A disease in which the body's tissues are attacked by
its own immune system. There are many
autoimmune diseases including lupus, rheumatoid
arthritis, diabetes etc.
Autoimmune Disease Checklist:
A Handy List of Symptoms That Can Point to Possible
Autoimmune Conditions, to Bring to the Doctor
its own immune system. There are many
autoimmune diseases including lupus, rheumatoid
arthritis, diabetes etc.
Autoimmune Disease Checklist:
A Handy List of Symptoms That Can Point to Possible
Autoimmune Conditions, to Bring to the Doctor
by Mary Shomon
The following is a partial checklist of frequently-
noticed symptoms of the most common autoimmune
conditions. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it
covers many of the common autoimmune symptoms
and conditions. Carefully filling out this checklist and
taking it to your doctor can be an important first
step in getting appropriate testing and the right
medical diagnosis.
noticed symptoms of the most common autoimmune
conditions. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it
covers many of the common autoimmune symptoms
and conditions. Carefully filling out this checklist and
taking it to your doctor can be an important first
step in getting appropriate testing and the right
medical diagnosis.
Fever / Body Temperature
_____ Elevated fever, higher body temperature -
Lupus, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Celiac
Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel
Syndrome
_____ Feeling cold when others feel hot --
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
_____ Feeling hot when others feel cold -- Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism
_____ Low body temperature -- Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism
Lupus, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Celiac
Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel
Syndrome
_____ Feeling cold when others feel hot --
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
_____ Feeling hot when others feel cold -- Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism
_____ Low body temperature -- Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism
Hair
_____ Hair loss, round bald patches on the scalp --
Alopecia Areata
_____ Hair loss, loss of facial and scalp hair --
Alopecia Totalis, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism,
Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Lupus
_____ Male patterned baldness -- Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism,
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
_____ Excess hair growth on the face faces, necks,
chests, abdomens, and thighs, in women - Cushing's
Disease, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
_____ Loss of hair in outer eyebrow -- Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism
_____ Hair is rough, coarse dry, breaking, brittle -
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism
Alopecia Areata
_____ Hair loss, loss of facial and scalp hair --
Alopecia Totalis, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism,
Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Lupus
_____ Male patterned baldness -- Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism,
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
_____ Excess hair growth on the face faces, necks,
chests, abdomens, and thighs, in women - Cushing's
Disease, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
_____ Loss of hair in outer eyebrow -- Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism
_____ Hair is rough, coarse dry, breaking, brittle -
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism
Skin
_____ Hyperpigmentation, or dark tanning in skin --
Addison's Disease
_____ Painful skin rash, called dermatitis
herpetiformis -- Celiac Disease/Gluten
Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome
_____ Fragile thin skin - Cushing's Disease
_____ Skin that bruises easily - Cushing's Disease
_____ Acne -- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS),
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
_____ Skin rashes, especially "butterfly rash" on the
nose and cheeks -- Lupus
_____ Sun sensitivity -- Lupus
_____ Skin thickening -- Scleroderma
_____ Skin ulcers on the fingers -- Scleroderma
Addison's Disease
_____ Painful skin rash, called dermatitis
herpetiformis -- Celiac Disease/Gluten
Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome
_____ Fragile thin skin - Cushing's Disease
_____ Skin that bruises easily - Cushing's Disease
_____ Acne -- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS),
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
_____ Skin rashes, especially "butterfly rash" on the
nose and cheeks -- Lupus
_____ Sun sensitivity -- Lupus
_____ Skin thickening -- Scleroderma
_____ Skin ulcers on the fingers -- Scleroderma
Eyes
_____ Dry eyes -- Sjogren's Syndrome, Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism
_____ Blurred vision -- Sjogren's Syndrome,
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Multiple Sclerosis
_____ Eye discomfort or pain -- Sjogren's Syndrome,
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Multiple Sclerosis
_____ Nystagmus or jerking, rapid involuntary eye
movement -- Multiple Sclerosis, Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism
_____ Optic neuritis, inflammation of the nerves in
the eye -- Multiple Sclerosis
_____ Unclear or double vision -- Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Multiple Sclerosis
Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism
_____ Blurred vision -- Sjogren's Syndrome,
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Multiple Sclerosis
_____ Eye discomfort or pain -- Sjogren's Syndrome,
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Multiple Sclerosis
_____ Nystagmus or jerking, rapid involuntary eye
movement -- Multiple Sclerosis, Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism
_____ Optic neuritis, inflammation of the nerves in
the eye -- Multiple Sclerosis
_____ Unclear or double vision -- Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Multiple Sclerosis
Throat, Neck, Voice, Mouth
_____ Dry mouth -- Sjogren's Syndrome
_____ Hoarseness, husky or gravelly voice -- Sjogren's
Syndrome, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism
_____ Difficulty in swallowing -- Sjogren's Syndrome,
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism
_____ Mouth and nose sores -- Lupus
_____ Pale sores inside the mouth, called aphthus
ulcers -- Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable
Bowel Syndrome.
