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Auto-Immune question

D

dectjoh

Well-Known Member
Messages
53
First - please forgive the ramblings to come and the length of my question. I do get there eventually, I promise!

Ok, now I'm terrified. Was diagnosed Type 1 back in December. Just turned 40 at the time, previously healthy, mid range BMI, no family history of diabetes. Stressful job, started losing weight at the beginning of November, not well at all by the end of December(48 hours left in me without treatment apparently but it doesn't pay to dwell on that!). Anyway, diagnosed type 1, told it was most likely an auto immune response as a result of a virus or stress, put on insulin, all going as well as can be expected until the beginning of July. Woke up one morning with a red cornea on one side of my right eye. Saw my GP, twice, before being referred to an eye clinic where episcleritis was diagnosed and anti-inflammatory drops prescribed. These seemed to help initially, but the problem worsened before my follow up appointment today. This is when I began to get scared. The consultant today said that she would now treat the episcleritis with steroids but she was keen to find out if this was a one off attack of episcleritis or as a result of another auto immune response kicking in. I am now awaiting a blood test to see if I have an over active thyroid as this can cause episodes of episcleritis. She said if it turned out that I have an over active thyroid as well as the diabetes then I should prepare myself for other auto immune diseases to follow e.g. lupus, rheumatoid arthritis etc. Given that my mum has an overactive thyroid and my paternal grandmother had rheumatoid arthritis I am really worried. Has anyone else out there had anything like my history or does anyone know enough about auto immune diseases to give me some idea as to whether this is likely to end up in the doomsday scenario I am forecasting for myself? I'm really worried. Tracy
 
Hi

I get episodes of episcleritis from time to time. I never see my GP for this but utilise my local specialist eye hospital's (Moorfields, London) A & E. The treatment has always been steroid drops. When I had my first episode, I was x-rayed from head to toe looking for arthritis - none to be found. I have also been tested for thyroid function and that was OK. I do, however, have Parkinson's Disease, diagnosed at age 54, which is believed now to be an auto-immune condition. My Father had Parkinson's without diabetes or thyroid problems and one of my brothers has a thyroid problem with no Parkinson's or diabetes. I guess what I am trying to say is there are no certainties in this area.

Regards

Doug
 
As I understand it there is a higher risk of other autoimmune diseases when you have type 1. It's not definite though. I think your GP is scaring you unnecessarily here. The time to discuss the likelihood of other autoimmune diseases is after the thyroid test, not before.

It is a risk we face unfortunately, but it's by no means a doomsday scenario. Fingers crossed for the test results.
 
I have Diabetes and Rhuematoid Arthritis and I manage both conditions rather successfully. Even if you are dx'ed with an additional condition, it's not a death sentence. I think your GP is being rather dramatic at this point. I hope you get your results soon.
 
Hi Dectjoh

As a diabetic you do have higher risks of getting other autoimmune diseases/conditions but, as others say - its not the end of the world - most of them are manageable. And the key word here is risk - its not guaranteed.

As far as I'm aware, auto-immune conditions run in your genes and come out in different ways. My Dad's got 2 conditions, I've got 3 but both my brothers only have 1 condition each.

A doctor that's aware of the link to other diseases is worth his weight in gold - my GPs fobbed me off for years, to the point I thought I was imaging symptoms, only to find out last year that I had both endometriosis (surgery required to remove huge cysts) and final-stage coeliac disease. In hindsight, my symptoms all pointed to these but the doctors never made the connection.

I dont mean to scare you, and I admit its a hard balance to maintain an awareness of your health without becoming neurotic, but please do take your doctor's advice on board. Controlling your diabetes will give you the best chance of good health for the future. Yes - its a pain in the backside, but try not to let it get you down. And remember, doctors always take a worst-case-scenario point of view to cover their own backs - diabetics do carry a high risk of getting other conditions but only some of them will actually get them.

Hopefully you'll not develop anything else but let the doc run any tests he thinks necessary, and let him know if you develop any new symptoms / research them yourself too.

Cleo x
 
hya, i have had thyroid troubles since i was 21, i got type 1 diabetes when i was 32 endo said it was my thyroid trouble that gave me diabetes :)
 
Hi totsy

Same here underactive thyroid from i was 21 and type 1 diabetes 3 months ago aged 34 although no one has ever said there related to me - there seems to be so much variation from different medical professionals - makes me wonder!!
 
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