Brilliant Site

[CHRI55IE]

Hi All,

I've not been diagnosed yet but all of the symptoms I've been experiencing for years seem to fit...

Most of them came to ahead in September last year when i was taken into hospital with a suspected stoke. My left side of my face had fallen and i had the worst head ache i had ever experienced. I under went a lot of tests, scans etc but nothing was coming back with any negative results.

Since then i have been experiencing muscle weakness, effecting my ability to walk which was pin-pointed to the root of my nerves with a nerve conductivity test. Lumbar Punctures and all other investigative test all came back negative...

My Neurologist mentioned Lupus, as mimicking MS symptoms and until recently we have not taken it much further.

Over the last four months i have started to get skin problems varying in severity.

Currently i have fluid filled blisters on my hands - if anyone else has experienced these I'd love to hear from you !! And after a holiday in Spain which i cut short my arms and face are covered in small bumps and itchy patches of dry flaky skin...

I've got an appointment with my neurologist on Wednesday this week, I've been keeping a diary of symptoms and i'm going to discuss getting an ANA test done.

So fingers crossed...:shrug:

This site has been amazing, hearing other peoples points of view!!! I guess i had started to feel like a hypochondriac!

[raggedyann1]

Hello and welcome to the Lupus Site. I am glad you are finding the site helpful to you. Sometimes the road to diagnosis of a connective tissue disease or other auto-immune diseases can be long and frustrating. Do you know what blood tests you have had in the past? If you live in the USA you have a right to all your medical records. It might be worth your while to get copies of everything then you will know what has been done and what hasn't. Sometimes there are surprises on the chart notes the doctors have dictated, things they never told you.

Have you ever seen a rheumatologist that specializes in lupus and/or other related conditions? It means a trip in to a large city as most of them are connected with teaching and/or research hospitals. They are more likely to look at the entire picture and not worry as much that some symptom isn't present.

Let us know what the neurologist says.

Take care,
Karen

[Joandublin]

Hi there and welcome to the site!

I just wanted to wish you the best of luck with your appointment tomorrow.

Do let us know how you get on

Take care for now
Joan:rose:

[CHRI55IE]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies!

raggedyann1 - I'm not in the USA, i'm in the UK we don't as easily get to see our records as far i'm aware. I'm a little unsure of what tests have already been done and what the results were it's top of my list of questions for Wednesday. I haven't seen a Rhuey yet but I will be discussing that too. I live in a large city so i dont think it will be difficult getting a referral.