Joint Pain Fatigue Weight Gain Brain Fog

Womens Health Problems Doctors Still Miss

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Women may feel like their symptoms and health problems are not taken seriously
• Some live with symptoms for 10-plus years before finally getting the right diagnosis
• Hard-to-diagnose women who cant get the help may have autoimmune disorder
• Learn names, risk factors, symptoms, and treatments for misdiagnosed illnesses

RELATED TOPICS

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Ashley Price felt terrible. She was tired, dizzy spells came and went, dark splotches popped up on her chest for no reason, and shed gained 50 pounds in two years. Some days she was starving other days she could barely eat. Her doc suggested that her problems would go away if Price just ate less and exercised more, even though she was dieting and working out regularly. Price demanded thyroid tests, only to have them come back normal.

Her doctor told her: I have no idea what it is. Wait for it to go away. It didnt go away. I could no longer think straight, no matter how hard I tried or what I did, Price says. Worse, she suffered three straight miscarriages.

Finally, four years after this nightmare began after the third miscarriage an ultrasound revealed that her ovaries were riddled with cysts. She had polycystic ovary syndrome, a hormonal disorder symptoms include irregular periods, infertility, brain fog, and obesity.

1. Polycystic ovary syndrome

What is it, and who gets it?

How does it feel?

What is it, and who gets it?

4. Lupus

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Here A Breakdown Of Five Of The Most Common Autoimmune Diseases Plus The Signs You Should Look Out For Such As Joint Pain And Nausea

When foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses infect you, your immune system kicks into gear to fight those pathogens. But unfortunately, not everyone’s immune system sticks to just fighting the bad guys. For those with autoimmune disorders, the immune system mistakenly starts attacking its own parts as foreign invaders. As a result, you might start experiencing symptoms that range from joint pain and nausea to body aches and digestive discomfort.

Here, what you need to know about the signs and symptoms of some of the most common autoimmune diseases so you can keep an eye out for these uncomfortable attacks.

Arthritis As A Cause Of Joint Pain And Fatigue

The breakdown of fluids between the joints is responsible for rheumatoid arthritis . In the initial stages, the condition tends to be more severe during the morning hours. However, the pain gradually worsens and makes the patient feel uncomfortable for the most part of the day. This is also accompanied by exacerbating fatigue. Rheumatoid arthritis will affect the joints in the wrists, hands and elbows as well as the neck and shoulders. It should also be noted that in the lower extremities, the condition tends to affect the hips, ankles and knees in addition to the joints in the toes. The irritation that tends to affect the joints is responsible for the release of cytokines into the system. This is one of the common causes of fatigue which a person undergoes. This apart, a poor appetite which is common among those suffering with arthritis pain adds to the level of fatigue. Due to a massive loss of stamina, a lot of people tend to feel more fatigued. This is one of the reasons why they restrict the amount of activities they engage in.

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Extreme Fatigue Muscle And Joint Pain Anxiety And Brain Fog

From time to time we come across people with complex symptom combinations looking for help in online health forums because they dont know where else to turn. To give you some insight into the diagnostic process that we frequently treat and the detail that is often involved, the following extract is a thread from one such forum.

Of course if you dont know where else to turn, and you are located in Brisbane or the surrounding areas, please contact us to discuss your symptoms or take advantage of our Free Comprehensive Health Assessment offer.

YEARS of FATIGUE, adrenal exhaustion, 26/f, constant napping and oversleeping HELPOk so Ive had some symptoms over the past few years and whenever I go to the doctor there never seems to be an explanation for much, so I appreciate any input because I am at a loss.

Lets start with the basics. I am a 26 year old non-smoking female. I do not drink alcohol, wine, or caffeine, with the exception of an alcoholic drink on my birthday.

From 12-15 I had anxiety-induced IBS symptoms. Had an upper GI exam done and they found nothing abnormal. These days Im nausea frequently and cant eat a lot in one sitting or I will barf.

I developed moderate psoriasis at 15. Since 19 it has been very mild and does not interfere with my everyday life.

From 12-23 I had painful TMJ in my jaw I finally had corrective jaw surgery at 23 and have had no jaw issues since.

At 23 I had mononucleosis and had it for about 2 months before I felt bad to normal.

What Kind Of Treatment Could Help Against Fatigue

Sometimes is still a major problem despite adjusting your daily schedule, doing physical exercise and getting support from other people. Then professional help may be an option, for instance in the form of psychological treatment or occupational therapy. Some specialized programs have been developed specifically for people who have fatigue as a result of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Theyâre designed to do things like help you plan activities and make sure you donât use up all of your energy at once.

