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Taking Cymbalta And Hair Is Shedding Tremendously. Have Acid Reflux, Joint Pain And Raynauds. Done Tests. Diagnosis?
Question: when I eat usually crunchy food I find that a cough and need to clear my throat.
taking acid reflux meds for 4 months now switched few weeks ago from ppi to blocker med.
I have been taking cymbalta since 9/2011. About 6 months on cymbalta I notice my hair shedding at twice the rate and my hair was very dry, its still shedding tremendously. I tried minoxidil in 9/2012 and it stopped the shedding until about 3/2013 and then even though I was still on minoxidil my hair started to shed again. So I stopped medication and now taking vivascal fo three weeks.
But back in 6/2012 I went to see a dermatologist about my hair loss, she ran some tests, turned out that my XXXXXXX value was high 1:640 and pattern homogeneous, went to 2 rheumatologists. they both ran all the tests for autoimmune diseases and nothing came back postivie, except for the XXXXXXX and histone levels of 2 again. The last bloodwork was done in 6/2013 and was negative again. except for my XXXXXXX and histone again.
Im worried that I might have autoimmune diseases. the only other symptoms I have is some joint pain, raynauds and acid reflux.
The 2nd rheumatologist thinks its the cymbalta causing the high XXXXXXX values and histone.
My blood work back in in 6/2011, before I started cymbalta, showed a negative XXXXXXX and I was having some joint pain and a little hair loss back them.
I know that autoimmune diseases are hard to diagnose, but do you think based on the information? Please feel free to ask me any further questions that might help you in your diagnosis.
taking acid reflux meds for 4 months now switched few weeks ago from ppi to blocker med.
I have been taking cymbalta since 9/2011. About 6 months on cymbalta I notice my hair shedding at twice the rate and my hair was very dry, its still shedding tremendously. I tried minoxidil in 9/2012 and it stopped the shedding until about 3/2013 and then even though I was still on minoxidil my hair started to shed again. So I stopped medication and now taking vivascal fo three weeks.
But back in 6/2012 I went to see a dermatologist about my hair loss, she ran some tests, turned out that my XXXXXXX value was high 1:640 and pattern homogeneous, went to 2 rheumatologists. they both ran all the tests for autoimmune diseases and nothing came back postivie, except for the XXXXXXX and histone levels of 2 again. The last bloodwork was done in 6/2013 and was negative again. except for my XXXXXXX and histone again.
Im worried that I might have autoimmune diseases. the only other symptoms I have is some joint pain, raynauds and acid reflux.
The 2nd rheumatologist thinks its the cymbalta causing the high XXXXXXX values and histone.
My blood work back in in 6/2011, before I started cymbalta, showed a negative XXXXXXX and I was having some joint pain and a little hair loss back them.
I know that autoimmune diseases are hard to diagnose, but do you think based on the information? Please feel free to ask me any further questions that might help you in your diagnosis.
Brief Answer:
could be a mild form of lupus
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I would say that the symptoms could definitely be lupus, as you have an XXXXXXX which is high titer positive, you have some arthralgias, hair loss and raynauds.
As you know sometimes autoimmune diseases would not completely come up with all the symptoms.
And lupus involves a spectrum of symptoms.
I would also like to know your Ro and La antibodies as they may also corelate with your oral symptoms as also whether you have any features of skin thickening.
There is no confirmatory test for lupus apart from XXXXXXX The rest of the diagnosis is clinical.
So the other things we need to look for is any thing on your blood counts like a low TLC ,DLC, a high ESR. If you have symptoms of photosensitivity, oral ulcers, skin rashes etc., let your doctors know about it. It can help your doctors arrive at a conculsion.
Also cymbalta is not known to produce drug induced lupus. Histone may be positive in lupus and is not specific for drug induced lupus.
In brief, I would consider your symptoms and XXXXXXX titres related to lupus. If I were to be your treating doctor, I would definitely start its treatment. Discuss with your doctor if you have other associated symptoms as described above. Further discuss about Ro and La antibodies. They can help your doctors to arrive at the diagnosis.
Hope this helps. Please feel free to ask me any clarifications if required.
Regards
could be a mild form of lupus
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I would say that the symptoms could definitely be lupus, as you have an XXXXXXX which is high titer positive, you have some arthralgias, hair loss and raynauds.
As you know sometimes autoimmune diseases would not completely come up with all the symptoms.
And lupus involves a spectrum of symptoms.
I would also like to know your Ro and La antibodies as they may also corelate with your oral symptoms as also whether you have any features of skin thickening.
There is no confirmatory test for lupus apart from XXXXXXX The rest of the diagnosis is clinical.
So the other things we need to look for is any thing on your blood counts like a low TLC ,DLC, a high ESR. If you have symptoms of photosensitivity, oral ulcers, skin rashes etc., let your doctors know about it. It can help your doctors arrive at a conculsion.
Also cymbalta is not known to produce drug induced lupus. Histone may be positive in lupus and is not specific for drug induced lupus.
In brief, I would consider your symptoms and XXXXXXX titres related to lupus. If I were to be your treating doctor, I would definitely start its treatment. Discuss with your doctor if you have other associated symptoms as described above. Further discuss about Ro and La antibodies. They can help your doctors to arrive at the diagnosis.
Hope this helps. Please feel free to ask me any clarifications if required.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Im sending you copies of the recent blood work, I believe all that you mentioned was done. The Esr was done 6-12 , did send you that is was negative.
Is there anything else I need to do? the cardiolopin values were repeated and were in range in 6-13.
Is there anything else I need to do? the cardiolopin values were repeated and were in range in 6-13.
