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Arthritis (Expert Forum)
HIV , Lupus, or What?!
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
Kevin Pho, MD
Boston - MA
This forum is for questions and support regarding arthritis issues such as: Arthritis, Autoimmune Disease, Bursitis, Fibromyalgia, Gout, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Myositis, Neuralgia, Osteoarthritis, Polymyalgia Rheumatica, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sciatica, Tendinitis, Vasculitis.
HIV , Lupus, or What?!
by SoStumped, Jul 15, 2007 12:00AM
I am 21 female and have been sick on an off for the past month. Went to urgent care and they tested my blood for Hep.,TB, Chlamdia,PAP,Gonnorea, and HIV (four weeks after possible exposure). All came back negative. Took a urine test- found white blood cells in urine. Was given doxycline, and nystatin for possible thrush. Got a second opinion after not feeling any better and they said was not thrush but geographic tongue (which i doubt)...
My symptoms include EXTREME fatigue,immense joint pain in fingers, elbows, ankles, knees, toes, etc, slight muscle pain,confirmed by PCP that i have swollen lymph nodes in neck, jaw area and chest,burning redness on chest, armpit and fore arms, slight jaw pain, ear pain, face feels swollen and tender, severe dehydration, dry mouth, dry red eyes *sometimes puss in both eyes*.(left eye is always worse), minor aches and pain throught body, white bumps on my tongue (mostly in the back), fever 99.8, body heats up (on and off). Was given 6 day Predisone and 400mg Avelox. Finished the medicine, but still dry mouth. Rash occurs onlegs after bath (heat sensored?), and sometimes a small butterfly rash on my cheeks if in sun. Recent iron count was too low to donate blood a few months prior.
To stop dehydration i have been drinking ALOT but I pee it all out. Salavia is bubbly/foamy/dry. Prior postnasal drip that'll come and go. Some days I am worse than others. Q.Help!?!
Q. Should i retest for HIV? or possible lupus?
My symptoms include EXTREME fatigue,immense joint pain in fingers, elbows, ankles, knees, toes, etc, slight muscle pain,confirmed by PCP that i have swollen lymph nodes in neck, jaw area and chest,burning redness on chest, armpit and fore arms, slight jaw pain, ear pain, face feels swollen and tender, severe dehydration, dry mouth, dry red eyes *sometimes puss in both eyes*.(left eye is always worse), minor aches and pain throught body, white bumps on my tongue (mostly in the back), fever 99.8, body heats up (on and off). Was given 6 day Predisone and 400mg Avelox. Finished the medicine, but still dry mouth. Rash occurs onlegs after bath (heat sensored?), and sometimes a small butterfly rash on my cheeks if in sun. Recent iron count was too low to donate blood a few months prior.
To stop dehydration i have been drinking ALOT but I pee it all out. Salavia is bubbly/foamy/dry. Prior postnasal drip that'll come and go. Some days I am worse than others. Q.Help!?!
Q. Should i retest for HIV? or possible lupus?
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Jul 16, 2007 12:00AM
, Jul 16, 2007 12:00AM
You have had a comprehensive evaluation for the symptoms. Thrush normally would require an HIV test - and I repeat this if the symptoms continue.
I would also check an ANA level looking for autoimmune disease. The dry eyes can be due to Sjogren's Syndrome. Blood tests for anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies can be done if this is suspected, as well as a Schirmer test or Rose Bengal test.
These options can be discussed with your personal physician.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_
I would also check an ANA level looking for autoimmune disease. The dry eyes can be due to Sjogren's Syndrome. Blood tests for anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies can be done if this is suspected, as well as a Schirmer test or Rose Bengal test.
These options can be discussed with your personal physician.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_
Good Luck
God Bless
(I hope its not HIV because after reading that forum the symptoms seem to be similar).
Being that you have lupus, Have you noticed anything different about your finger nails? My finger nails (starting from the cuticle) are white, then a about 2 cm of redness until the nail ends. Kinda like three tones (white, red, ivory) and they dont look like "healthy" nails. I have to wait for my insurance to kick in (sigh) so I'm searching this website for helpful advice. Thanks for commenting....
Well God Bless You and take Care
At 21 I began to pain all over my body, not knowing what it was I tried my best to continue with my daily activities. Friends and family would always ask me how was I feeling and the only way I could describe it was I'm 21 stuck in and 90year old body. I would laugh they would laugh and on with my day I would go. As the days past I was takin more days off work, trying to relax by the pool get my energy up, not knowing that the sun was only making matters worse. All that sun bathing caused the buterfly looking rash on my face, which I shrugged off as a real bad sun burn. One day I decided I had to get some help so off I went to th Hospital, only to wait 15 hours and be sent home. Few more days past, now for some strange reason I was menstrating dangerously heavy, along with all my other symptoms off again to the same hospital, this time waited 11 hours the gave me a pill sent to for some blood work and off home I went still with no answers to why I was feeling like sh**. Again some days past and still getting worse, now I was barely able to dress myself, it was a struggle to get out of bed to walk to pretty much do anything. This time my mom insisted I go to the hospital and this time we went to another one. As soon as I walked in to triage, the nurse told me that it looks like I have lupus.
So long story short that what it was. My symptoms consisted of fatigue, joint pain, rash