Hey! I have been diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, but I am finding that my symptoms and pain are taking over my whole body. I am seeing my specialists next week but wondering if anyone has anything to help me with these symptoms and how to get the best help. I really don’t know how much more I can take :(

I won’t say what they have diagnosed me with, but it is autoimmune and involves lungs. I have broken it down and put what issues I have been having with each part of my body.

Overall. Fatigue - Finding myself dropping in energy, and constantly waking up tired. Unable to sustain any activity for prolonged periods. Mentally Unhappy - unable to find joy in the things that used to. Anxiety and self doubt have taken over. Unable to settle and sleep due to mind racing constantly. Feelings of not wanting to continue living any more. Fixations on certain feelings, ideas or topics. Paranoia and feeling overwhelmed constantly.

Joints - cracking and tightness increasing. Finding hips and lower back joints are tight painful. Shoulders are becoming extremely tight and the ability to lift above my head is becoming slowly reduced in movement. Finding the swelling in my fingers is now restricting the movement of the knuckles. Finding a lot of pain in the chest wall joint when I bend my chest upwards, or twist my body.

Muscles - Finding the major big muscles in the arms and the legs are constantly tight with really big knots in them. Cramping and spasms are becoming normal. Weaker than they have ever been with my strength and ability to carry items or lift my own body weight a struggle. The tightness causes me to feel achey all day which is exhausting. Also experiencing numbness in middle toes, pins and needles, limbs turning numb and white, or purple.

Gut Health - Still experiencing high levels of indegestion and reflux. Unable to eat large quantities of food, and will often feel hungry 20-30 minutes after eating a meal. Will also need to use the toilet after eating and finding that I dont feel like I am properly digesting food. Extra gas, along with feeling bloated and uncomfortable, no matter what I have eaten.

Bladder - Always feel like I am going to wet myself, and when I need to go, its an urgent feeling. I also don't empty a lot when I do go, so the frequency is increasing. Urine also feeds quite acidic and can burn sometimes.

Skin - Always feels slightly itchy just below the skin surface. Feels like small rashes in several areas, specifically my arms. Skin becomes flakey, irittated. Easily bitten by bugs and mosquitoes and I react badly ending in scabs, swelling and irritation. Also bruises very easily and takes a long time to heal.

Lungs - Constantly in a position of feeling tight. Recently have been feeling like there is a big lump just below the heart area, towards the back. Can almost feel it when laying on my back. Feels like pressure. I get puffed simply walking one flight of stairs, or lifting a heavy item. This also causes the muscles in my arms and legs to fatigue really quickly, and I need to rest to recover. Heavy breathing causes stitches and a numb feeling inside the chest wall. *NB - I have been diagnosed with ILD with 50% scarring.

Ears, nose and throat area - In the past 2 years, have noticed a distinct reduction in the ability to smell. Has now become a standard feeling, and unless the smell is really strong, and right under my nose, I can't smell. A permanent feeling of feeling blocked up and pressure behind my nose, eyes and into my jaw area. Pushing down on these sore spots, a feeling of swelling is released. Snoring during the night has increased to a loud raspy snore, disturbing both myself and my husband. Feeling like I have a sore throat due to the dryness as unable to breathe properly and deeply through my nose. Decreased saliva. A feeling of my ears being blocked or gooey at times, and tension behind my jaw causing tension and headaches. Feeling like my throat is tightening, and closing in. A choking feeling when I eat, and struggling to swallow food without a drink to wash it down properly.