Cognitive behavioral therapy strategies can also be learned to help cope with . Some involve recognizing and then changing certain thoughts, beliefs and behaviors that make it more difficult to live with the disease.

Studies on non-drug treatments show that approaches used in occupational therapy and psychotherapy can relieve exhaustion.

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Lupus Signs Symptoms And Co

Lupus affects everyone differently, but certain signs and symptoms are common. In addition, other conditions, such as fibromyalgia, occur commonly in people with lupus but are not directly due to disease activity. These co-occuring conditions are known to doctors as comorbidities. Several signs, symptoms, and comorbidites of lupus are detailed below.

Pots: A Little Known Cause Of Extreme Fatigue

Everyone knows what being tired feels like at the end of a long day. But some people experience fatigue so severe and so seemingly random that its hard to describe. If that sounds familiar, there could be more going on than daily stress.

While there are many causes of fatigue, one of them is frequently missed and misdiagnosed: postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome . Physical medicine and neuromuscular specialist Tae Chung, M.D., answers questions about POTS and extreme fatigue as one of its symptoms.

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Fibromyalgia As A Cause Of Joint Pain And Fatigue

If you havent heard of Fibromyalgia yet, you will be surprised to learn that it causes joint pain and fatigue. It can be termed as a condition that is characterized by fatigue and pain in the joints. While there be little or absolutely no swelling or inflammation in your joints, those plagued by fibromyalgia have reported of severe pain in the neck and shoulder joints. As the condition worsens over time, the pain spreads to the entire body and in the process produces burning, sore or stiff muscles and joints. The fatigue fibromyalgia patients feel can be more debilitating than joint pain. Patients suffering from fibromyalgia say that they suffer from a lack of energy, minimized endurance levels and exhaustion, which is typically seen in people who are down with a bad case of the flu. These people also tend to feel tired after waking up from a good nights sleep.

Does The Patient Suffer From Depression

If they also complain of tiredness and weight gain consider hypothyroidism.

If they are tired and nauseated, and describe polyuria or constipation consider hypercalcaemia.

If they have developed weight gain and thinned or red skin consider Cushings syndrome.

If they have also lost their libido, or developed erectile dysfunction consider hypogonadism, or hypopituitarism.

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How Will Sjgren’s Syndrome Affect Me

Though the symptoms can be uncomfortable and last quite a long time, you should be able to lead the life you want if the condition is treated properly. For most people, the condition only affects the tear and saliva glands, but some people may experience other symptoms, such as fatigue and joint inflammation.

If dryness of the eyes isnt treated, the front of your eye could become damaged and cause permanent sight problems. Seeing an optician regularly and using treatments for dry eyes can help stop this.

People with Sjögrens syndrome might be more likely to develop:

• hypothyroidism, when the thyroid gland is underactive
• Raynauds phenomenon, which causes the fingers to feel cold and turn blue
• inflamed blood vessels, known as vasculitis, which can cause reduced blood flow
• loss of feeling in the hands and feet, known as peripheral neuropathy
• IBS, causing tummy pain, diarrhoea and constipation
• kidney problems

Use The 3 Ps Approach To Daily Tasks

When youre suffering from long COVID, even the gentlest activity can seem exhausting. By making small changes to how you pace, plan, and prioritize your daily tasks, though, you can conserve energy and get more done during the day.

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Diagnostic Criteria For Me/cfs Using The National Academy Of Medicine Clinical Criteria

For a diagnosis of ME/CFS, the person must have the following three symptoms:

Diagnosis also requires at least one of the following two symptoms:

It is important to note that these are not the only symptoms of ME/CFS, just the minimum needed to meet the diagnostic criteria.

While diagnosis requires that a person has had symptoms continually for six months, early intervention with pacing and rest can help reduce symptoms, improve quality of life and reduce the risk of exacerbating the disease. Research suggests that patients who are able to pace their activity and not push themselves tend to do better in the long term. Pacing and rest can start even prior to an official diagnosis.

While there is currently no cure and no evidence-based treatments, it is important to find a doctor who is not only sympathetic to ME/CFS, but can work with you to help manage your symptoms.

Treatments For Eye Symptoms

If your eyes are dry and sore, lubricating eye drops can be used to keep your eyes moist and reduce any friction. You can buy these yourself from chemists.

You might need to speak to your doctor or another healthcare professional and try a few different types of eye drops, before finding one that is right for you.

