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Any ideas? Lupus???
For about the past month I have been having very strange symptoms on and off. So far my life has been drastically altered. Some days I have to miss work and stay in bed all day. Other days I feel normal, like nothing ever happened. I am only 21 years old, and have been generally in good health, although bad things run in my family like diabetes, cancer, hypertension, and high cholesterol. So far I don't have any of these. I would appreciate any ideas for what I may have.
Here's my symptoms:
First, joint pain started in my left leg. I thought it was from working out, so I took a break from exercise for a bit. The pain would come and go, and some days were worse than others. My leg felt numb and was 3 inches larger than my right. My doctor checked me for a blood clot, and I didn't have one. He said it was strictly in my joints. I also had fever in my hip joint.
Then, the joint pain went away. But something weird happened. I started having blood seeping through my pores. It started on my face, and then my legs. I didn't feel bad, but I was a little freaked out. It wasn't a lot of blood, but it was enough to bleed through my clothes. I still bleed on and off on random parts of my body at random times.
Next, the joint pain came back. This time it was all over my body. I could barely walk. I also had very, very bad fatigue. So bad that after I unloaded my dishwasher one morning, I had to lay down. My heart was pounding, my body felt weak, and I felt completely exhausted. The next day I felt a little better, so I tried to take my dog for a walk. I usually walk around the entire neighborhood, but this time, I barely made it down the street. I felt worn out. I came back and had to lay down.
After that, I started missing work. I could only go in for about 2 hours. I am a bank teller that doesn't have to get up and do much work. I just sit in a chair, say hi to customers, and handle money. For some reason this made me very tired, even though I was having slow days. I was able to work for a little longer one day, and I felt great, but that evening was horrible. I had cold sweats, chills, and didn't feel like myself. I couldn't get out of bed. My veins hurt. It felt like someone poured Ben-Gay into my veins and you could easily see them through my skin on my chest, neck, and left arm (this was where the pain was). I also started running a mild fever (99-100). I told a doctor about it, and he put me on bed rest for one week along with dexamethasone and ibuprofen. He thought I had vasculitis, although a dermatologist I'm also seeing said I don't look like I have it at all. (BTW--I am no longer seeing the doctor that diagnosed me with vasculitis---long story). Plus my blood work is completely normal, which is a good sign, according to my doctors.
The bed rest really helped me, because I was able to go back to work for a full 2 weeks. Just recently I started feeling bad again. I've also had several angiomas start popping up on me (almost one new one per day, some disappear, some stay). I have missed 2 more days of work so far, having mild joint pain, but now I'm having new symptoms on top of the rest. My skin is itchy is some spots, and it looks like I have a rash on my left cheek, lower back, and legs. My lymph nodes hurt behind my knees, in my groin area, on the sides of my neck, under my armpits, and I'm very tender behind my elbows. Sometimes I feel a little nauseated. I feel very tired and weak again. I could easily sleep all day and all night. Resting is really helping me, but whatever I have is really starting to worry me. I feel very strange at times---that's the only way to describe it. Sometimes my chest area hurts--not bad, just feels strange, not normal.
So far, I have had 2 cbc's---they are both normal. I have had 2 esr's--my first one was a 22. My second one is a 24, which isn't too high, but my doctors are a little concerned since I'm having weird symptoms. My liver is in good condition, and I don't have hepatitis, which was a concern b/c of the angiomas. I have also had an ANA and rheumatoid arthritis test, but those results are still pending. So far, the dermatologist I'm seeing doesn't have any ideas. My new regular doctor seems to think this may be something that isn't permanent and that I shouldn't be overly worried since my blood work is normal, except my esr. As soon as the rest of the results come in, he is sending me to a rheumatologist and hematologist for further ideas.
I'm sorry this was so long, but I would appreciate any input on this. Anyone have any ideas? For more of a background, I haven't traveled anywhere, been bitten by anything like a tick, eaten anything strange, or taken any antibiotics. I am on Yasmin, but that has never ever bothered me, and has actually helped me for the past 3 years. I am worried about Lupus, but is it possible to have it and have completely normal blood work? The reason I think Lupus is a possibility is because of the joint pain, fatigue, rash, plus I break out in a very bad rash in the summer when the sunlight hits any skin exposed. I also have problems with my fingers and toes hurting after warming up from getting cold. They swell, turn bright red, and hurt like heck. It feels like all the blood rushes to them, and they swell enough that I can barely move them. I've had problems with the rash and finger problems since I was a teenager. The rash doesn't really bother me--it just looks weird. I really hope this isn't something serious, but I'm still worried and stressed. I'm asking for anyone's advice. Thanks!
Here's my symptoms:
First, joint pain started in my left leg. I thought it was from working out, so I took a break from exercise for a bit. The pain would come and go, and some days were worse than others. My leg felt numb and was 3 inches larger than my right. My doctor checked me for a blood clot, and I didn't have one. He said it was strictly in my joints. I also had fever in my hip joint.
Then, the joint pain went away. But something weird happened. I started having blood seeping through my pores. It started on my face, and then my legs. I didn't feel bad, but I was a little freaked out. It wasn't a lot of blood, but it was enough to bleed through my clothes. I still bleed on and off on random parts of my body at random times.
Next, the joint pain came back. This time it was all over my body. I could barely walk. I also had very, very bad fatigue. So bad that after I unloaded my dishwasher one morning, I had to lay down. My heart was pounding, my body felt weak, and I felt completely exhausted. The next day I felt a little better, so I tried to take my dog for a walk. I usually walk around the entire neighborhood, but this time, I barely made it down the street. I felt worn out. I came back and had to lay down.
