Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 1 Location: commerce, ga
Diagnosis Unknown? Posted: 11-02-03 15:54pm
Hello,
i am of course new to this forum and I
have been reading a lot of messages that
have been posted. So let me tell you what
has been going on and see if anyone can
give me some answers or feedback. I have
noticed extreme fatique for a couple of
months and then suddenly on oct 3rd,2003 I
started running fevers up to 103. There
were days of low grade fever and after 5
days of suffering from severe headache,
muscle weakness and the unability to get
out of bed on my own I went to the gp. He
tells me I have upper respiratory
infection and prescribes, antibotics,
steriods, decongestant. After about 3
days I felt better and was able to move
around better, but within 24hrs I was
spiking fevers again. I called the gp and
was told by his pa and nurse that I must
have the flu and would have to ride it
out. I missed a few more days of work and
then went back to work. I was sent home
after I started feeling bad again. I
became very pale. After continuing to
have problems with headaches, fevers,
muscle weakness, lightheadedness, and
extreme exhaustion, my husband took me to
an er center for help. This is day 16 by
now and the dr was puzzled. They did
bloodwork, urine test, chest xrays. All
came back normal except for my ana at
1:640 and the pattern of nucleolar. (
unsure of the meaning of the pattern). My
ra was neg. And I found out that I had
been exposed to west nile virus. The
doctor ended up giving my information on
lupus and saying that since all bloodwork
was normal that I needed to see a
rheumatologist. Well at that time of
visiting the doctor for the results of the
bloodwork I showed him some subcutaneous
nodules in the legs on the inner thighs
that were extremely painful and swollen.
He put me on nsaids. With no relief in
site after another week the doctor I work
for ( dermatologist) sent me to a
internist next door. Needless to say that
dr ended up putting me in the hospital for
more test. Ekg< chest xray, sinus
xray, mri of the brain. The local rheumay
dr came to see me and said that it was all
viral. Then I had a neuro come in to see
me and said I was still having migraines.
Well I am at home now with the same
problems. I am scared of not knowing what
is going on and I am sure that I have more
than 5 symptoms of the lupus. I have
known for some time that my body was
telling me something is wrong. I am
suppose to see the internist in the
morning and have another mri on thursday.
I am not sure of what to do now. Any
advise?
Thanks,
melissapooh
|
LadyBrannon
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 506 Location: TX
Posted: 11-02-03 18:28pm
1) welcome to the group!
2) sometimes with autoimmunes it can take
a long time for a *real* diagnosis.
3) you *can* have a positive ana with a
viral infection.
4) as you are seeing, a lot of lupus
symptoms mimic more common illnesses.
What do you have? Hang tight...It sounds
like your doctors are really trying to get
the correct answer. You might even find
that they will run the tests *several*
times. Each time, the results may vary.
5) you *always* have the option to get
second opinions on everything, if you feel
the need.
6) there are also other things besides
lupus and mono that can cause a positive
ana (crohn's, mctd, sjogren's. Etc.)
7) I would request a copy of *every* test
they have run. Also keep a journal of
your symptoms every day!
8] also, I know it is easier to say than
to do, but no matter the issue, stressing
is only going to make things worse. Try
to deal with each symptom the best way you
can!
Joint pain? Take a hot bath/hot tub, use
a heating pad...
Fatigue? Take a nap. If your body asks
for it, then it probably needs it.
Headache? Again, a hot bath/hot tub may
help. A heating pad on the neck... Try
to go to sleep...
Again, it sounds like your doctors are
running a lot of tests...And it seems that
they are really trying to get you some
answers. Lupus is *not* easy to diagnose.
Even after lupus was suspected...It took
me over a year!!!! To get the lupus
diagnosis!
Hang in there! Hope you feel better and
get some answers soon!
Hugs,
ladybrannon