Here�s another diagnosis that sounds suspiciously like Lyme Disease. Venus Williams has been diagnosed with Sjogren�s Syndrome, an autoimmune disease, and is experiencing extreme fatigue and joint pain.
Venus out of U.S. Open with autoimmune disease
Published August 31, 2011 By Julian Linden
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former U.S. Open champion Venus Williams withdrew from the last grand slam of the year on Wednesday, revealing she is suffering from an autoimmune disease.
The former world number one quit the tournament before her second-round match against Germany's Sabine Lisicki then released a statement explaining the extent of her health problems. "I'm really disappointed to have to withdraw from this year's U.S. Open," she said in the statement.
"I have recently been diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome, an autoimmune disease which is an ongoing medical condition that affects my energy level and causes fatigue and joint pain." Williams has been battling health problems for the past year. She retired from her third-round match at the Australian Open with a hip problem and did not play again until June.
The 31-year-old played only a handful of matches since making her comeback and had not played since Wimbledon, pulling out of recent tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati. She only resumed practising last week because of what she said was an "energy-sucking" mystery illness She told reporters she had been diagnosed with an illness but did not say what it was until Wednesday.
"I enjoyed playing my first match here and wish I could continue but right now I am unable to," said Williams. "I am thankful I finally have a diagnosis and am now focused on getting better and returning to the court soon."
Williams is one of the most accomplished players of her generation, winning Wimbledon five times and the U.S. Open twice and playing in the final at the Australian and French Opens.
Speculation about her future has intensified over the past few months but earlier this week she confirmed she had no intention of retiring. "I think she's a tough girl," Lisicki said. "I think she'll come back."
Nine out of 10 patients are women and most experience extreme fatigue and joint pain.
Hmm, I guess we'd need more info. I certainly hope she'll be ok, whatever the cause of her illness.
Posted by erikjh1972 (Member # 20964) on :
dont jump to conclusions. look up the disease and see what you think.
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
Of course it's Lyme! Everything is here. lol.
Posted by glm1111 (Member # 16556) on :
She is on Good Morning America now and some of the symptoms she describes are:
Air Hunger
Joint Pain,
Fatigue
Dry Mouth, Dry Eyes.
VERY suspicious for Lyme. Sjogrens is just a name for this disease, and of course they don't know the cause.
If the medical community was awake, they would at least test for Lyme disease that is known to mimic many diseases. Instead, they say the body is attacking itself, which I always found to be ridiculous.
Gael
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I would say she could have both. I have Sjogren's and I blame the Lyme for it. (or should I blame babesia for it?)
Sounds like she could have babesia too.
Posted by hopeful4 (Member # 8486) on :
I do, of course, wish Venus the best of health and well-being.
I hope that she can, at least, get information about the possibility that her illness may be Lyme and Cos related, and find an LLMD who can help. (Maybe even view Under Our Skin.)
Posted by tick battler (Member # 21113) on :
Yes, I would bet lyme is involved. I agree with what Gael said.
tickbattler
Posted by Lymeorsomething (Member # 16359) on :
Yeah, for sure. Let's hope the hammerhead docs she's seeing have at least run some tests for lyme.
Posted by Haley (Member # 22008) on :
That was one of the many things I was diagnosed with before finding out I had Lyme.
Posted by Cockapoo1996 (Member # 14238) on :
In hopeful4's link it says
While a combination of genetic and environmental factors can lead to Sjogren's, the condition is often triggered by an infection.
I hope Venus knows that the infection could still be active and could be a tick born one.
Posted by phyl6648 (Member # 28522) on :
Doesn't Lyme cause autoimmune diseases? I have Sjogren's and think it is lyme related. Was dx with sjogren's yrs before finally getting a lyme dx.
Posted by ladyjenie (Member # 21098) on :
I have Sjogren's, too. I am experiencing extremely dry eyes and dry mouth.
My rheumy scripted Exovac and it does help with mouth dryness. Don't take it at night, you'll drool all night long. I've used the Biotene products but haven't noticed much improvement in symptoms.
