Blood Issues

In February I contracted red spots on my hands that had hard centers and itched excessively. I saw a derm doctor and she took a byopsis of one of the red "hives" It came back that I had some type of virus from touching or ingesting something. The cream she prescribed did not help. I decided to try an anti fungal cream as I had been exposed to mold in my place of employment. When I used Lamsil on my hands, the red hives disappeared within a week. During this time my menstral period was excessively heavy, I had chills, then sweats, joint pain, and fatique.

Over the past eight months I have been extremly tired, irriatable and moody. I gave blood in September and it was thrown out as it tested reative to syphilis. I was tested at the local health clinic and have a rpr test with a score of a 16, however further testing for all STD's and HIV came back negative. I have not menstrated since August, and had a pregnancy test to make sure the false positive test was not from this symptom. The test was negative as well.

Within the last week I have developed another hive on my pinky at the joint that is red, raised, and has a dark center that feels like something is in there, with no itching as of yet. I still have not had a period to date. I am a 40 yr old female that has had regular menstration until this symptoms appearing in February, with excessive blood loss, then normal, and now nothing since early August.

What type of doctor should I see? Do I have lupus? What would cause a false positive test in an rpr test of its not pregnancy or an STD. What type of specialist do I need to see? I do not have a regular doctor but do have health insurance. I am scared that something is seriously wrong.

Thank you,

Concerned at several levels

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

You ought to see a dermatologist.  More than likely, you have hives.  Although people Including doctors) speak of hives as allergic, they almost never are, and since there's no obvious cause in your case, allergy is not really likely at all.  False positive RPR's may very well not mean anything, but your dermatologist can run a few tests to rule out collagen diseases like lupus.  Treatment with antihistamines usually keep things under control until the hives go away.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff