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Think I have lupus or similar auto immune disease

I'm a 21 year old female. In early march 2011 I contracted mono. I had a sore throat with swollen white tonsils, and all the normal mono symptoms and then some. Severe fatigue, headaches, fever, muscle aches chills. I also had pain in my right side which at the time I thought was pain form an enlarged spleen. Not realizing that the spleen is on the left side. Later I began having the pain on my left side which I then found out was the location of the spleen. I also developed severe back pain at some point which I later realized was my kidneys. Along with all that I had joint pain in my shoulders and hips. It was very painful for me to try and lift up my arms. After about 6 months I started to recover and get to a point where I wasn't quite as exhausted. I was 19 years old and quit going to college because of my extreme exhaustion, but my parents wouldn't have me doing nothing so the made me get a job. I think this was the turning point. I got a job November first. I was completely normal until around December. I was working 4 to 5 days a week 8 to 4 which I was not used to. All the symptoms came back, even more intense then before. Minus the white tonsils. I the joint pain was a lot worse and ported much in most of my joints, but it was particularly severe in my knees. I would find myself struggling to bend my knees, while at the same time not being able to straighten them completely. They were extremely stiff, swollen hot and they would pop, crackle and lock with every step. I started seeing. Rheumatologist in August (there was a very long waiting list) and I started taking plaquenil. I never got a full arthritis diagnosis, I was told it looks like early rheumatoid arthritis. That's the short story. It's been 3 years since I first started having these problems and I haven't gotten a single answer from my doctor other than " your a complete mystery". But I strongly believe that I have lupus. My doctors say that thee is not enough evidence in my lab work, but I have a positive Antinuclear antibodies and protein in my urine. Here's a list of my of my symptoms. Everything I could think of.



Extreme exhaustion
Arthritis (apparently)
Puffy face, especially the eyelids, also hands and feet swell when I sleep
Extremely sore weak muscles
Weight gain
Constipation (almost always one or the other)
Diarrhea
Headaches
Vertigo (often)
Dizziness
Organ pain (or upper abdominal pain on both the left and right sides, plus back under the ribs)
Sensitivity to light (eyes especially, but also the rash on my face)
Eye pain (the muscles hurt when I move my eyes)
Malar rash (it is prefect butterfly shape, though my doctors are skeptical)
Lack of appetite
Never rested regardless of amount of sleep
Dry mouth, nose, eyes (probably from medication but still)
Hoarseness (from Hashimoto's)
Sore throat (probably Hashimoto's too)
Muscle spasms
Pateachia (doesn't happen very often but happens for no reason)
Extremely tight tendons that crackle and pop
Hair loss (symptom of Hashimoto's but also lupus)
Mouth sores and ulcers
Raynaud's disease (undiagnosed, I hadn't even bothered to tell my doctors, they ignore everything I tell them.)

Now I'll make a list of the 11 symptoms used to diagnose lupus and put a star *  next to the ones that I CLEARLY have.


*Butterfly rash (I have photos)
*Light sensitivity (that worsens the rash)
*Mouth sores or ulcers
*Joint inflammation
Inflammation of the lining of the heart or lungs(I've never been checked)
*Urine abnormalities (proteins and cells)
Seizures or psychosis
Anemia
Discoid rash(possibly, I was told the rash was sweat related)
*Positive ANA test

I was told that the proteins and cells in my urine were from a bladder infection and I was given anti biotics. I have been told this many times and I have never had a UTI or a bladder infection. I was told that the antibiotics would help my kidney pain and that it was part of the infection. -_-

I was also told that because the fact that perfectly healthy people can have a positive ANA test, it didn't necessarily mean anything. My response was "but I'm not healthy, something is obviously wrong. I have seen a total of 4 doctors so far. I'll be seeing my third rheumatologist in June hoping to finally find a doctor that doesn't blatantly deny/ignore all of my symptoms. Is there anyone out there that has heard of something like this, or has any ideas of what I can do to get some sort of diagnosis? Maybe I should see a doctor who specializes in lupus?? I've heard people go years without a lupus diagnosis.

