Links Between PCOS and Autoimmune Disorders?

Lublu · 06-25-2005, 10:28 AM

It's been a long time since I posted here at soulcysters. 3 years to be exact and so much has happened. But I'm trying to find out if any other women with pcos have also been cross diagnosed with autoimmune disorders?

Beyond the pco and the endometriosis that I have, I've also been diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome which at one point they thought may be Lupus. I now have two other friends with endo, pco and either lupus or fibromyalgia. I've been doing an enormous amount of research about the connection here, with my own endocronologist saying there is a strong likelihood that one day they will confirm pco and ando are just part of a larger autoimmune disorder in general.

Has anyone else out there been diagnosed this way? and if so, what are you doing to treat it? The immune suppresive drugs seem worse than the disease at this point, but I'm researching any other means of controling these disorders.

Jen312 · 06-25-2005, 11:21 AM

That's really weird that you posted this, because I was talking to someone last night about auto-immune disorders and mentioned that I have a postive ANA (antinuclear antibodies--what they test for auto-immune probs.) and my mom has tested false positive for lupus for years. My family has endocrine issues (mom's side) and obvious IR related probs (dad's side) so I don't know where I fall, really.

Lublu · 06-26-2005, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jen312

That's really weird that you posted this, because I was talking to someone last night about auto-immune disorders and mentioned that I have a postive ANA (antinuclear antibodies--what they test for auto-immune probs.) and my mom has tested false positive for lupus for years. My family has endocrine issues (mom's side) and obvious IR related probs (dad's side) so I don't know where I fall, really.

I'm wondering about this a great deal. It just seems far too odd that I have a few friends who have both autoimmune disorders and pcos. And the other issues with autoimmune disorders is that it's difficult to diagnose. But they seem to run in the women in my family, and to that end, all had pcos and endometriosis as well.

Jen312 · 06-26-2005, 12:18 PM

There HAS to be a connection...but what is it???

Kat6543 · 06-27-2005, 01:55 PM

I don't have any autoimmune condition, but my mother does. She has Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, which is related to Lupus. (I also think she has PCOS too.) Her first cousin has sceloderma (I'm not sure if I spelled that right). This same cousin has a daughter with an autoimmune condition, who a couple years ago had a baby with another one of these conditions! This poor little child gets open sores on her fingers! And there are more female relatives on Mom's side with these conditions/diseases (and on and on and on).

I am hoping that I won't develop anything later in life.

I've done a little bit of searching on the internet, but I haven't found much. The same reason more women get rheumatiod arthritis is also related to why we are more likely to get lupus...it has something to do with hormones...

Curiousme · 06-27-2005, 03:17 PM

Thank you for posting this!!!!!! I've been saying it since I realized just how many health issues my women family members and I have and how all are so similar (aside from "normal" PCOS stuff) I made that connection when two of my aunts were simultaneously diagnosed with Lupus and I began some research. It does seem very likey to me that the two are interconnected/related.

Lublu · 06-28-2005, 06:47 PM

I'm convinced that there is something to what my endo speculates; that one day they will link pcos and all this other stuff to a larger autoimmune disorder. I've just seen too much with people being diagnosed with one and then it landslides into many other things.

To me, I think we need more research, not just into treating pcos, but autoimmune disorders in general. I know when I was diagnosed with pco, I did a heck of a lot of reading about pcos and how to treat it in various ways. Now I'm trying to incorporate more of the autoimmune aspects as well to see if I can maintain a better quality of life in general.

But what worries me is that there seems to be this focus on treating just certain symptoms, and not the whole picture.

LaurAnnHere · 06-28-2005, 06:55 PM

I have a yet autimmune disorder that has not been identified yet. I was 1 symptom away from being diagnosed with Lupus. I need to go back and be checked again. Right now I'm having some problems with swollen lymph nodes in my stomach (caused by who knows what) and am in a lots of pain. I'm on a bunch of pain meds so I can't articulate well. The ER doc said that it is uncommon to see these lymph nodes swollen in adults, so I wonder if this is related to the autimmune problem.

Nixmommy · 07-04-2005, 07:49 PM

I AM IN THIS VERY BOAT RIGHT NOW. i FEEL FINE...NO REAL SYMPTOMS OR PROBLEMS RELATED TO LUPUS OR ANY OTHER AUTOIMMUNE DISORDER, BUT I HAVE AN ELEVATED SED RATE AND AN ELEVATED C-REACTIVE PROTEIN LEVEL, WHICH BOTH INDICATE SOME TYPE OF INFLAMMATION IN THE BODY. THE PROBLEM IS....NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHY. I REALLY HAVENT EVEN BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH PCOS BUT i AM PRETTY SURE I HAVE IT...JUST DONT REALLY HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS EXCEPT BEING OVERWEIGHT AND ANNOVULATORY. ONE DOC SAID i HAD IT AND ONE SAID HE SAW NO EVIDENCE. SO I DONT KNOW BUT I HAVE BEEN TESTED FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN AND NO ONE KNOWS WHY MY SED RATE AND C-REACTIVE PROTEIN ARE HIGH. MAYBE ITS ALL RELATED...WHO KNOWS. I AM NOW WAITING TO SEE WHAT DOCTOR IM GOING TO NEXT TO FIND OUT WHY THESE LEVELS ARE HIGH. ITS ALL SO DAMN COMPLICATED. I JUST FEEL LIKE WHY WORRY ABOUT IT IF IM NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEMS. UGHHHH I JUST WISH I HAD SOME ANSWERS TO WHY THESE LEVELS ARE HIGH BUT ALL MY TESTS FOR AUTOIMMUNE ARE NEGATIVE. MAYBE I AM JUST BORDERLINE. ANY COMMENTS OR INPUT WOULD BE GREAT.

snowbunny · 07-05-2005, 07:53 PM

I really think think PCOS has an autoimmune component. I have two other autoimmune diseases (Celiac Sprue and Graves' Disease). There are so many cysters with autoimmune disease--it seems disproportionate. In addition, autoimmune diseases cluster together. More research is needed on autoimmune disease and PCOS.

LaurAnnHere · 07-05-2005, 08:01 PM

I have an autimmune disorder of "unknown origins." Simply put, they haven't decided what I have. Last time I was checked was in 1995 when they said I was one symptom away from having Lupus. The doctor at that time wanted to start me on steroids which I didn't want to do. I've been having a lot of problems since but I have a bad doctor and need to find a new one. Right now I'm battling a problem with my stomach where my lymph nodes in my stomach are inlarged and I've been in a lot of pain. I have no idea what has caused this to happen, but my doctor is ignoring me. I keep leaving messages wanting my test results, but she hasn't returned my calls. I'm worried that it's something serious, but she's ignoring me. The ER doctor said it was very unusual to have swollen lymph nodes in your stomach as an adult.

Emantha · 07-14-2005, 04:40 AM

Oddly enough, i have an autoimmune disorder...... psoriasis. I didn't realize there could be a link, i am going to have to research this aspect. Ty for bringing this up.

omcv · 07-14-2005, 05:03 AM

Yes I do .. my immune system is killing off my thyroid since I was conceived (inherited auto-immune disease called Hashimotos). Though I was just disgnosed with PCOS IR, the doctor thinks I have had it all my life.

canistars · 07-14-2005, 07:13 PM

I think you all may be on to something.. I have fybromyalgia and now PCOS.

dellwood · 07-14-2005, 07:15 PM

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia last September; I also have PCOS and IR.