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Author: Mary J. Shomon ISBN number: 0060938196 List price: $14.95 (US dollars) Published by: HarperCollins, HarperResource Buy the Book: At local bookstores everywhere Buy the Book at Amazon.com Buy the Book at Iherb.com  "Mary Shomon is more knowledgeable and has provided patients with more timely and comprehensive information about these conditions than most physicians..." ~ Marie Savard, MD, author of How to Save Your Own Life and The Savard Health Record "...those with autoimmune illnesses are being shortchanged by the medical establishment. Since those who suffer from one are more vulnerable to other autoimmune disorders (not to mention that they may have a genetic predisposition toward a disorder), this informative self-help manual is badly needed. Drawing on extensive research, as well as doctor-patient anecdotes, Shomon's guide is designed to empower patients to participate in their own care..." ~ Publisher's Weekly "Patients who are struggling to get diagnosed with or understand their autoimmune conditions will find Mary Shomon's book an extremely useful, essential resource..." ~ Stephen E. Langer, MD, author of Solved: The Riddle of Illness, and Solved: The Riddle of Weight Loss "Mary Shomon is a leader in understanding the information patients need when it comes to autoimmune and thyroid disorders...her books should be required reading..." ~ Larrian Gillespie, MD, author of You Don't Have to Live with Cystitis, The Goddess Diet, The Menopause Diet, and The Gladiator Diet "...helps people make sense of multiple mystifying symptoms...offers a road map to proper diagnosis...a brilliant empowerment manual..." ~ Richard Shames, MD and Karilee Shames, PhD, RN, HNC, authors of Thyroid Power "The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about autoimmune diseases from Mary Shomon, the woman who taught America about thyroid disease! Her book will enlighten you about how to diagnose, treat and possibly even prevent, autoimmune disease..." ~ Carol Roberts, MD, Director, Wellness Works holistic health center, and radio host, WMNF-FM, Tampa Bay, FL "...a much needed book [that] gives hope to those who suffer from chronic illnesses....I would highly recommend this book to my patients." ~ David Brownstein, MD, author of The Miracle of Natural Hormones, and Overcoming Arthritis
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RISKS & SYMPTOMS CHECKLISTThe following list is an excerpt from a 30-page detailed "Autoimmune Disease Risk Factors and Symptoms Checklist" featured in the new book, Living Well With Autoimmune Disease. This partial checklist touches upon some frequently-noticed symptoms of some common autoimmune conditions. This list is by no means exhaustive (for an exhaustive list, see the book). This list can be a helpful start, however. 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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) 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 Breathing _____ Increase in snoring -- Hashimoto's 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 Blood Changes _____ Unexplained anemia (low count of red blood 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) Buy the Book at Amazon.com Buy the Book at Iherb.com | ||||||