Using regular toothpaste caused burning and blistering in my mouth. I changed to sea salt/baking soda and I don't have problems there anymore and my mouth feels really clean.
I am on CPAP and I wake up every morning with my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth even though my unit is new and has the heated water reservoir. I wish I knew how to avoid this, not a good feeling and can't be good for my teeth.
I've had the Sjogren's over 10 years and have flares 2-3 times a month. I've always thought it was the Lyme because of the back-of-the-neck headaches but don't know which it is because the symptoms overlap.
Posted by Rumigirl (Member # 15091) on :
I have it, too. I was diagnosed with it at least 15 years before Lyme (had the symptoms of Sjogren's, etc. for many decades), but I've clearly had Lyme & co all or most of my life. I know it's from the Lyme and co's.
My teeth have fallen apart recently from it, too, costing me thousands of dollars and a lot of pain to fix. It was suggested that I get all my teeth crowned to avoid continued damage. And my diet and daily hygiene are impeccable!
I doubt any of Venus's drs will consider infections. The Rheumy that dx'd me with it, plus RA and Raynaud's, when I came back with a CDC + WB, she said, "you never had Lyme"!!! What exactly did she think was the cause of all the horrible symptoms that she couldn't help me with?? Crazy. she said "false positive." Crazy making.
My LL neuro told me that IVIG can get rid of the Sjogren's. I'd like to believe that, but after 36 years of it, I'm not holding my breath. After a year of IVIG, although it has helped, my Peripheral Neuropathy is worse by the punch skin biopsy!!
Posted by BleedGreen (Member # 33468) on :
I had joint pain, fatigue, dry eyes/mouth, and all the rest. I would wake up soaked in my sweat with my mouth so dry my tounge felt like I slept with sand in my mouth.
All of that was relieved with a couple of months of abx.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I have Raynaud's too. Thanks, Lyme.
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
All autoimmune illnesses are suspecious to me. I believe that something triggers the body to attack itself. Probably an infection, bacterial or viral.
Posted by Haley (Member # 22008) on :
This is a terrible thought but...... if it turned out to be Lyme, think of all the attention that Lyme would get. I wouldn't wish Lyme on my worst enemy but if it turns out to be that she can help us.
Posted by cleo (Member # 6646) on :
It could be anything, doesn't have to be lyme. Whatever it is bart, myco, cpn, lyme, or babs or some unknown bacteria. It is infection based. It is so sad after all the years of hard work she is too sick to play. I seriously doubt that by doing standard therapy that she will be able to return to playing like she thinks. I hope she looks elsewhere for answers. She certainly has the income to do so.
Posted by mooseboy (Member # 33076) on :
--This is a terrible thought but...... if it turned out to be Lyme, think of all the attention that Lyme would get. I wouldn't wish Lyme on my worst enemy but if it turns out to be that she can help us.--
I wish I could say the same, but if GWB, a multitude of Congressmen & Senators (including Chuck Schumer & Joe Wilson), Ben Stiller, Parker Posey, and many other well-known celebrities, athletes, & politicians have had it, and it hasn't raised awareness, I don't see that Williams having Lyme will push it over the edge.
Posted by erikjh1972 (Member # 20964) on :
George Bush had it when he was president. Nothings gonna change.
Posted by James1979 (Member # 31926) on :
quote:Originally posted by mooseboy: I wish I could say the same, but if GWB, a multitude of Congressmen & Senators (including Chuck Schumer & Joe Wilson), Ben Stiller, Parker Posey, and many other well-known celebrities, athletes, & politicians have had it, and it hasn't raised awareness, I don't see that Williams having Lyme will push it over the edge.
I think it's highly dependent on the activism of the Lyme victim.
Maybe most people (especially celebrities) don't want to risk "dirtying" their names on account of a controversial illness (and certainly their PR people probably recommend that they keep silent), but even just 1 or 2 active individuals can make a huge difference.
Look at Pam Weintraub - she was "just" a science journalist (not even a celebrity), but was very active and was able to enlighten thousands about Lyme disease. (She is the author of "Cure Unknown").
Same for the director of "Under Our Skin" - also not a big celebrity, but has caused a huge change in the balance of the controversy. And the beneficial effects of that documentary are still adding up today.
