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Unspecified autoimmune disorder

I'm trying to find a direction for my doctor to check in helping me understand what is going on with me. I have chronic iritis in one eye which is temporarily relieved by steroid drops. I also have arthritis which manifests itself mostly in my hands and feet and also causes occasional pain in my lower back. Since menopause, I sometimes get a type of hot flash that causes pain in my skin, mostly on my stomach and sometimes my upper legs and arms. Frequently when this happens, I just plain don't feel well for the few minutes this is going on. I also have parts of some days when I don't feel well - I'm tired, achy, anxious and sometimes feel like I'm starting to come down with a cold/flu. I don't tolerate hot weather well since menopause. I also have diverticulosis. I've had bloodwork done for lupus, rhumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondelytis and all were negative. Since I don't have health insurance, I don't have money for a battery of tests. I'd like to narrow things down for my doctor to explore. She usually attribute my complaints to my anxiety disorder and depression, but I know there is more going on than that due to the arthritis and iritis.
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the feedback. I feel the hot flash in my hands and feet sometimes when I forst wake up. I've heard about Reynauds. A former coworker has it. I'd been wondering if that is what affects my hands in winter. When they get cold, my arthritis really hurts. How would I find out if I have Lupus if my blood test is negative? I've had the bloodwork done twice in case the first one waas innacurate, but once again, it was negative.
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509877 tn?1315361694
Just because you had a negative Lupus test doesnt mean that it isnt Lupus. It sounds a lot like Lupus. My mother had it & my son has a very similiar autoimmune disorder. Are your fingers  & toes affected by this hot flash? Has anyone mentioned Raynauds Disease? My mom also had that & I believe I do as well. If you read about, do not believe that you have to be affected by hot & cold, that is simply not true. Good Luck!
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