What is going on, symptoms for so long now?

I have had issues with major hair loss ever since I was young. I used to get bald spots (loonie size) when I was pretty young. I'm now 24, still lose a lot of hair. I am under a lot of stress but it doesn't seem natural.
I also have very cold hands and feet majority of the time, hard to warm up (they do go pale). I get tingling in my arms and legs verry easily. It's painful to try to open a jar my hand joints hurt easily, and I sometimes find myself stumbling with small things like doing up a zipper. I have balance problems and always feel unsteady. I've started working out few times a week for a few months now. Doesn't seem to be helping much.
I also have memory problems and am very quick tempered lately. I am so fatigued it's hard to get through my 8 hr work day.
My doctor always says I'm just depressed and have anxiety. I really think it feels like something more. Any suggestions on what I can do? Thank you so much.

[karajo]

Hi and welcome to MedHelp.

Your symptoms could be related to lupus.  But some of it could be related to maybe a low thyroid, low vit B-12, lymes disease, fibromyalgia and or chronic fatigue.  Stress can do many things to our bodies.  I know my hair was falling out many years ago and I believe it was due to stress.  But this last time it did that, it was due to lupus.  

There is not "one" test that can tell you if you have lupus or not.  It is many factors put together.  And sometimes it takes a long time to get a dx.  The symptoms of lupus wax and wane, leaving you wondering.

There are 11 criteria for a lupus dx.  You must have at least 4 of the 11 to recieve a dx.

They are:
1. malar rash over cheeks (butterfly rash)
2. discoid rash, red raised patches
3. photosensitivity - reaction to sunlight, resulting in skin rash
4. oral and nose ulcers
5. arthritis
6. serositis - inflamation (inflammation) of the lining of the lung or heart
7. reanl disorder - excessive protein in urine and/or cellular casts
8. neurologic disorder - seizures, or psychosis
9. anemia or low white blood countor lymphopenia or low platelet count
10. positive ANA
11. positive anti-DNA or anti-Sm, or antiphospholipid antibody or false pos. syphilis test

Other symptoms are:
fever
abdominal pain
chest pain
shortness of breath
blood in urine
hair falling out
fatigue
muscle pain and weakness
dizziness
poor memory
headaches
poor circulation in fingers and toes
tingling in extremities
diarrhea
bloating
nausea
weight loss
abdominal pain
blurred vision
depression
palpitations
raynauds (where fingers turn white when cold)
intollerance to cold
sore throat
...to name a few

Does any of this sound familiar?

[kjelltp]

Anyone reading that list will probably atleast have 2 symptoms.

[vmg85]

Thanks for responding. It does sound like a lot of things that happen with me. I've had blood tests for thyroid, b12, anemia, diabetes, and they all come back ok. It leaves me feeling frustrated because I just want to be healthy and it doesn't seem like my Dr is helping. Should I bring this up? Or ask to be referred to a specialist. Thank you so much.