Long Time with same aches.

[connor]

My Doctors at the Surgery I attend refused to allow me to see a Consultant. They said because I had no inflammation showing in the blood tests that I did not have Athritis.
For years I have had dry itchy skin a very bad reaction to insect bits. Skin blistering and falling off redness and mostly infections.
I have had for many years aching and swollen joints, dry mouth and ulcers in my mouth.Fatigue every day so now I have given up work.
No Doctor has given me a reason for the symptoms.
I take vitamins and eat a healthy diet.
I also have Diabetes and every time I go to the Doctor he blames the symptoms on the Diabetes. How can I ask for further tests for Lupus?
As I now believe after more than ten years this is the reason for my poor health.

[Lily]

Hi connor and welcome,

I am presuming you are in the UK? Is it possible to see a different GP and go from there? That may be the best thing you can do, they should go through your notes and perhaps run some more tests. The normal protocol is that if you are symptomatic and they cant work out what it is then they should refer you to the appropriate specialist. In an ideal world that is, you might have a fight on your hands by the sound of it though :(

Have you looked through the criteria used to help diagnose lupus pinned at the top of this forum? Also pinned at the top of the Tests and Procedures forum are blood tests used to help diagnose and monitor lupus. You need to find out exactly what tests your docs have run and the results of them. This will mean some education on your part. At least that way you can assess whether they have covered all aspects as far as the possibility of Lupus goes.

It may or may not be Lupus....... there are many diseases that carry some of the symptoms and a doc hates it if we so much as suggest what it might be, but most gp's are not that knowledgeable on lupus and associated diseases either. The better approach is to relate your symptoms to them and also privately have your own ideas what it might be and do some research. If they dont seem to be investigating thoroughly then it is time to find another doc who will do that, again just presenting the facts and pushing for a Rheumatology referral so that you can be investigated thoroughly.

love
Lily

[londongirl]

hi there, sorry to hear what you are going through, it must be awful what with the symptoms you have and then on top of this your gp refusing you to see a consultant, that is soooooo wrong, i myself had neg rheumatoid arthiris bloods tests aswell as many others, so i cannot see why he/she is saying this, it is your right and under the patience charter you are allowed indeed to see or ask for a specialist,,,, so dont give up, go back and tackle you gp about this again, and say to them you are prepared to take this further if need be, perhaps the gp thinks by saying that to you it may deter you in requesting again, as they do infact get charged for this, and sorry to say, budgets these days can be more that a paatient,,, so dont give up, go back and say i want to be referred,,,,,, etc so hope this is of some help for you, take care, i will keep an eye out on your postings to see how you are getting along, in the meantime take care ((((hugs))))) london, and ps try to find out the real reason why they are refusing you this, as a negative blood test is not good enough for refusal, thats what at the end of the day the speciallists are for,,, for complex cases, and people hard to diagnose, so once again take care xxx