_____ Fullness or pressure, choking sensation in
throat, lump in the neck -- Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism
Fatigue, Sleep
_____ Chronic fatigue - Addison's Disease,
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Celiac Disease/Gluten
Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome, Sjogren's Syndrome, Lupus,
Insulin-Dependent Type 1 Diabetes
_____ Insomnia -- Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism
_____ Exhaustion after minimal effort or exercise -
Fibromyalgia, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,
Sjogren's Syndrome, Lupus
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Celiac Disease/Gluten
Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome, Sjogren's Syndrome, Lupus,
Insulin-Dependent Type 1 Diabetes
_____ Insomnia -- Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism
_____ Exhaustion after minimal effort or exercise -
Fibromyalgia, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,
Sjogren's Syndrome, Lupus
Muscles, Joints, Tendons
_____ Pain and tenderness throughout the body -
Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Lupus,
Sjogren's Syndrome
_____ Muscle weakness -- Addison's Disease,
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Fibromyalgia, Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome.
_____ Joint Stiffness - Scleroderma, Rheumatoid
Arthritis, Fibromyalgia
_____ Bone, joint and muscle aches, inflammation,
and pains -- Celiac Disease/Gluten
Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Cushing's
Disease, Lupus, Sjogren's Syndrome, Rheumatoid
Arthritis
_____ Backaches, unexplained rib and spinal column
fractures- Cushing's Disease
_____ Deformed joints - Rheumatoid Arthritis
_____ Carpal-tunnel syndrome / tendinitis --
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Lupus,
Sjogren's Syndrome
_____ Muscle weakness -- Addison's Disease,
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Fibromyalgia, Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome.
_____ Joint Stiffness - Scleroderma, Rheumatoid
Arthritis, Fibromyalgia
_____ Bone, joint and muscle aches, inflammation,
and pains -- Celiac Disease/Gluten
Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Cushing's
Disease, Lupus, Sjogren's Syndrome, Rheumatoid
Arthritis
_____ Backaches, unexplained rib and spinal column
fractures- Cushing's Disease
_____ Deformed joints - Rheumatoid Arthritis
_____ Carpal-tunnel syndrome / tendinitis --
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
Hands and Feet
_____ Raynaud's phenomenon (extreme sensitivity to
cold in the hands and feet) -- Lupus, Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism
_____ Swelling in hands and feet - Lupus,
Scleroderma, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
cold in the hands and feet) -- Lupus, Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism
_____ Swelling in hands and feet - Lupus,
Scleroderma, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
Weight Changes
_____ Weight loss -- Addison's Disease, Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Celiac Disease/Gluten
Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Lupus, Insulin-
Dependent Type 1 Diabetes
_____ Weight Gain - Cushing's Disease, Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Celiac
Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel
Syndrome
_____ Weight gain in upper body, abdomen -
Cushing's Disease, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
_____ Rounded or puffy face - Cushing's Disease,
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
_____ Increased fat around the neck - Cushing's
Disease
_____ Thinning arms and legs - Cushing's Disease
Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Celiac Disease/Gluten
Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Lupus, Insulin-
Dependent Type 1 Diabetes
_____ Weight Gain - Cushing's Disease, Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Celiac
Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel
Syndrome
_____ Weight gain in upper body, abdomen -
Cushing's Disease, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
_____ Rounded or puffy face - Cushing's Disease,
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
_____ Increased fat around the neck - Cushing's
Disease
_____ Thinning arms and legs - Cushing's Disease
Digestion, Gastrointestinal
_____ Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea -- Addison's
Disease, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Celiac
Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel
Syndrome, Scleroderma, Insulin-Dependent Type 1
Diabetes
_____ Recurring abdominal bloating and pain --
Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel
Syndrome
_____ Pale, foul-smelling stool -- Celiac
Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel
Syndrome
_____ Gas -- Celiac Disease/Gluten
Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome
_____ Increased urination -- Insulin-Dependent Type
1 Diabetes
_____ Constipation - Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
Disease, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Celiac
Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel
Syndrome, Scleroderma, Insulin-Dependent Type 1
Diabetes
_____ Recurring abdominal bloating and pain --
Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel
Syndrome
_____ Pale, foul-smelling stool -- Celiac
Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable Bowel
Syndrome
_____ Gas -- Celiac Disease/Gluten
Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome
_____ Increased urination -- Insulin-Dependent Type
1 Diabetes
_____ Constipation - Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
Pulse/Blood Pressure