Also I forgot to mention I've been diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease. My dad who is a surgeon, suspects that I have mixed connective tissue disease, or some from of it or something similar. But that is not his area. He is an ear nose and throat specialist. He has tryed to help me in every way he knows how.
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Avatar universal
If thats all it took for you to get better than maybe you werent as bad as me. Its been a little hard for me to stop seeing doctors when i couldnt walk for 5 months. Giving up isnt a luxury that i have. If working out and taking supplements was all i needed then this never would have happened in the first place. As for eating better, if you give me money and a way to get to the store than yeah id have no problem eating better. But i have no money because i cant work. And i cant afford an attorney to get disability. Nor will a doctor give me a diagnosis because no one can tell me why my legs dont work. Im glad it was so easy for you
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Avatar universal
changes i made in my life that helped me:

i finally realized that spending my time sitting in doctors offices was not the way i wanted to live. as much as i wanted to know what was wrong i realized it might never happen. was i going to die wondering, or start living.
-as hard as it was to work out in my condition, i had to. light weights and a little cardio. it tells your body that healing is required.
-started eating a diet of mostly vegetables. stopped eating as much meat.
-made sure i was not deficient in any vitamins or minerals. i found supplementing with zinc and B vitamins helpful.
-got a water alkalizer. i was very skeptical but was willing to try anything. i feel like it helps.
-kept a positive attitude. i wasn't healthy but i wasn't dead and feeling happy about that, did help.
Changes didn't happen over night, but i am feeling better now.
and hey, at least i'm not dead. ;)
I wish you the best and hope this helps.
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Avatar universal
Hello. Any info or advice would be greatly appreciated
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Avatar universal
hey utoianonawa!
i went trough your exact situation including 10 plus doctors telling me they dont know whats wrong.
i think i have some info that can help you. tell me if you still post here and i will respond...
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Avatar universal
PCP =  Personal Care Physician
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Avatar universal
I also have tinnitus, I've always assumed it was from Hashimoto's. There's some kind of connection between that and tinnitus.

In May I'm getting checked for Caron's and or ulcerative colitis.
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Avatar universal
Wow. I'm sorry for all you had to go through. What is a PCP?

And also my mom is very supportive, there just isn't much she can do. My dad has helped a lot with getting me tests, he's just not around because he's always busy. When I come to him for help he thinks like a doctor. He thinks because he doesn't know about lupus or rheumatology that he can't help me.

And I work part time, cuz like you said even though it hurts being inactive just makes it worse. But I also don't want to push myself too hard. Though I need activity I too much makes everything worse.
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Avatar universal
[continued from post 2]

By 2003  I began to feel better after losing 140lbs in 10 ,months and walking and doing volunteer work and traveling. It hurt but I pushed myself and the pain changed - over time - was more a soreness than a high pitch 'c' inside.It was more managable.  

In 2005 I walked out of Walmart & some women hit me with her car 2x and then took off. I walked to my van to sit as she had backed into me initially and hitmy right hip but then she gunned her car again and hit me a 2nd time and I began to go under her trunk...3 hours later I couldnt walk~! ..6 months PT 3x a wk + cane all the time afterwards. Woman got away]

The passed 10 or so years ahve been a blur - I dont wish this pain on anyone! I dont like the pain pills but will take them occasionally if the pain is screaming inside.Most;y I use tramadol now and it does tale pff tgje edge.

Seemed when I began researching my meds I found that :
Nabumetone > causes cancer & Congestive Heart Failure
Gabapentin > causes cancer - even though it helped the nerve pain.

I had also been on Vioxx, Premarin and they cause cancer!

NOW if your docs and your parents arent helping......
Go to another doctor! - Preferably a large hospital clinic - a teaching hospital maybe even better.

I worked for doctors years ago and remember doctors can almost always get other doctors to help - If your dad is a doctor , maybe the other docs you have seen arent helping  on purpose! Maybe need a doctor that doesnt know your dad.

They dont test comprehensibly unless you are acute - none of them do,. I had so many referrals , waiting nearly a year at times to see some doctors and got brushed off many times.
You need to find a doc that will take interest and try to get you answers. Worst part isnt the pain - worst part is not knowing why.

You are only 21.Even if your parents remain in denial and want to 'think' you are a hypochondriac - you still need answers one way or another.
I could never let my kids go without help and answers~!

3 years you have been suffering and perhps you parents are just apathetic and dont want to realize you are sick,. I dont know but by 17 I went to my own doctors independent of my parents.

A lady told you to try a supplement in an above post. Supplements are good, especially if you check for what they do and dont do and be sure not to take something that has side effects.


