HIV , Lupus, or What?!

[SoStumped]

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?

[Kevin Pho, MD]

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_

[Jessie26]

I have Lupus and its sounds alot like my symptoms
Good Luck
God Bless

[SoStumped]

Thanks for the best wishes. God Bless you too! Yeah, I'm really scared because some days I feel okay and other days I feel so tired, with a slight fever. My body feels like its heating up! Its really wierd because my symptoms come and go (sometimes I'll get a rash from the sun and sometimes I wont). I think, (if it is lupus) thats its because I went tanning alot and have been in the sun for the past couple weekends.  I hope i dont lose anymore weight-i think i lost mostly water weight.  Ive been trying to exercise to make up for the all SLEEPING,  but I noticed when I try to workout, I cant handle more than 15 min.!  My hands and legs (sometime) get red and puffy depending on the exercise.  
(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....

[SoStumped]

Do unpainful (if thats even a word) sores on someones mouth (inner cheeks to be exact) accompany lupus?  Has anyone whos been diagnosed with lupus have that symptom before? My symptoms differ from DAY to DAY. My symptoms come and go....  

[Jessie26]

In my personal experience I dont get sores in my nose or mouth, however it is a common symptom of lupus patients.  The finger nails, hmmmmmm I dont have discolored nails but when exposed to cold my finger tips get white as snow. Frost bite like feeling.  I cant remember the name of this condition, sorry. Your symptoms fluctuating from day to day is normal in Lupus. One day I could feel fine and then the next I'm on all fours climbing the stairs.  The wonders of lupus!!!! Hang in there girlfriend, things can only get better when you've reached rock bottom, only one way to go now and thats up!!!!
Well God Bless You and take Care

[Jessie26]

Hi how, are you feeling nowadays??? Just thought I would share my story with ya since yours sounds a lil like mine. First let me start off by sayin I have lupus. Had it for the last 6 years now. So anyway let me tell you about how this all came to be.
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, loss of appetite( a few other I can't remember) and shortly after a positive ANA.  
Anyhow today I have a few more added symptoms, and you know what I'm still living. I have my days, but its not so bad really, I think of all those other ppl out there in more serious situations with life threatening diseases. Well my dear not sure if my story helped. If you do have lupus, don't worry it will be ok.  Hang in there and your in my prayers, just thought I would share my story

[SoStumped]

Thanks for your support. Yeah your story does sound alot like mine.  I'm 21 and it really sucks to feel stuck in a "90" year old body. Some days I can sleep for HOURS and wake up and still be tired. However, my "rashes" do not last long at all. They come for about 15 min depending on my activity and then go away. They are worse after I shower or go on a walk (my lower legs get red) and my cheeks and nose get rosy even if i'm in the sun for only 5 min.  Then it goes back to normal in about 15min or so. Very weird. How long did your "rashes" last? Cuz i dont know if mine constitute as a rash.

Your in my prayers too! Thank you sooo much for your support

[SoStumped]

Doctor,

I took your advice and went to a rheumatologist. Also tested again for HIV approx 7-8 weeks after last possible exposure and it came back negative. I told my rheumtologist my symptoms and he did alot of blood work looking for lupus and rheumatiod arthritis. All my tests came back 'normal'. Which is good, but I cant believe how TIRED i still am. The dr also listend to my heart and said i may have a murmor (not a big deal cuz i already know i do). But what scares me more is that he spent about 3 min listening to my lungs.  I told him it hurt ALITTLE bit when i take DEEP breaths in. If i get hyped up (or laugh) I tend to cough  (I wouldnt say i have a cough) but when i do happen to cough it vibrated and felt like it was coming up my espohogis. My right lung hurts and i'm scared because i have not gotten DIAGNOSIS.  I am still fatigued, the white on the back and front tongue comes and goes and my symptoms seem to worsen since I began menstration. The other symptoms have resided for now, but when i went for a walk yesterday I had to lay down after because my lower shins/ankles get a bit swollen.

My questions are this:

Q. Can something still be wrong if its not showing up on the blood tests? If so, what should I ask my doc to test for now given my symptoms??

Q. Can the prednisone have worked so well that it took away all the joint pain i had? Because like I said,  my joints HURT so bad for two weeks, and now I have hardly no bone or joint pain. OR will my joint pain come back if it is lupus or another autoimmune disease?

Q.  I'm now having this wierd right lung pain ( as described above), can autoimmune diseases cause lung pain?  

Q. 99% of the time, my body will run a slight fever  but still painful enough ( 99.8) not only is my head warm but my chest, neck, and even my legs get warm. i get achy too and can barely hold up. Heres the problem, the tylonol has not gotten rid of it. Why wont endless amounts of tylonol not get rid of my headache and fever?  Can it be that my cells are attacking the  tylonol? Do autoimmune diseases sometimes make tylonol and other drugs not work as well or at all? Or is it a virus?

PLEASE HELP... I feel like I'm going crazy because  I cant get a DIAGNOSIS. I have been sick for  over 2 and 1/2 months now and i'm in alot of pain.

[PAIN in FL]

Please do Lyme disease testing with an Lyme Literate Doc.  Looks like you have many of the symptoms.  I was diagnosed w/Fibro 2 yrs ago and then it migrated to pelvic, hip, deep bone and joint pain and my knees get swollen as well as legs down to feet. This was after a trial of prednisone and facet blocks containing cortisone which allow the Lyme bacteria to thrive since any steroid suppresses the immune system.  Caution...Lyme blood tests produce more false negatives than positives.  If you have been tested, DO NOT RULE IT OUT!  Lyme Disease mimicks many other diseases and has over 100 symptoms.  Do reasearch on Lyme Disease online and I think you will be surprised with what you might stumble across.  I would suggest consulting with an Infectious Disease Doctor literate in Lyme Disease to investigate further.  Good Luck!

[fournotts]

A few years back I was exposed to Fifths Disease. It is a childhood disease affecting mostly the skin appearing to be a "slapped cheek" rash. It doesn't bother the kids too much, but if an adult who has no immunity to it is exposed, the symptoms are a lot like the ones you have described. I was wiped out for weeks, exhausted, severe joint pain. I have arthritis, so I just assumed that's what it was. I was quite surprised to find out about this virus. I can be detected with a blood test. Good luck.

[Sculpey5]