After that, I started missing work. I could only go in for about 2 hours. I am a bank teller that doesn't have to get up and do much work. I just sit in a chair, say hi to customers, and handle money. For some reason this made me very tired, even though I was having slow days. I was able to work for a little longer one day, and I felt great, but that evening was horrible. I had cold sweats, chills, and didn't feel like myself. I couldn't get out of bed. My veins hurt. It felt like someone poured Ben-Gay into my veins and you could easily see them through my skin on my chest, neck, and left arm (this was where the pain was). I also started running a mild fever (99-100). I told a doctor about it, and he put me on bed rest for one week along with dexamethasone and ibuprofen. He thought I had vasculitis, although a dermatologist I'm also seeing said I don't look like I have it at all. (BTW--I am no longer seeing the doctor that diagnosed me with vasculitis---long story). Plus my blood work is completely normal, which is a good sign, according to my doctors.
The bed rest really helped me, because I was able to go back to work for a full 2 weeks. Just recently I started feeling bad again. I've also had several angiomas start popping up on me (almost one new one per day, some disappear, some stay). I have missed 2 more days of work so far, having mild joint pain, but now I'm having new symptoms on top of the rest. My skin is itchy is some spots, and it looks like I have a rash on my left cheek, lower back, and legs. My lymph nodes hurt behind my knees, in my groin area, on the sides of my neck, under my armpits, and I'm very tender behind my elbows. Sometimes I feel a little nauseated. I feel very tired and weak again. I could easily sleep all day and all night. Resting is really helping me, but whatever I have is really starting to worry me. I feel very strange at times---that's the only way to describe it. Sometimes my chest area hurts--not bad, just feels strange, not normal.
So far, I have had 2 cbc's---they are both normal. I have had 2 esr's--my first one was a 22. My second one is a 24, which isn't too high, but my doctors are a little concerned since I'm having weird symptoms. My liver is in good condition, and I don't have hepatitis, which was a concern b/c of the angiomas. I have also had an ANA and rheumatoid arthritis test, but those results are still pending. So far, the dermatologist I'm seeing doesn't have any ideas. My new regular doctor seems to think this may be something that isn't permanent and that I shouldn't be overly worried since my blood work is normal, except my esr. As soon as the rest of the results come in, he is sending me to a rheumatologist and hematologist for further ideas.
I'm sorry this was so long, but I would appreciate any input on this. Anyone have any ideas? For more of a background, I haven't traveled anywhere, been bitten by anything like a tick, eaten anything strange, or taken any antibiotics. I am on Yasmin, but that has never ever bothered me, and has actually helped me for the past 3 years. I am worried about Lupus, but is it possible to have it and have completely normal blood work? The reason I think Lupus is a possibility is because of the joint pain, fatigue, rash, plus I break out in a very bad rash in the summer when the sunlight hits any skin exposed. I also have problems with my fingers and toes hurting after warming up from getting cold. They swell, turn bright red, and hurt like heck. It feels like all the blood rushes to them, and they swell enough that I can barely move them. I've had problems with the rash and finger problems since I was a teenager. The rash doesn't really bother me--it just looks weird. I really hope this isn't something serious, but I'm still worried and stressed. I'm asking for anyone's advice. Thanks!
Yes, I do get a rash across my cheeks and nose sometimes. It's completely random. It doesn't bother me, but it looks like a bad sunburn only on my cheeks and nose. It doesn't hurt or itch, but it is hot to the touch. I usually get it after going outside on a sunny day. It normally disappears after staying indoors for several hours. I get it whether I wear sunblock or not. I am having new symptoms now, too. This past weekend I was sick again, but it's a different kind of sick. It's not like having a cold or the flu. I start to feel tired and weird. My chest has been hurting, but not bad. It feels like it's hard to breathe at times---like the air is thick like water. I also broke out in a rash on my lower back, legs, and face. This rash was in blotches on both cheeks and one small area on the tip of my nose. There were also large bumps under the rash--like acne under the skin. It appeared while I was feeling bad, and I wasn't exposed to the sun at all this time. It was red and purple in some spots. I was also running a fever again, and my lymph nodes hurt really bad on my neck, armpits, groin area, and behind my knees. I feel normal now....like nothing ever happened. The only symptom I'm having now is my lymph nodes. They still hurt, but I'm able to work.
I have heard that lupus doesn't always show up in the bloodwork.(ANA) Is the rash across your cheeks over your nose? My mom had the blood coming through the pores they told her it was vascular. She also has Rheumatoid Arthritis, no thyroid function and Psoriasis, fibromalagia. I have the rash your talking about in the sun. I have the same symptoms your describing minus the rash on my face and the blood coming through my pores. I have been dealing with these symptoms for years. In the last 4 months it's been hell. I can hardly get out of bed, My legs are so weak and achy and I have severe
back pain tingling in my hands and feet sometimes in other locations. Severe memory loss and lack of concentration, The symptoms are ongoing, I have to go see a Neurologist. My family doctor ran one test and gave up.She dx me with bronchitis/pleurisy/otis media in 11/07 and then I started having shortness of breath and chest heaviness and pain. I went to lung specialist and they ruled out anything to do with lungs and heart. I have been on disability for my job at night and have been trying to keep my medical assist. job, but it gets harder everyday. I feel like I can't move somedays. I wish you lots of luck and I pray you find out what is going on.
back pain tingling in my hands and feet sometimes in other locations. Severe memory loss and lack of concentration, The symptoms are ongoing, I have to go see a Neurologist. My family doctor ran one test and gave up.She dx me with bronchitis/pleurisy/otis media in 11/07 and then I started having shortness of breath and chest heaviness and pain. I went to lung specialist and they ruled out anything to do with lungs and heart. I have been on disability for my job at night and have been trying to keep my medical assist. job, but it gets harder everyday. I feel like I can't move somedays. I wish you lots of luck and I pray you find out what is going on.
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