Weird skin happenings and a host of other symptoms: autoimmune?

[straysod]

I had a baby three months ago; my third child, but only by Cesarean. About  weeks postpartum, I developed severe itching & burning in my scalp that shortly spread to hive like rashes that migrate throughout my body all day, everyday.  When my scalp would start itching, I can look in the mirror to find my cheeks flushed and red thick striations (unraised) on my forehead. I can write my name with my fingernail on my arm, and about 5 minutes later a hive-like rash in that pattern will appear.  If I scratch one place, a rash will appear in another.  
My shoulder has been painful for the past three months (after baby) and my movement is limited.  
When I take a shower, or I am in heat, the tops of my feet turn beet red, like a sunburn.  If I elevate my feet, the color completely drains.  If I put my feet down, the color returns.  They remain that way for about an hour.  
I have swollen glands in my neck and my jaw.
  I have a sudden increase of HUNDREDS of those little red hemangiomas. Some tiny as a pin, and a few are larger and they occur in clusters, mostly on my trunk.
I have headaches almost daily.  I have a stiff neck with no apparent cause.  I am losing hair in clumps.  I am sensitive to cold, yet I sweat at night.  I have abdominal bloating, but no real change in bowels.  I have periodic dizzy spells.   I have lost 5 pounds in 2 weeks.  

I recently had some blood drawn and the only thing officially out of range was my T3, mildly decreased, and a low positive ANA of 1:80 with both homogenous and speckled patterns, and an indeterminate level of Anti dsDNA.  

I have been referred to a rheumatologist, BUT my appointment is at least 8 weeks from now.  I can't wait that long and need some answers.  I have a high prevalence of autoimmune disorders in my family.  What could this  be?  Autoimmune, cancer?
I am gluten and dairy free, by choice for almost 2 years.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you!

[jillal]

All of my problems started postpartum also after delivery via csection of my second child (a boy)..........but I don't have any outward symptoms....just midly elevated LFT's and positive for ANA and AMA.......just had a liver biopsy yesterday, so i will find out more when i follow up with the doc...........good luck finding out what is going, and try not to spend too much time on the internet driving yourself crazy.......

[mollyadelaide]

Check out scleroderma. I hope that's not it, but sounds possible with the skin involvement being your main issue - especially the turning red and burning description. Google: scleroderma and inspire and there is a helpful sight you could ask quesitons at.

[ewford]

  Hair falling out I believe is part odf a fungal infection, which many people that have autoimmune symptoms have fungal and mycoplasmal infections as per Dr gart Nicolson, a Autoimmune EXPERT here.   Research www.immed.org for more information.

[thepurselady]

Wow I keep finding more and more with scalp pain and burning.  I've had it for 6 years now with the hairloss and about a dozen other symptoms.  Your issues do sound autoimmune in nature.  I have not had a DX but autoimmune is all I can come up with.  What else would cause one's scalp to sting and burn and hair fall out.  I hope you feel better.

[ewford]

all my lyme tests were neg as well through labcorb and Quest.  Your body does not produce antibodies from this infection, hence neg tests.  IGENEX uses the Q-RIBB method to look for the DNA and its diff forms either Mycoplasmal, spirochetal or cystic.  Let me know what happens!

[straysod]

I did not receive blood, at least that I am aware of.  I am sure I would have signed consent for that, and although I was pretty drugged up, I know I would have remembered.  I have been tested for Lyme at least 4 times over the past 6 years, and always the titers have been negative.  Not that you don't make some very valid points.  I find it interesting that I do have a lot of the symptoms.  My spouse is not ill.  
It is very frustrating because so many of these symptoms occur in a multitude of conditions, and having to wait 8 weeks to see a doctor when I have already waited 3 months seems ridiculous to me.  
Thank you for your response, and I certainly will look into it. ;)

[ewford]

did you receive blood for your Cesarean?  It could have come from infected blood.

[ewford]

sorry.  www.ilads.org   not nom

[ewford]

I hate to keep reposting the same things but this sounds right up the Alley for Lymes.  The red spots are an indicator for Bartonella coinfection as is the headaches.  Sweating and temp changes are Babesia signs, which is a coinfection as well.  Babesia is a Malaria like organism. Weight loss and Vertigo are Lyme Borrelia Burgdorferi symptoms.  I had all your symptoms, make sure your spouse is healthy because researchers think Lymes can and is being transmitted not only by tick, but fleas, mosquitoes, biting insects and sex (its a blood borne bacterial infection)

  Contact www.ILADS.com    to look for a lyme dr near you and look at symptoms.  No normal doc is gonna figure this out and you will waste precious time.  Labcorp and Quest tests are worthless as they miss 90% of positive cultures.  Waste no time.  contact ILADS now