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CHECKLIST
Risks for and Symptoms of Autoimmune Disease
The following list is an excerpt from a 30-page detailed "Autoimmune Disease Risk Factors and Symptoms Checklist" featured in the new book, Living Well With Autoimmune Disease.

This partial checklist touches upon some frequently-noticed symptoms of some common autoimmune conditions. This list is by no means exhaustive (for an exhaustive list, see the book). This list can be a helpful start, however.

Carefully filling out this checklist and taking it to your doctor can be an important first step in getting appropriate testing and the right medical diagnosis.




Fever / Body Temperature

_____ Elevated fever, higher body temperature - Lupus, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome
_____ Feeling cold when others feel hot -- Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
_____ Feeling hot when others feel cold -- Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism
_____ Low body temperature -- Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

Hair

_____ Hair loss, round bald patches on the scalp -- Alopecia Areata
_____ Hair loss, loss of facial and scalp hair -- Alopecia Totalis, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Lupus
_____ Male patterned baldness -- Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
_____ Excess hair growth on the face faces, necks, chests, abdomens, and thighs, in women - Cushing's Disease, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
_____ Loss of hair in outer eyebrow -- Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
_____ Hair is rough, coarse dry, breaking, brittle - Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism

Skin

_____ Hyperpigmentation, or dark tanning in skin -- Addison's Disease
_____ Painful skin rash, called dermatitis herpetiformis -- Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome
_____ Fragile thin skin - Cushing's Disease
_____ Skin that bruises easily - Cushing's Disease
_____ Acne -- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
_____ Skin rashes, especially "butterfly rash" on the nose and cheeks -- Lupus
_____ Sun sensitivity -- Lupus
_____ Skin thickening -- Scleroderma
_____ Skin ulcers on the fingers -- Scleroderma

Eyes

_____ Dry eyes -- Sjogren's Syndrome, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism
_____ Blurred vision -- Sjogren's Syndrome, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Multiple Sclerosis
_____ Eye discomfort or pain -- Sjogren's Syndrome, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Multiple Sclerosis
_____ Nystagmus or jerking, rapid involuntary eye movement -- Multiple Sclerosis, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
_____ Optic neuritis, inflammation of the nerves in the eye -- Multiple Sclerosis
_____ Unclear or double vision -- Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Multiple Sclerosis

Throat, Neck, Voice, Mouth

_____ Dry mouth -- Sjogren's Syndrome
_____ Hoarseness, husky or gravelly voice -- Sjogren's Syndrome, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism
_____ Difficulty in swallowing -- Sjogren's Syndrome, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism
_____ Mouth and nose sores -- Lupus
_____ Pale sores inside the mouth, called aphthus ulcers -- Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome
_____ Fullness or pressure, choking sensation in throat, lump in the neck -- Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism

Fatigue, Sleep

_____ Chronic fatigue - Addison's Disease, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Sjogren's Syndrome, Lupus, Insulin-Dependent Type 1 Diabetes
_____ Insomnia -- Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism
_____ Exhaustion after minimal effort or exercise - Fibromyalgia, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Sjogren's Syndrome, Lupus

Muscles, Joints, Tendons

_____ Pain and tenderness throughout the body - Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Lupus, Sjogren's Syndrome
_____ Muscle weakness -- Addison's Disease, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
_____ Joint Stiffness - Scleroderma, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia
_____ Bone, joint and muscle aches, inflammation, and pains -- Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Cushing's Disease, Lupus, Sjogren's Syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis
_____ Backaches, unexplained rib and spinal column fractures- Cushing's Disease
_____ Deformed joints - Rheumatoid Arthritis
_____ Carpal-tunnel syndrome / tendinitis -- Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

Hands and Feet

_____ Raynaud's phenomenon (extreme sensitivity to cold in the hands and feet) -- Lupus, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism
_____ Swelling in hands and feet - Lupus, Scleroderma, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

Weight Changes

_____ Weight loss -- Addison's Disease, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Lupus, Insulin-Dependent Type 1 Diabetes
_____ Weight Gain - Cushing's Disease, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome
_____ Weight gain in upper body, abdomen - Cushing's Disease, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
_____ Rounded or puffy face - Cushing's Disease, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
_____ Increased fat around the neck - Cushing's Disease
_____ Thinning arms and legs - Cushing's Disease

Digestion, Gastrointestinal

_____ Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea -- Addison's Disease, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Scleroderma, Insulin-Dependent Type 1 Diabetes
_____ Recurring abdominal bloating and pain -- Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome
_____ Pale, foul-smelling stool -- Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome
_____ Gas -- Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome
_____ Increased urination -- Insulin-Dependent Type 1 Diabetes
_____ Constipation - Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

Pulse/Blood Pressure

_____ Low blood pressure -- Addison's Disease, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
_____ High blood pressure- Cushing's Disease, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
_____ Slow pulse -- Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
_____ Fast Pulse -- Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism

Mood, Thinking

_____ Irritability, anxiety and depression -- Addison's Disease, Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Cushing's Disease, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
_____ "Brain Fog," difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness -- Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Balance, Coordination, Neurological Symptoms

_____ Lack of coordination or unsteady gait -- Multiple Sclerosis
_____ Dizziness, vertigo -- Multiple Sclerosis, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
_____ Numbness, weakness, tingling or paralysis in one or more limbs - Multiple Sclerosis, Insulin-Dependent Type 1 Diabetes
_____ Tremor -- Multiple Sclerosis, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism

Food/Drink & Cravings

_____ Craving of salty foods -- Addison's Disease
_____ Increased thirst -- Insulin-Dependent Type 1 Diabetes
_____ Loss of appetite -- Addison's Disease, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism

Menstruation/Gynecological - Women

_____ Irregular or absent menstrual periods -- Addison's Disease, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Cushing's Disease, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
_____ Cysts on Ovaries -- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Fertility and Sex Drive, Pregnancy

_____ Infertility or decreased fertility in women -- Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
_____ Decreased fertility in men- Cushing's Disease
_____ Reduced sex drive - Cushing's Disease, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
_____ Recurrent miscarriage - Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

Breathing

_____ Increase in snoring -- Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
_____ Shortness of breath and tightness in the chest -- Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

Especially in Children

_____ Delayed growth in children, failure to thrive in infants -- Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Cushing's Disease, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

Blood Changes

_____ Unexplained anemia (low count of red blood cells) -- Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome
_____ High cholesterol levels -- Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism

Blood Sugar Changes

_____ Hypoglycemia/low blood sugar -- Addison's Disease, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
_____ High blood sugar- Cushing's Disease, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

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This excerpt from Living Well With Autoimmune Disease is copyright © Mary J. Shomon, 2002. All rights reserved. No unauthorized reproduction.