An estimated 50 million people in the US alone have some form of autoimmunity. For many, the symptoms of autoimmune d.isease are not always textbook. They can start small, last for years, and subtly grow into major health issues.
This can happen for decades before the problems have done enough d.amage to send you into a doctor’s office to get a definitive diagnosis. That means you could have years of accumulated inflammatory d.amage before learning that your body has been silently a.ttacking itself. Here are 7 symptoms of autoimmune d.isease that often go missed, leading to years of unnecessary suffering…
Muscle and Joint Pain
Aches, pains, stiffness, tightness, and proneness to injury with even light activity can be a silent and slow-working AI process. People who suffer from these symptoms cannot link the onset of pain to any injury or traumatic event. They simply have a history of slow, progressive musculoskeletal issues.
Early on, these people often make attempts at exercise and physical activity only to find that it becomes harder and harder. As the symptoms progress, these individuals find that they put on more weight, often retain water, and become extremely prone to injuring themselves with minimal activity.
Oftentimes, these people experience pains that migrate from one area of the body to another with no rhyme or reason. This migrating pain can worsen into swelling, redness, and stiffness in muscles and joints, leading to a complete avoidance of physical activity for fear of more pain.
Some of the AI d.iseases related to this group of symptoms are rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, ankylosing spondylitis, migratory arthritis, reactive arthritis, dermatomyositis, myalgia, psoriatic arthritis, and scleroderma.
Fatigue and Brain Fog
You wake up tired, push through your day feeling tired, and trying to concentrate or remember small tasks becomes more and more overwhelming. These individuals will often gravitate toward self-medicating with caffeine – usually in the form of coffee or high-caffeine teas.
Initially, caffeine helps stimulate morning energy levels and boost afternoon energy. But the paradox of too much caffeine is that it can cause B-vitamin and magnesium deficiency. Because these nutrients are needed by the body to produce energy, the fatigue persists and, in time, worsens. Caffeine also disrupts the sleep cycle, so these individuals often have a hard time going to sleep at night.
When their rest is compromised, their ability to recover is stifled, and the fatigue becomes even more progressive. These individuals will often end up confined to bed for most of the day, and when they try to get out of bed, they pay for it with overwhelming exhaustion for days afterward.
Some AI d.iseases linked to this category of symptoms are Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (hypothyroidism), autoimmune gastritis that causes anemia, pernicious anemia, type I diabetes, Addison’s d.isease, silent celiac, and myocarditis.
Anemia of Unknown Causes
Much like #2, anemia can contribute to severe fatigue. The fatigue of anemia is oftentimes described as relentless fatigue that is not improved with rest. It is coupled with the symptoms of shortness of breath, muscle aches and pains, cold intolerance, exercise intolerance, anxiety, and proneness to passing out. Because there are different types of anemia (iron deficiency, B-vitamin deficiency anemia, hemolytic anemia, etc), the symptoms can overlap as well.
For example, B-vitamin deficiency anemia can cause numbness and tingling in the hands and feet as well as nerve pain. Iron deficiency anemia can cause cold intolerance. People who fit these symptoms typically have a history of recurring anemias.
Examples of AI d.iseases that can cause anemia are celiac d.isease, Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis, multiple sclerosis, pernicious anemia, and gastritis. It is important to know that anemia can also be caused by taking medication that blocks stomach acid. You need acid to absorb both iron and B-vitamins. So this category often has a crossover with #7. Because B-12 deficiency can also cause neuropathy, it is also common to see symptoms cross over with #4 on this list.
Neuropathy
One of the most common symptoms of autoimmune d.isease. Nerve damage can manifest in many different ways. Physical manifestations can include numbness and tingling in the extremities, nerve pain, stabbing or shooting pain in the arms and legs, muscle weakness, muscle loss, and hypersensitivity to touch. Neuropathy can also affect the brain and spinal cord, and muscles. Symptoms can manifest as dizziness, brain fog, vertigo, poor coordination, and ringing in the ears.
This category commonly overlaps with #1, #2, and #3. AI nerve damage will also affect the gut, leading to irritable bowel and, in very bad cases, gastroparesis. Several research studies link gluten and dairy consumption to AI nerve damage. Examples of AI d.iseases of the nervous system include multiple sclerosis, GBS, cerebellar ataxia, dynautonomia (reflex sympathetic dystrophy), ALS, Restless Leg Syndrome, transverse myelitis, polyneuropathy, and gastroparesis.
Cold Intolerance
Cold intolerance is a common symptom that can indicate an autoimmune problem. A form of autoimmunity called Raynaud’s d.isease can contribute to cold intolerance. So can hypothyroidism. Anemia can also cause this symptom.
Intermittent Low-Grade Fevers
The body uses fever to help combat infection and sometimes to fight food allergies. Many who have this symptom also have swollen lymph nodes in the neck or throat. As infection and food allergies are both major triggers for autoimmune d.isease, low-grade fevers without a known origin should be investigated further. Keep in mind that not all infections are obvious. Some of them are more chronic.
Gut Problems
Gut problems are one of the most common symptoms of autoimmune d.isease. Gut symptoms often indicate intestinal hyper-permeability (Leaky Gut). Leaky gut is a trigger for autoimmune symptoms. Acid reflux, intestinal bloating, cramping, and pain are all common signs that this is happening. Additionally, constipation, diarrhea, and frequent blood in the stool can be autoimmune symptoms. Damage to the gut is often a result of food allergies, intolerances, and exposure to harmful chemicals (pesticides, chlorine, etc). Many medications can also contribute to gut problems. So, if you are taking medications, make sure you cross-reference your medicines with side effects associated with gastrointestinal dysfunction. Ask your doctor to rule out food allergies and gluten sensitivity.
Source: glutenfreesociety.org