_____ Low blood pressure -- Addison's Disease,
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
_____ High blood pressure- Cushing's Disease, Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
_____ Slow pulse -- Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
_____ Fast Pulse -- Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
_____ High blood pressure- Cushing's Disease, Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
_____ Slow pulse -- Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
_____ Fast Pulse -- Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism
Mood, Thinking
_____ Irritability, anxiety and depression -- Addison's
Disease, Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable
Bowel Syndrome, Cushing's Disease, Graves
Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism
_____ "Brain Fog," difficulty concentrating,
forgetfulness -- Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism,
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Fibromyalgia, Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome
Disease, Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable
Bowel Syndrome, Cushing's Disease, Graves
Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism
_____ "Brain Fog," difficulty concentrating,
forgetfulness -- Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism,
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Fibromyalgia, Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome
Balance, Coordination, Neurological Symptoms
_____ Lack of coordination or unsteady gait --
Multiple Sclerosis
_____ Dizziness, vertigo -- Multiple Sclerosis,
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
_____ Numbness, weakness, tingling or paralysis in
one or more limbs - Multiple Sclerosis, Insulin-
Dependent Type 1 Diabetes
_____ Tremor -- Multiple Sclerosis, Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism
Multiple Sclerosis
_____ Dizziness, vertigo -- Multiple Sclerosis,
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
_____ Numbness, weakness, tingling or paralysis in
one or more limbs - Multiple Sclerosis, Insulin-
Dependent Type 1 Diabetes
_____ Tremor -- Multiple Sclerosis, Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism
Food/Drink & Cravings
_____ Craving of salty foods -- Addison's Disease
_____ Increased thirst -- Insulin-Dependent Type 1
Diabetes
_____ Loss of appetite -- Addison's Disease, Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism
_____ Increased thirst -- Insulin-Dependent Type 1
Diabetes
_____ Loss of appetite -- Addison's Disease, Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism
Menstruation/Gynecological - Women
_____ Irregular or absent menstrual periods --
Addison's Disease, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism,
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Celiac Disease/Gluten
Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Cushing's
Disease, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
_____ Cysts on Ovaries -- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
(PCOS)
Addison's Disease, Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism,
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Celiac Disease/Gluten
Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Cushing's
Disease, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
_____ Cysts on Ovaries -- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
(PCOS)
Fertility and Sex Drive, Pregnancy
_____ Infertility or decreased fertility in women --
Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
_____ Decreased fertility in men- Cushing's Disease
_____ Reduced sex drive - Cushing's Disease, Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism
_____ Recurrent miscarriage - Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism
Graves' Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
_____ Decreased fertility in men- Cushing's Disease
_____ Reduced sex drive - Cushing's Disease, Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism
_____ Recurrent miscarriage - Graves'
Disease/Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism
Breathing
_____ Increase in snoring -- Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism
_____ Shortness of breath and tightness in the chest
-- Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism
_____ Shortness of breath and tightness in the chest
-- Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
Especially in Children
_____ Delayed growth in children, failure to thrive in
infants -- Celiac Disease/Gluten
Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Cushing's
Disease, Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism
infants -- Celiac Disease/Gluten
Intolerance/Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Cushing's
Disease, Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism
Blood Changes
_____ Unexplained anemia (low count of red blood
cells) -- Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable
Bowel Syndrome
_____ High cholesterol levels -- Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism
cells) -- Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance/Irritable
Bowel Syndrome
_____ High cholesterol levels -- Hashimoto's
Hypothyroidism
Blood Sugar Changes
_____ Hypoglycemia/low blood sugar -- Addison's
Disease, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
_____ High blood sugar- Cushing's Disease, Polycystic
Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Disease, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism
_____ High blood sugar- Cushing's Disease, Polycystic
Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
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