I now take these supplements and I dont feel any worse & kind of feel a bit better:

-Time Released Adult Multivitamin & Mineral supplement
-Niacin 100 mg /dau
-Chromium GTF w yeast 200mcg
-120mg CO Q 10
-DHEA**
-Selenium 200mg
-Probiotics10
-Flaxseed Oil Capsules 1300mg
-Assurance [heart health supp]
-25mg Bisocodyl [laxative]

-Glucosamine, Chondroiton, MSM  - are good for joints.

Read up online about your symptoms and then check out Puritan'sPride.com online  and you might be able to find the ones that will help you.

Also if it is Lupus - cut down or cut out soda - the carbon in its no good doesnt matter if its regular or diet - both are bad.I drank diet Pepsi for 30 years and gained overall. Also when I lost he 140 lbs I quit soda and cut out most of the breads but ate some just not as much. It was before I got hit by the car .

I used to force myself to walk places  even though it hurt the first few weeks to do so and was exhausting. I increased drinking water to 1 gallon or more a day.

Drink bottled water - at least 10 bottles a da
Increase veggies intake
Cut down carbs

Try eliminating any foods that make you feel sick or sleepy afterwards -

you can be borderline diabetes just from some meds

IF you can walk - do it - today is the best you will ever feel - unless you can make some sort of activity to strengthen your body.

You are 21- You cant wait to get well - you have to do a certain amount of push to make it happen.

You are too young to let this go as you have your whole life ahead of you and have to take charge of finding out what is wrong and what to do to make it right.

I waited too long - I am now 60 years old and lament the things I should have done  because I felt sick at the time but it only got worse through inactivity~!! Now my hips and knees are 'bone-on-bone' and I need hip and knee replacements but due to my current health, surgery is the last thing any doctor will do, they assess their own risks amnd since I am now high risk, I am stuck living in pain ,much worse than the type I felt when I was young. I used to be able to force myself to do things - now I cant~!

In between all my years of illness, I managed to work much of the time and whether as a volunteer or as a part timer. I found it hurt less to do more and now hurts more when I do less.

Internet searches should enable you to find a PCP that will champion for you. You need that as health care is at an all time low with this new healthcare system. My orthopedic surgeon just quit - send us all a letter and said he was talking an early retirement! he didnt want to be bothered with the direction health care is going in now.

Frankly before I got my first real diagnosis. I was scared that I was losing it as I felt the slow down and the increasing inability to accomplish things. I also dropped out of college - but that was because I was pregnant again and didnt want to risk losing the baby and didnt.

I managed to have 5 heathy enough kids that are doing fairly well. I have 13 grand kids too - sowhether you have Lupus or not, you can still find a work around to have some mean and purpose in your life to make you feel better to some degree and dont let this illness beat you -  you have to beat it~
GBU~!
Ave

.
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Avatar universal
continued from post 1

Out of the sun 20+yrs [lupus]: Severe Vit D deficiency now - 50K units 2x wk

Liver > developed cysts so I gradually reduced all meds to minimum

Stomach> worse from all the meds but Prevacid did help and as i weaned off meds my stomach wasnt as bad.

Constipation got worse - would cause hernia to slide up into chest cavity,making breathing hard do they did surgery but it failed [Nissonfundoplication] Started with Metamucil & Propoleneglycol, then Colace later other laxatives. Muscles in intestines wont push, so I have to liquify with laxatives every 2-3 days -

Hair Loss - lucky my hair is thick - but shed like crazy and now its thinned considerably.
2 hernia surgeries
3 breast redux & repairs
2 abdominoplasty after I lost 140 lbs
1 A&P repair due to prolapse after last child was born. Seems my ligments and tendons just tear easily
2 right rotator cuff surgeries - now failed again and also need left side done so not getting either done, but shoulders and upper back and neck never stop hurting!
Shooting nerve pains- random &all over : Gabapentin[Neurotin]
3 hand surgeries
1 foot surgery
3 knee surgeries
2 leg surgeries
2 throat surgeries [vocal cords from acid reflux/gerd]

Acid led to veins getting bad in legs - bumped my shin in 2001 & 2 months later >Gangrene and they wanted to amputate but I refused in operating room so they debrided & spent 3 mos in hospital - Legs now have PAD and I get Cellulitis 2-3x a year - legs horribly scarred - knee joints dislocate as both sides have torn meniscus and cartlidge in both is gone and am bone-on-bone [use a cane or walker now]

For a while I began supplements- figured the meds werent helping much and PCP couldnt get me appt with Rheumatologist - siting treatment is same  so just continued all the above meds for years.