I think we just have to get "lucky" and have the right people become active and speak up. Sometimes it only takes a few individuals to make a huge change.
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
Symptoms vary from person to person but may include:
�a dry, gritty or burning sensation in the eyes �dry mouth �difficulty talking, chewing or swallowing �a sore or cracked tongue �dry or burning throat �dry or peeling lips �a change in taste or smell �increased dental decay �joint pain �vaginal and skin dryness �digestive problems �dry nose �fatigue
ok i dont have: sore or cracked tongue dry or peeling lips
and some of the others are not bad..they come and go
but no doc has ever dx me with it
my worst are extremely dry eyes, dry mouth and joint pain, digestive problems and periferal neuropathy...isnt that one? why isnt it on the list???
is there a test for it or is it just a bunch of sx
i know i dont have what ever it is that makes you have cold hands and feet
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
It's like Lyme. You don't have to have every symptom on the list.
Posted by MichaelTampa (Member # 24868) on :
quote:Originally posted by lpkayak: is there a test for it or is it just a bunch of sx
According to wiki, they test antibodies for autoimmunity, test ultrasound for dry saliva glands, and test tear production. Like everything named "syndrome", it is a collection of symptoms.
Posted by mom2kids (Member # 31972) on :
How sick were these "celebrities" and GWB? I would think that if they were very sick and not "cured" in the IDSA, 2-4 week period they would become spokespeople for Lyme. So I am thinking they were all better in a short time period and therefore didn't feel the need to take up the cause.
Posted by erikjh1972 (Member # 20964) on :
mom2kids, that or they havent relapsed yet.
Posted by hammond (Member # 32303) on :
I never new GWB had Lyme! Yes and if they (the celebes with Lyme) do relapse they might be more vocal, not that I wish relapse on anybody.
My thought about Venus is that if you are generally young and healthy, than you almost never end up in situations where you experience directly an incompetent M.D. And so you may drift along in your complete confidence in any American M.D. as long as symptoms are managed. It may take a while to understand that the emperor has no cloths when it comes to chronic disease in the U.S. Trauma and other areas of medicine, sure western medicine is amazing. But chronic diseases, well WE all know there is soooo much room for improvement. But that knowledge is hard won. I hope she gets well.
Posted by ktkdommer (Member # 29020) on :
Crazy as it is, I just emailed Venus at venuswilliams.com. I let her know my story with an autoimmune disease before my Lyme disease diagnosis.
Before Lyme, I never would have done that.
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
Vitamin A deficiency can mimic the dry-eye of Sjogrens.
Posted by erikjh1972 (Member # 20964) on :
quote:Originally posted by ktkdommer: Crazy as it is, I just emailed Venus at venuswilliams.com. I let her know my story with an autoimmune disease before my Lyme disease diagnosis.
Before Lyme, I never would have done that.
i sent her a message on twitter. will it do any good? who knows?
Posted by galehane (Member # 15437) on :
I was suspected for having sj�grens. I have bartonella. Somebody that writes proper english should write to her and recommend a test at Galaxy for bartonella. Gale
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
thankd michael
there was stuff written about bush
and his mom and dad
some was published and then buried
i remember somehow believing he got really good aggressive llmd tx...and then they said he was cured
i think it showed up at a annual ckup...they didnt tell anyone...they txed him and the next yr they said he WAS pos...got tx and now is fine
there was a lot about how he used to be areall good speaker...then he was awful...then he was some better
if you search some of those alt sites you might find this info
also a common lyme newsletter had him on the cover...
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Pres. Bush was treated by an LLMD .. or at least the LLMD consulted with Bush's doctor.
Posted by erikjh1972 (Member # 20964) on :
quote:Originally posted by galehane: I was suspected for having sj�grens. I have bartonella. Somebody that writes proper english should write to her and recommend a test at Galaxy for bartonella. Gale
Do you honestly believe she's going to take any advice that doesn't come from her inner circle?? i doubt it, atheletes and people in the lime light(no pun intended) dont tend to take anything that comes from people they dont know too seriously. i cant say that i would blame them either.