Is it all in my head?

I am 27 and am "in the process" of being diagnosied with SLE.  It all started with a rash on my face.  I had it for about 2 months before deciding to see a doctor.  She did some blood work "just in case" and it ended up coming back high/postive for ANA and DS-DNA.  After finding out what Lupus was for the first time I was in shock!  I saw my Rheumy in May and my blood work didn't see too alarming and he told me it was "possible to probable".  He is treating me as if I was diagnoised with plaquneil.  Unfortunately, it is going to take awhile for the pain in my joints to lessen. Everytime I feel it I wonder if it is all in my head. I am so confused all the time and It is really hard to remember things. Even write stuff down, like this post. Right now I am having a series of eegs and a physc eval to look for a lupus pattern.
Does anyone else feel this way?  Can anyone gice advice on how to look at the bright side?

[LZFreedom]

It is a shock for any of us to consider the possibility of a catastrophic illness, whether or not it comes true! You have not only all of the symptoms to deal with, but also the doctors putting you through series of test... there are so many unknowns even after a confirmed diagnosis. Many many people live active productive lives with lupus! Just take it one step at a time and take care of yourself! Rest while you can, eat right, try not to let yourself get run down; as you said you're memory isn't cooperating. I hate that myself, I have discoid lupus, the Wolf/mask/rash on my face but I also have the aching joints, extreme fatigue, problems sleeping, etc. But it's all do-able! When we get older, we all have to learn to deal with what we've got to deal with... 27 is only a few years younger than when I was diagnosed. The challenges you face will definitely make you stronger! I almost died from a rare disease before my skin broke out with the discoid lupus ~ so when I was finally diagnosed with lupus, I was so relieved!! Weird yes, but I thought I was definitely looking at a death sentence because I was four months with catastrophic symptoms and no diagnosis and tests and tests and tests! It was awful.
I'll be thinking about you dear ~ keep in touch, Woshi.

[zmombomb]

It's not in your head!  Those are my symptoms and after 9 years, I finally got a true diagnosis of Autoimmune hepatitis, sjogren's syndrome, and lupus.  I have been taking Celebrex for years and it helps tremendously.  without it, I can't move.  I just started Plaquenil, so I won't know what that does for a while.  STAY OUT OF THE SUN!  Even flourescent lighting in an office will set off your problems.  Cover your skin, head, etc. with clothing and hats.  Wear sun screen.  dark, dark glasses with pads like motorcyclists wear so the sun cannot get behind the lenses!  This will help reduce your symptoms.  Apply the sun screen every couple of hours to anything not covered by clothing.  There are lots of light cotton clothing that is pretty and long sleeved and thin enough to help in the summer, and not be too hot to wear, unless you get to the menopausal stage like I was.  OOOOOOOH THAT WAS HOT.  Cover up, ask for Celebrex, eat yogurt before taking any meds to save your tummy..... and wait for the docs to help you.  

good luck.  You are SANE, and none of this is in your head!  

[fancyred]

OH to bad,

I went through the process of being told at Parkland Hospital in Dallas Texas that everything was all in my head.  it wasn't until I was admitted the 5th time they realized there was actually something wrong with me.  I didn't make a habit of going to the Doctor no matter how I felt and then suddenly in 1993, I started having problems they could not ignore.  

No, this isn't in your head, so please don't let anyone tell you it is.