Then 2002 lump in throat - ENT  said cancer so did surgery - was a Sarcoid Granuloma, not cancer -  he sent me to a Rheumatologist and added diagnosis of Sarcoidosis to the Lupus.

I asked if maybe it was Sarcoidosis all along and maybe not Lupus? he said didnt matter as treatment was the same!

I was told I had a cyst in my liver as well and that I needed to have it monitored - well they havent monitored it at all, even when I ask.

When I had the debridement for the gangreen there were little silver pearls I picked out of my open wound muscle and that was before I was dx'd with the Sarcoidosis but Rheumatologist said it probably was granulomas.I also had all my teeth pulled when I was pregnant even though I wore braces as a teen and had had root canals ans apicoectomies on all the teeth , so they never should have hurt but with Lupus  & Sarcoidosis - symptoms get worse with each pregnancy  [ + that explained my 8 miscarriages~ Lupus when its flaring up causes them]

[continued post 3]
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Avatar universal
Havent been on this forum in about 2 yrs  after my old computer crashed & by the time I got another computer I didnt know where most of the sites I frequently were anymore. Anyway I will explain some similar things to what you have experienced. I got answers, not all of them but they gave me some.

I had joint pain when I was young. I was told I had 'gout' due to the high acid proteins in urine - creatinine I think it was called. I took lots of tylenols and found I could function for a while and then get what later I heard was a 'flare up'.

I started having children when I was 24 and had a miscarriage between each of the first 4. Didn't know why.I developed new allergies after first pregnancy including a potentially deadly allergic reaction kto pennicillin.

Fast forward - I had GERD, IBS[mostly constipated but then it would swithc to diahrea occasionally]

Deporession because I felt lousy ,most of the time, but forced myself to do things especially as I had to care for my children , home and work.

Tangible diagnosis was given as Fibromyalgia  around 1990 but about a year later my doctor apologized that she had skipped reviewing results of a blood test - ANA- that was considered indicative of Lupus.She sent ,me to a rheumatologist that did an extensive history & more tests and said that the +ANA can confirm Lupus although you can have Lupus without a +ANA as the levels can drop when not in a 'flare up'

I had allergies so went for allergy shots but mid stream was stopped because they said something was up with the Lupus.

Once they diagnosed it as Lupus. I wsas initially relieved it had a name but noticed down the road that no matter what illnesses I developed they would blame it on the Lupus and I didnt really get treated in any way to help/They tended to do palliative treatment for it.

I had developed  heart problems & required This was added with::

Heart > Nitro and Cardizen and Bumex [water pill].
Muscle Spasms  > Methocabomal ~ muscle relaxant
Joint Inflammatipn  > Nabumetone ~ antiinflammatory & pain
GERD/ulcers > Prevacid
Asthma/COPD > Albuterol
Infections-Cellulitis Legs > Cephalexen 3-4x a yr for more than a month
Cholestrols^ : Orlistat > Lower triglycerides & helped lose some weight
  Lipitor[+ other statins] but all gave 'charley horses in legs arms chest]
Severe body pain : Diffuse Tendonitis,Diffuse Bursitis+ other pains & surgeries so Lorcets as needed [but I steered away from them as addictive]
Prozac for anxiety for a while , seemed to help a little but later made me feel suicidal so stopped those!!
Tinnitus~ loud ringing buzzzing in ears
Dry Mouth- continuallly sipping water!! Tongue stays dry.
Red rash - well I was lucky not quite a butterfly but rosey cheeks..
Difficulty swallowing - most of the time - probably gerd or nerve related
Joints muscles heart fatigue oh yeah + Mono too!! lasted months & is 'chronic 'so still comes and goes
Insomnia - always exhausted but cant sleep - doze  instead an hour here and there - so no energy - Drink coffee just to function but its bad for me!


