New to Lupus

Hello, I am being worked up for Lupus now.  I have the round skin rash patches (face, ears, thighs, chest).  I think around 12 at this point.  Started over 6 years ago - at least when I noticed them.  
   I had an unexplained Pleurisy (which turned to pleural effusion) around 4 or 5 years ago.
    I have various muscle and joint aches.  
Arthritis in my neck and hips and fingers and wrist.
Cramping in weird spots....like under my jaw and neck....along the whole left side leg area...  
I am 51 now.  So, thinking back, I must have been 45 or so when the skin patches started.   Aren't I kind of old to just be getting Lupus?  
What should I be asking my doctor on Monday?  Thank you for any help!  Carol

[Carol139]

sorry, also positive ANA and high liver function tests.   Kidney function tests are fine....  

[karajo]

Hi Carol,
I haven't been on the forum for several weeks.  

A few things that I found to be helpful in expiditin the dx process is, be sure and spend time in the sun prior to having your ANA checked.  

Also, get your vit D level checked.  

Make a running list of all the symptoms and about how often each one occurs.  Many times it helps the dr. to have a list they can look at and even keep handy in your chart.  Many times symptoms come and go and come back again.  

Drs. usually know all the autoimmune test that need to be ran.  What was your ANA and the pattern?

Hopefully some others will chime in with more helpful info.

Blessings, Kara

[Carol139]

Hi there!  Was at the ER last night with pain under my ribs - had a liver biopsy on the 10th - and they did a ct scan to be sure there were no leaks (bile, blood, fluids, etc...).  There weren't. But the CT scan picked up a density in my left breast, so, good thing I went anyway.   They were not sure what was causing all the pain and pressure, so going in today at 5PM to see the doc and explain how it felt.   Now, the pain is mostly in my mid back,, still seems to be under the ribs, but we'll see what he says later.

Not sure what my ANA pattern was - I'll try and ask today.   I was not in the sun before any of these tests.  What does the sun do?

If lupus is the reason, and it was an inflammation attack, I am not looking forward to "it's just the lupus" nothing we can do---- kind of answer :(  

Well, thank you so much for the response!    

Keep the faith,
Carol

[karajo]

Hi Carol, did you find out what was going on with the rib pain?  I sometimes get these when I am having a bad lupus flare.  I thought it had something to do w/ my ballooned out kidney.  But I believe the ribs can become inflammed and cause this pain.  It is extremely painful when it happens.  

The sun exposure would just cause an inflammatory response. (that is if you indeed have lupus).  This would result in an extremely elevated ANA.  What was your ANA amount and pattern?

[Carol139]

Hi, all I remember is it was called a positive and spiral pattern on the ANA.  They ran it twice and came back the same both times.  
The rib pain - might have been a gall / bile duct stone.  It was relieved after 9 days and I had a terrible amount of loose stool / light / etc.... the doc said that sounds like what happened, He did the MRCP to see if there were stones, but they are gone now, if it was a stone, it should not happen again - unless more form.  
My kidneys are good.  They just have cysts on them.

I should ask for what the ana was....

[karajo]

Carol, I've never heard of the spiral pattern.  There is homogeneous, peripheral or rimed, speckled, nucleolar or centromere.

I encourage you to get a copy of your labs.