For very dry eyes, you may need to use ointment, gel or sprays as well as eye drops. Your doctor might give you eye drops containing ciclosporin or steroids if your eyes are inflamed.

Mucolytic eye drops can be given by your doctor if mucus has caused your eyes to become sticky. Paraffin-based ointments can be used at night to help stop your eyes being dry and crusty when you wake up in the morning.

If you need to use eye drops more than three times a day, its a good idea to use a brand that is preservative-free, as regularly using eye drops that contain preservatives can increase dryness and sensitivity. If you have corneal ulcers or infections, its important to speak to an eye specialist before using any products.

In some cases, an eye specialist may suggest punctal occlusion. This is where tiny plugs are inserted into the ducts at the inner corners of the eyelids. These are known as the puncta. This reduces the ducts ability to drain tears or eye drops from the surface of the eye.

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Fatigue Joint Aches And Weight Gain

• Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Last Editorial Review: 8/31/2020

Your symptoms can be due to several different conditions such as diabetes, an underactive thyroid gland , or congestive heart failure. Depression and mood disorders can sometimes also cause physical symptoms such as these. If you are concerned about these types of symptoms, it’s recommended to contact your doctor right away.

While the list below can be considered as a guide to educate yourself about these conditions, this is not a substitute for a diagnosis from a health care provider. There are many other medical conditions that also can be associated with your symptoms and signs. Here are a number of those from MedicineNet:

What To Do If You Have Long Covid

Since the symptoms and impact of long COVID can vary so much from patient to patient, its important to tailor your coping strategies to your specific symptoms. Physical problems such as shortness of breath, fever, and pain may leave you feeling drained of energy, mentally exhausted, and lead to a depressed mood, all of which require different coping skills.

While it can feel overwhelming, there are steps you can take to care for your overall health and ease your distress at this difficult time.

Seek medical help immediately if you experience chest pain, trouble breathing, a profound change in weight, or are unable to stay awake, eat, or drink. Your doctor may also be able to help relieve physical symptoms and rule out any serious complications or underlying causes.

Get vaccinated. While research is ongoing, some long-haulers have reported that having a COVID-19 vaccine has helped relieve their symptoms.

Continue to practice caution to avoid reinfection. Wear a mask if youre out in public, avoid non-essential travel, wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Limit your alcohol and caffeine intake. Both can disrupt your sleep and adversely affect your immune system. Caffeine may give you a short-term boost but it can lead to a painful crash in energy later.

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How Is Lupus Treated

Treatment for lupus depends on the organs involved. There is no cure for it, but treatment can help control symptoms. Often, a patient with lupus has a health care team with specialists such as:

• a rheumatologist

Medicines can help lower the risk of flare-ups and improve symptoms. Someone with lupus may take:

• corticosteroids to control inflammation
• immunosuppressive drugs to lower the bodys immune response
• antimalarial drugs to help treat skin rashes and joint pain
• acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , such as ibuprofen or naproxen, for joint and muscle pain

Doctors may also recommend that people with lupus:

• Avoid the sun as much as possible and wear sunscreen and protective clothing when outside to help reduce the number of flare-ups.
• Get regular exercise to help with tiredness and joint stiffness.

Does The Patient Suffer From Tiredness

If the patient also complains of constipation and polyuria consider hypercalcaemia.

If they have developed constipation, menorrhagia, or gained weight consider hypothyroidism.

If they have developed a deep tan, lost weight and feel nauseated and dizzy consider Addisons disease.

If they have lost weight, feel nauseated and dizzy, but have not developed a tan, and have also lost libido or stopped having periods consider hypopituitarism.

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Helping People Around You Understand Fatigue

Fatigue is a major symptom of many conditions, such as arthritis often its as much of a problem as pain and inflammation. But its an invisible symptom and a lot of people avoid talking about it because they think their family, friends and colleagues wont understand.

It can be stressful if you think people around you dont understand how youre feeling. Even when you explain, some people may struggle to realise how fatigue affects you and that it stops you doing certain activities. This can be frustrating and tiring and can put a big strain on your relationships. Getting help, support and understanding from the people around you can make a huge difference.

Good communication and explaining clearly and calmly how fatigue affects you is important to help others understand.

Its ok to say that you need help with tasks around the home.

Learning to say you cant do something or go somewhere because of the way it will affect you can help. It may also reassure people that sometimes you just dont feel up to socialising and its no reflection on their company.

If people ask for your help with something, remember its ok to say no. Its ok to put yourself first.

If you find it difficult to talk about your fatigue, you could ask people to read this information.