[continued on  post 2]
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Avatar universal
Also thanks for those other recommendations. I know that at this point my Achilles' tendons are pretty much just scar tissue. Lol I hope that stuff helps
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Avatar universal
I feel for her too. I've never been very active. I can see how it's devastating to her. I know it is for me. Even something as simple as cleaning my room has become something I can't do. I'm hoping this new rheumatologist will have sense enough to give a diagnosis. There's so much information out there on lupus yet the doctors don't know the first thing about it. I'm very surprised, it's way more common then people think, one lady from a lupus awareness group said that some studies have shown that 1 in every 185 people have lupus. The sad thing is the only reason why doctors won't give a diagnosis Without strong test results, is because the are afraid to be wrong and get sued. Or something like that. But there really is so little test results can actually tell you. And lupus is not a disease that they can even really test for specifically, that's the sad thing.
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Avatar universal
     Yes - I bought some at Walmart last Friday.   Boswellia is also recommended for Lupus - that's at the health food store.  Supposed to help with the pain.
     Hyaluronic acid is also for connective tissue disease.  It's supposed to rebuild cartillege (sp?) and collagen.
    Hope this helps you.  I feel for you - as my daughter suffers with it, too.  She has not been diagnosed either - they just tell her the symptoms seem to point to Lupus, but the blood work is inconclusive.  
     She is very active and loves to ride her horses - there are days when she can't even turn a door knob - much less lift a saddle to ride.  Those days she spends about an hour soaking in the tub with epsom salts.  The epsom salts contain magnesium which penetrate the skin and aid the muscles.

     Wishing you the best
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Avatar universal
Thanks, I didn't know that. Is it something you can get over the counter? The DHEA.
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Avatar universal
That' makes sense. And thank you
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Avatar universal
   Hi.   I noticed that you have all the symptoms of Lupus and the doctors don't want to dx. you with it.  I am so sorry.  My daughter also has these symptoms including the connective tissue disease.
    DHEA is recommended for Lupus by the Natural Doctor, Dr. Stengler .   He recommends a starting dose of 20 to 50 mg. daily.  But, he recommends that a doctor do a saliva test to determine how much DHEA a person needs.  People with Lupus generally need more (about 200 mg.).  
       It is not recommended to take routinely as it is a hormone.  it is a good alternative to predisone therapy.   DHEA is also recommended for Osteoporosis and for Crohn's.
       Fish oil is recommended for those who have Lupus.   Eating cold water fish and supplementing with fish oil.  Sometimes the benefits can be dramatic.
      Some people with Lupus benefit by staying away from mushrooms, tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplant. (nightshades).

    I hope this information was helpful.  Wishing you a good outcome.
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2143641 tn?1396678143
the only advice I can give to you, in times like this you must find other people who are in need of your help and together you can climb the hill. if addressing your pain to those who are in better conditions isn't working, try and change your prospective. Good luck.
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Avatar universal
I cant get social security, or any kind of disability without a diagnosis. Ive even seen places that help provide lupus patients with housing, jobs, even help pay for food, and provide child care. I cant have anything like that without a diagnosis. Im struggling to work 8-12 hours a week, and i barely make enough money to eat and feed my dog. I have to rely on my mom for everything and shes old and tired. What happens when shes gone?
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Avatar universal
I know this is a little late, its been a few months. But i was talking to my doctor and he made me think of what you asked me before. You asked me what i would make of a lupus diagnosis. I think not word for word. I wasnt sure how to answer that properly before, but talking to my doctor made me think on it a little more and realize to me why a diagnosis is so important.

Its not about expecting different medications or treatment. Or even expecting for others to understand (which i talked about before). Its important because i need to know how i will be going on with my life. I need to know what i should be expecting do i can figure out how to live with this. If its not lupus, i need to know what it is and what i need to do to live with it, whatever it is.

Im 21 years old and done nothing but spend the last 3 years waiting to get better. Or get to a point where i could finish where i left off. I should be preparing to graduate college, and instead im resting all the time. I cant even manage to spend time doing thing i like like painting or playing my guitar because it hurts too much and im too tired. It hard for me to even read because i cant hold a book up, and if i put it down im my lap i have to hunch over which is also painful, or lay on my side and have my insides all squished up which also hurts a lot.