Brief Answer:
looks like lupus
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I went through the details, but from my point of view with your present blood work and symptoms there is no doubt that you have lupus. You have very high titers of XXXXXXX and so is anti histone, although other antibodies are negative.
Generally in this kind of situation, it is a practise to start hydroxychloroquine at doses of around 400 mg along with folic acid, calcium and vitamin D.
I think that should also be our approach.
Let me know if you need clarifications.
Regards
looks like lupus
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I went through the details, but from my point of view with your present blood work and symptoms there is no doubt that you have lupus. You have very high titers of XXXXXXX and so is anti histone, although other antibodies are negative.
Generally in this kind of situation, it is a practise to start hydroxychloroquine at doses of around 400 mg along with folic acid, calcium and vitamin D.
I think that should also be our approach.
Let me know if you need clarifications.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
But I have no skin rashes or sun sensitivity or tiredness. My hair was shedding since I was 16 it slowed down and only, since I have been on the cymbalta it's been dry and started to fall out more, my XXXXXXX was negative in XXXXXXX 2011, prior to the cymbalta. So based on what symptoms are you making this diagnosis? What does hydroxychloroquine do?
In addition both rheumatologists I saw have not diagnosed me with lupus, what makes you so sure that's what I have?
Also my blood work is negative for lupus.
In addition both rheumatologists I saw have not diagnosed me with lupus, what makes you so sure that's what I have?
Also my blood work is negative for lupus.
Brief Answer:
Symptoms cannot be explained by any other diagnosis
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
As I see in your report, you have strongly positive XXXXXXX by IF and you have a strongly positive Histone.
Both these are enough evidence for this condition.
I understand that you don't have all the symptoms of lupus, but as you stated, you have arthralgias, hair loss, raynauds.
It obvious that you don't have typical full blown features, but in light of your reports and these features, lupus cannot totally be ruled out. Since your tests and symptoms cannot be explained by any other diagnosis, I believe that lupus is the closest possibility.
Hydroxychloroquine is one of the mildest drugs for arthritis. It is the basic drug for lupus; it is an immunomodulatory drug.
I am sorry if you are not convinced with my reply, but I stick by my opinion.
Regards
Symptoms cannot be explained by any other diagnosis
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
As I see in your report, you have strongly positive XXXXXXX by IF and you have a strongly positive Histone.
Both these are enough evidence for this condition.
I understand that you don't have all the symptoms of lupus, but as you stated, you have arthralgias, hair loss, raynauds.
It obvious that you don't have typical full blown features, but in light of your reports and these features, lupus cannot totally be ruled out. Since your tests and symptoms cannot be explained by any other diagnosis, I believe that lupus is the closest possibility.
Hydroxychloroquine is one of the mildest drugs for arthritis. It is the basic drug for lupus; it is an immunomodulatory drug.
I am sorry if you are not convinced with my reply, but I stick by my opinion.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Isn't high histone and XXXXXXX indicative of drug induced cond?. my arthritis is a 1 on a scale of 1-10 10 being the highest. Is that because I'm on the cymbalta? Also in lupus doesn't one have swelling and redness with joint pain?
If I do have lupus and I don't start on medication what will happen?
One of the rheumatologist said he believes its the cymbalta,he has seen this before with people on antidepressants. Have you seen this in your practice ? Have you had patients with my same symptoms that you have diagnosed with lupus? If so has there blood work later on showed any more positives?
Do you think if I continue with the blood work that it will eventually show something positive other than the XXXXXXX and histone and in what time frame will this likely happen?
Also if I do start with the hydroqueline and don't have lupus is it harmful to me? Will hydroqueline take care of my hairloss?
Please understand I'm not judging your expertise but I have anxiety and if I can
rule out it isn't lupus I will feel better.
Do you have a lot of patients with lupus? Do they need other meds other than the ones you mentioned?
What is XXXXXXX by IF?
Thanks
If I do have lupus and I don't start on medication what will happen?
One of the rheumatologist said he believes its the cymbalta,he has seen this before with people on antidepressants. Have you seen this in your practice ? Have you had patients with my same symptoms that you have diagnosed with lupus? If so has there blood work later on showed any more positives?
Do you think if I continue with the blood work that it will eventually show something positive other than the XXXXXXX and histone and in what time frame will this likely happen?
Also if I do start with the hydroqueline and don't have lupus is it harmful to me? Will hydroqueline take care of my hairloss?
Please understand I'm not judging your expertise but I have anxiety and if I can
rule out it isn't lupus I will feel better.
Do you have a lot of patients with lupus? Do they need other meds other than the ones you mentioned?
What is XXXXXXX by IF?
Thanks
Brief Answer:
May be a lupus diathesis, mild lupus
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Lupus is a spectrum of symptoms,
I totally agree that you are not a typical case, you have a few symptoms with a positive antibody.
so I am just saying that hydroxychloroquine may help you and at low doses it is quite harmless.
In general practice we call this a lupus diathesis.
It is less likely that you will come up with other antibodies.
I have not seen drug induced lupus develop with duloxetine.
IFT is a method of detecting XXXXXXX
lupus may require very high doses of cytotoxic medicines and HCQ is one of safest, and mildest ,it may also help with hairloss.
regards,
May be a lupus diathesis, mild lupus
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Lupus is a spectrum of symptoms,
I totally agree that you are not a typical case, you have a few symptoms with a positive antibody.
so I am just saying that hydroxychloroquine may help you and at low doses it is quite harmless.
In general practice we call this a lupus diathesis.
It is less likely that you will come up with other antibodies.
I have not seen drug induced lupus develop with duloxetine.
IFT is a method of detecting XXXXXXX
lupus may require very high doses of cytotoxic medicines and HCQ is one of safest, and mildest ,it may also help with hairloss.
regards,
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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