I have been on the MS boards on and off for the past 4-5 years, but they have questioned whether my symptoms really fit MS, and I am beginning to wonder about Lupus. have been having relapsing-remitting symptoms on and off for the past 4 year -- I usually only have 1 bad "flare" a year, and it is always in the fall. Sometimes, I will have some of these symptoms at a much smaller scale at other points, but the more debiltating flares are always at the start of the Fall.
It started 4 years ago—in October—and have had several “relapses" since. I am currently dealing with one now.
My symptoms this time are very much like the other times they occurred (both last year and the year before) – tingling in all 4 extremities, achyness in my extremities, fatigue, dizziness, headache, and nausea (only in the beginning). With other "flares" there were some visual disturbances, but I don;t have that this time. This is exactly what happened to me last November-- I was bedridden for 3 days (with tingles) and all my lab results were totally normal- B-12, Sjorgen's, yada yada. I'm currently on day 4 of this. I also was tested 5 years ago for Lupus and it was normal. However, I recognize this may not be reliable.
I know that a butterfly rash is a major symptom, which I didn't have when this started, so I sort of wrote Lupus off. However, about a year ago, I developed Melasma on my face (brown patches each cheek that is worsened by the sun). I wonder if this could constitute the Lupus rash? I am not pregnant, so I couldn't figure out why I had this problem. I just checked my temp and no fever, though my temperature has been feeling up and down.
I should also mention that I already have an autoimmune disorder-- Addison's Disease'-- which I've had for the last 20 years (I am 32, and have had this since age 12). I also have some osteopenia from the steroids I take for the Addisions.
What are your thoughts on Lupus based on my seasonally driven symptoms? What do you recommend from here? Let me also mention I've done a full MS work up-- MRIs and a spinal tap came back negative, so I think I need to put MS to bed, especially since the profile doesn't entirely fit.
Thanks for your guidance.