexplained weight loss and frequent bladder infections over the last couple of years, frequent "achiness" with no fever, headaches, and occasional bouts of unexplained diarrhea. Her doctor recently noted that she is losing pigment in the skin of her arms. For many years she has also had periodic flares of another skin condition – for no apparent reason she develops sores on the pads of her fingers which bleed and scab and can last weeks or months. She has for many years had cold feet and hands. She has what has been diagnosed as osteoarthritis in her hands and neck and is often very painful. She has undergone blood tests (including Thyroid), x-rays and scans (including digestive and urinary tract) and Doctors can find no reason for the weight loss or bladder infections. I do not think they have done any immune testing but probably have no reason to suspect this. However – I myself have recently been diagnosed with connective tissue autoimmunity (not at this time severe enough to label Lupus). I know these conditions can run in families. I have Raynauds which I suspect my mother may also have based on her cold extremities. Both she and I have problems with dry mouth, especially at night, and bring glasses of water to bed with us. I have not told my parents about my own diagnosis (why upset them when my condition is mild) and I do not want to worry them unnecessarily by suggesting autoimmunity, but on the other hand it would be nice if she was diagnosed with something which is treatable, for which meds can be prescribed to ease her discomfort and improve her health. Can autoimmune conditions cause/contribute to fairly sudden weight loss and bladder infections? Thanks for your help. Mich (remove nospam from return address to email me directly)
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