Last Friday evening, I participated in a bi-weekly chat hosted by fellow MS blogger, Joan of A Short in the Cord, who was profiled previously on Health Central.

Of the ten people who participated in the chat, three of us are diagnosed with both multiple sclerosis AND rheumatoid arthritis.  One of those three is more recently diagnosed with lupus as well.  Her name is Nancy and she asked me about my diagnosis and treatment choices. 

It was interesting that 30% of the participants in that one chat session were diagnosed with at least two autoimmune disorders, including MS and RA.  I am aware of a few more MS bloggers who have the same diagnoses.  If the National MS Disease Registry Act ever becomes a law, then we will have more information about these “double-dipper autoimmunies.”  (Don’t worry about researching that phrase, I just made it up.)

So here is the abridged historical version of my diagnosis with MS and RA. 

Background: In college I was a music major, piano performance and instrumental music education, and had planned to be a band director.  Turns out I have trouble thinking straight with too much sound and stimulus coming at me at once.  So I proceeded to get a graduate degree in horn performance and from there a doctorate in music literature and brass pedagogy with minors in music theory and natural horn performance.  (Side note: Musicians often practice and perform under situations of physical pain and discomfort.)

In 1993, I experienced some vision problems and eye care on campus was provided within the School of Optometry.   Eventually I underwent MRI scans looking for a possible brain tumor, but nothing was found out of the ordinary.

In 1995 or so, I tripped and fell on the way to perform in a concert.  My horn was mangled and I cracked the bone above my elbow.  After recovery, I developed an achy arm to join my “granny leg” which reliably alerts me to changes in weather and my mother was diagnosed with her own autoimmune disease.

In 2000, I experienced a blinding bout of optic neuritis, literally lost all vision in my right eye for almost two months.  The day that the lights were going out, I was seen by three eye professionals in three different offices in Northern Virginia and Maryland.  This time the MRI scans showed inflammation, but no demyelination nor a brain tumor.

In 2001-2003, I complained of my hands not feeling quite right - very sluggish, thick, and achy - while I also felt general malaise and fatigue.  Of course I mentioned the previous optic neuritis, in addition to having a relative diagnosed with lupus, during each visit.  Blood tests came back negative for rheumatoid factor or ANA and the SED rate, which measures inflammation, came back elevated.  Nothing measured so greatly out of the ordinary that it alarmed the doctor.

In 2005, I experienced undeniable symptoms in my left hand/arm/fingers (same arm which had been broken previously) which sent me to the doctor.  By then I was seeing the new PCP who had joined the family practice.  I was experiencing tingling from a supposed pinched nerve in addition to great fatigue which concerned me of possible lupus again.  All blood tests came back normal, but the tingling and numbness from my “pinched nerve” grew up my arm, over my shoulder blade, and to my spine.