Wondering if I could have a connective tissue disease?
Posted , 2 users are following.
ive been seeing doctors for years about joint pains and a lot of other related problems, but so far no one knows whats wrong with me. A lot of my symptoms point towards CTD, but i dont want to seek a diagnosis unless my symptoms fit the criteria enough. im tired of getting nos from doctors
i am eighteen. i started having knee pain at age 8, and at 12 i was diagnosed with runners knee. ive been treated for this and i believe ive recovered. However, my joint pain has gotten worse and spread, and now all of my joints hurt to some capacity. now my hips, knees, ankles, big toes, wrists, and pointer fingers hurt the worst. the joints in my legs get stiff and swell sometimes. my big toes are pointing towards my other toes and becoming deformed. the pain ranges from a 4 to a 7 daily.
I've had trouble swallowing since I was about 14 and it causes me to choke on my saliva. I cant sleep on my back anymore because i aspirate in my sleep. The constant fatigue started at around age 16, which is when i was also diagnosed with clinical endometriosis. Within the last two years ive started having orthostatic intolerance, heat intolerance, and general feelings of muscle weakness (but no actual weakness.)
ive experienced Raynaud's phenomenon for at least 3 years. i have digestive symptoms but a colonoscopy+endoscopy only showed a slight abnormality in my duodenum and no explanation for my swallowing problem. an x-ray showed that my left kneecap is slightly twisted out of normal alignment. im also hypermobile. i have difficulty walking from the pain and fatigue. ive noticed that i have occasional tremors when i stand that get worse with pain or other physical or mental stress.
i take birth control to treat the endo and ibuprophen+naproxen sodium for pain because i havent been prescribed pain meds.
i hope thats enough info but ask me questions if it isnt. also sorry if its in the wrong group
0 likes, 2 replies
Lanceeselhombre
Posted
im female btw, forgot to add.
christine76972 Lanceeselhombre
Posted
This does sound like a type of arthritis. I have RA which took around three years to be diagnosed.
Have you had tests to eliminate some form of arthritis? I also had bad gut problems. Three suggestions that have helped me. Stop all dairy for a month. (It made such a huge difference to me that I never went back to it)Go to plant based milk, oat is good. Try going gluten free. Take a really good probiotic. If you haven't had a blood test to check your thyroid function then ask for one. I'm really sorry that you are having all this to cope with. Don't give up, keep a diary of everything you try. Keep going back to the doctors, make sure that you are referred to a specialist for your joint problems. Good Luck.