Right now i have no future. I at least want to know if i should spend my time hoping to get better, or spend my time preparing myself to live like this for all of my life. When it started, i would have never imagined it could be permanent. Now i dont even know what to think when people ask me when im going back to school, or what i plan on doing with my life. Before i wanted to be a vet or some kind of doctor. Now i dont know if thatll ever be an option. Long hours.. I dont think so. What do i look forward to now?? Where do i even start if i dont even know why this is happening to me? Who will help me?
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2143641 tn?1396678143
I didn't say you're exaggerating the symptoms but the relevance of some clinical findings, for example the proteins found in the urine.

if one or more doctor is prejudiced, supposing that you are overly worried, anxious and exaggerating the symptoms, they will only try to convince you that you have nothing.

moreover, doctors are people after all, like most people they will hardly admit that they don't know what to say or do and will rather take comfort by dismissing you like someone who doesn't need medical attention.

all said, remember that attention is always reciprocal, you have to ask questions and listen to them. if they make a decision there is always a reason and they will explain it to you if will pose a direct question.

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Avatar universal
I hope that your daughter gets diagnosed and gets the help she needs. Contrary to what people believe there are treatments for lupus and once a diagnosis is made doctors will try to work with you to help manage your symptoms. Im exhausted. It's hard trying to keep a job, and have a life with this disease. The only reason I keep my job, is if I didn't go to work the small amount that I do, I would have no life. I wouldn't see the light of day. I wouldn't have any interaction with other people besides my family. I like my job, it makes me feel like I'm still a human being. Even though it's very hard.
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Avatar universal
Thank you. I know how your daughter feels also. My father told me he thinks I have mixed connective tissue disorder but he can not do anything to help me because it is not his field. It too have crackling tendons, and before I started wearing night splits I would limp around work very slowly hoping not to tear anything. There were several times where I heard a loud pop and felt a jerk in my tendon. It never hurt much until a few hours later and then I would be in so much pain. I asked my dad what that was and he told me it's the fibers in the tendon tearing, and the crackiling is scare tissue breaking to release tension. I talked to my rheumatologist about it and practically begged him to tell me what to do about it. He said he didn't feel any lumps in my tendon and then went about his day, while I was left afraid that the next time I walk around I would rupture a tendon. The pain of having your tendons so tight that it feels like it will rip any second is unexplainable. It's spread to my knees now so instead of just my normal pain and swelling the tendons that attach to the kneecap get so tight that my leg is bent as far as it can go and it's not enough. The tendons and muscles feel like they are going to tear off at the knee cap and I can tell you it's a pain than can only be described as having a razor dug into the sides of your knee. I wouldn't wish for my worst enemy to feel that pain.

And no unfortunately I don't live anywhere near Tucson. I won't see my new rheumatologist until June, but the wait is killing me. I just found out that family doctors can diagnose lupus if you bring them test result from other doctors. I'm going to call my doctor tomorrow. So far he is the only one of my doctors with any concern and I know he will listen to me. It seems like the ones with the least ability to help me are the only ones concerned.

The other day I talked to my aunt who was a pediatrician. She was the one who first told me about lupus because she saw the rash on my face. She reviewed my test results and is completely shocked at the lack of concern my former rheumatologist had. I was told by that doctor my results were normal, only to find out that I had 170 mg of protien in my urine when it isn't supposed to be over 10 mg for one sample. These doctors have it in their head that if they don't see anything wrong which you when you walk in then you must be fine. It seems like the more symptoms I present to them the more they are convinced I'm making it up. I don't think they even know the first thing about lupus. The thing that really saddens me, is that the rheumatologist that told me my labs were normal, is actually one of the doctors that requested to be put in the referrals on lupus.org. You can request a list of doctors in your area that have asked to be on that list. She was one of them and that sickens me. Never in my life have I met such a rude biased doctor.
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Avatar universal
   I am so sorry that you are having so much difficulty getting a diagnosis.  My daughter is going to a rheumatologist this weekend to hopefully get a diagnosis of Lupus.
   She has all the same symptoms that you do and has been diagnosed with connective tissue disease.  Her tendons and other connective tissues are hard and crackle and she is in a lot of pain.
    Her appointment is in Tucson with Dr. Howe - just in case you can go in that direction.
     I wish you all the best and hope that you are able to get a diagnosis soon.  
     The medical professionals can be so stubborn and "know it all" sometimes.  They would rather be wrong and claim to be right than be right and embarrassed by their  colleagues.  It can be  "tight knit" group.  Too bad there are "high school" cliques among the medical profession.
      I hope you get your diagnosis soon.  When and if you do, apply for Social Security.  
     Wishing you the best.
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Avatar universal
Im not scared and confused. I am mortified by the medical communities incompetence.  
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