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are these symptomes related?

Sent to Health Experts September 08, 2006 8:34 p.m.

I have varied symptoms that seem to be unrelated but wonder if there is somehow a connection. I am female, 37yrs old, 5'5 and 160lbs. I was diagnosed with alopecia about 2 years ago. It is not severe. I have had up to three bald spots at a time that vary in size from dimes to silver dollars at various times over the coarse of the last two years. The hair has always grown back after cortizone injections into the sight. I am currently starting to lose more hair but don't have any bare spots yet. I also have odd patches of dry, skin on my face that peel off in small patches. They are in the crease of my nose, just above my nose between my eyebrows and a small patch on my cheek. The severity of this also varies. I also have adult acne that is concentrated on my lower cheeks, jawline, and upper neck. It is also not severe but the sights are usually knotty and tend to hurt. At a recent dentist appointment, my dentist mentioned that the lymph knodes in my neck where a little swollen and he said to have them checked of they stayed that way. It has been about a month and they are still a little swollen but do not hurt at all. I also had an episode about month ago where I had trouble going to sleep because of unusual pain in my arm and leg but only on the left side of my body. I got up and walked around, took ibuprofen but it didn't subside for a long time. This has not happened since. I have had recurring pain in my right arm that is really severe and was diagnosed with a bone spur in my rotater cuff. I had a steroid shot in it about 15 month ago and again about a month ago when the pain got really bad again. About 2 weeks ago, I suffered my first migrane headache but haven't had one since.

I'm sure this all sounds very strange but I feel like I'm suddenly falling apart and just want to know if these really seem isolated or if these things are somehow connected and part of something that I should be concerned about.

I am going to be away from the computer for about 4 hours but will check back for updates. I am not really looking for a definitive diagnosis or anything like that. I have an appointment on Monday with a GP and am really looking for questions to ask and direction so that I can cover my bases and start in the right direction.

Edited by Customer (name blocked for privacy) on September 9 2006 at 11:06am

Optional Information:
Female , Age: 37

Already Tried:
I see the dermatologist for the alopecia and put hydrocortizome on the dry patches. Totally at a loss on the acne. Nothing seems to help.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $30

Answer
September 09, 2006 11:44 a.m. (15 hours and 9 minutes later)

REPLIED

Jess,
Sounds like you are dealing with a lot! I know how that feels... and let me just say that any conditions that happen at the same time on your body ARE related because your body is a connected organism... You are one person with multiple connected systems, so any symptoms you have are related to each other even if they seem isolated because your body is connected to itself. With that in mind, you may want to ask the GP:

-are the skin issues related to your alopecia or are they a coincidence.

-could there be a nutritional connection for the migraines, acne, and dry skin patches. (i.e. a food allergy, a vitamin deficiency)

-are the swollen lymph glands a result of your immune system being taxed from dealing with the alopecia and could this taxation of your immune system be leading to the other skin conditions?

-Are the skin conditions a side effect of having cortizone injections? What about the swollen lymph nodes?(are they swollen as a side effect of the coritzone?)

-could the skin conditions, migraine, and swollen lymph nodes be stress related.

Now for my two cents: it sounds like you may have a buildup of toxins in your body that is being released through your acne and evidenced by your lymph nodes being swollen and the migraine. You can help your body detox and build your immune system by drinking plenty of water, eating a raw fruit or vegetable each day--celery is good for detoxification as well as stress. Dark fruits like blueberries and grapes are high in antioxidants. You might also try an immune system supplement like an Echinacea tea. You can find one here that tastes good:
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=84552&catid=32592&trx=PLST-0-SEARCH&trxp1=32592&trxp2=84552&trxp3=1&trxp4=0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-SEARCH
There is also a good detox tea made by the same people, but I cannot vouch for the taste: http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=84551&catid=32592&trx=PLST-0-SEARCH&trxp1=32592&trxp2=84551&trxp3=1&trxp4=0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-SEARCH

Your body is fighting hard against the alopecia and anything you can do to deepen it's reserve of resources will help you feel better.
Good luck at your doctors appointment and in your journey to better health.

__________________
All the best to you! Please press accept if this was helpful!

Candi -- Mommy -- 100% Positive Feedback on 139 Health Accepts
Mom of 3, family planning counselor @ CPC, daughter of cancer survivor, wife of stroke survivor.

Reply to Candi
Sent September 09, 2006 7:51 p.m. (8 hours and 6 minutes later)

are there any types of test that I should ask my Dr about to rule out anything more serious?

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Answer
September 09, 2006 8:43 p.m. (52 minutes and 0 seconds later)

REPLIED

A CBC would show a good picture of your overall health and could help him diagnose any more serious conditions. (CBC stands for complete blood count.)

Edited by thatshortchick on September 9 2006 at 11:16pm

__________________
All the best to you! Please press accept if this was helpful!

Candi -- Mommy -- 100% Positive Feedback on 139 Health Accepts
Mom of 3, family planning counselor @ CPC, daughter of cancer survivor, wife of stroke survivor.

Reply to Candi
Sent September 11, 2006 8:58 p.m. (2 days and 0 hours later)

I have not yet decided whether I will accept the answer. It was not exactly what I was looking for. While I appreciate you taking the time to answer, I feel like your response tends toward the common sense instead of the more concrete answer that I was looking for. I was hoping that a MD could tell me if these symptoms could be attributed to a specific type of illness that tests could be run for such as thyroid, diabetes or something.

I didn't mention it in my 1stposting of things tried, but I have tried the detox type teas in the past and still have at least one cup a day and this has not seemed to help my complexion at all.

I had my Dr appt, today and had a thryroid and CBS done as well as an EKG. If Dr indicates that my symptoms are stemming from my bodies fight with alopecia then I will gladly accept your answer.

Thanks again for answering my question, I admire your attempt. There were many more credentialed MDs that viewed the question and deemed it too difficult to respond to.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

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