Question: Experiencing multiple autoimmune diseases; neurological symptoms are overwhelming. I am currently being seen by specialists at the Mayo Clinic. I was diagnosed 7 years ago with CLL. I received chemotherapy for six months, ending in January 2011. It has since relapsed and I am waiting to start chemo again after neurological testing is completed. Neurologic symptoms started about the same time as being diagnosed with CLL but are slowly getting progressively worse; symptoms flare at times but never fully recover. I have a few concerns: 1) Could the neurological symptoms be related to the CLL?
2) Do you think it's possibly another autoimmune disease in itself? 3) Could it be a circulatory system malfunction? 4) Any suggestions that I should convey to my neurologist at the Mayo Clinic?

Dear Dr. Rijhwani,

Thank you for your speedy reply and your consideration in answering my questions.

All due respect for your professional opinion, my oncologists and my hematologist (3 separate individuals), seem to have a very much different opinion than yours. Although, a visit with a rheumatologist in the past expressed the same point of view as yourself. I'm not saying your assumption is wrong, as I want as many opinions as possible for solving my dilemma; but what they are saying is that what I'm experiencing has nothing to do with CLL. Now, as you can see, is why I would love to get to the bottom of this/these medical issues so that I can begin to seek proper treatment; to heal, to adapt, to adjust, and/or to overcome to be in the best possible physical, emotional, and mental state as I can be.....I'm not seeking perfectionism; I'm just trying to have a better quality of life.

Most of my doctors believe that cancer, CLL, is a form of an autoimmune disease. Do you agree or disagree?

I'm sorry for the lack of information provided in my first query. My profile should have been uploaded for you. Obviously, there was an error in the system because I had included history with my query. Anyways, I'm not sure what you mean by "autoimmune profile", but if you are meaning my history of autoimmune disease/ disorders they are as follows:

1. CLL/ small cell lymphoma
2. Hashimoto' s Disease
3. Thyroiditis
4. Multinodular Goiter
5. Fibromyalgia/Polymyalgia
6. Diabetes Type II
7. Narcolepsy
8. Chronic CMV
9. Chronic EBV
10. Chronic Gastritis (since birth)
11. IBS with constipation (over 30 years)
12. Recent, severe, long lasting bout of Shingles on head, neck, face, and chest.
13. Recurring Shingles
14. Chronic Inflammation; tendonitis, tenosynovitis, chondritis, costochondritis
15. Temporal Arteritis
16. Bilateral Lower Extremity Lymphedema
17. Hypogammalglobulinemia
18. Neuropathy
19. Sjogren’s syndrome
20. Vasculitis
21. Myositis
22. Neurological symptoms: These symptoms are persistent; heat intolerance, headaches, 'clicks' in my head, short term memory deficit, decrease in comprehension, blurry and double vision, electrical jolts in my head and in extremities, numbness and tingling in extremities, lower extremity parathesia, decrease in muscle tone, involuntary muscle movements, and tachycardia due to an underlying electrophysiological cause. The following symptoms wax and wane with flares that may last hours or maybe even months: increase in activity of the afore-mentioned symptoms, plus dysarthia, lack of balance and poor coordination, unsteady gait, decreased and or absent reflexes, clonus movements, and decrease alertness.

EEG-negative.
CT of BRAIN-small area of hyperintensity in each frontal lobe
MRI of spine-essentially negative.
Echocardiogram-unremarkable
Ophthalmic Exam-astigmatism, farsightedness, color blind. Structurally, no reason for the diplopia.
RA factor-negative.
Lyme test-negative
HIV-negative.

I'm hoping this gives a clearer picture. Any specifics, if needed, please don't hesitate to ask. Thanks again for your consideration in this matter; any and all help is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
~XXXX~

Dear Dr. XXXXXXX

May I ask what you are referring to when you say, "underlying malignancy"?

Sincerely,
~XXXX~

Thank you Dr. XXXXXXX

I have not had an ANA test in a very long time. I will take your answer as a suggestion and present this to my physicians to order an autoimmune disease profile.

Thank you,
~XXXX~