Hello Rainbowmum 
I am glad you have got some answer at last ! Many docs are far too slow to refer on when skin trouble doesn't clear up. Thank goodness for the locum taking some initiative.
Here are your previous posts. Anybody's previous posts can be found by clicking on their name in blue to the left of their posts or right up at the top right where it says Welcome followed by your name
Link to yours
http://www.thelupussite.com/forum/search.php?searchid=135021
I gather that you haven't already seen a dermatologist? If you have longstanding lupus skin problems you should be prescribed an antimalarial.
The one most often used is called hydroxychloroquine sulfate, known as Plaquenil. This is the first oral medicine for SLE and used as a base medicine even when others need to be added. It is especially good for skin, joints and fatigue but has important general disease modifying properties, slowing down activity and reducing flares.
It's hard to say whether a dermatologist might want to refer on to a rheumatologist when it is clear there are other likely lupus symptoms even if blood work is negative.
It would be a good idea to find out what tests have been done. Usually a GP would only do complete blood count and and ANA, & maybe a rheumatoid factor, RF. Ideally other lupus related tests should be done even if the ANA is negative. There's one antibody called anti- Ro that is often found in ANA negative lupus and is often associated with one of the sorts of lupus skin called subacutecutaneous, which in turn is most often on chest, back and arms. " Discoid " is sometimes used as a generic term for lupus specific skin that is not the malar rash that's associated with SCLE. You could have a look at the pictures links that are in the sticky post at the top of Symptoms section of the forum called "Lupus and the Skin".
I certainly think you should mention the fatigue and joint pains again to the locum and make sure it;s down in your notes. I don't know if she will consider you ought to see a rheumy or refer you for some imaging of the joints to see if there's any damage, if she is able to do that
She might give you some NSAIDs to help with the joint aches. Sometimes a short course of Prednisone is prescribed to help bring down general inflammation but each doctor has their own way of doing things.
Let us know how you get on please.
Good Luck!
Clare
I am glad you have got some answer at last ! Many docs are far too slow to refer on when skin trouble doesn't clear up. Thank goodness for the locum taking some initiative.
Here are your previous posts. Anybody's previous posts can be found by clicking on their name in blue to the left of their posts or right up at the top right where it says Welcome followed by your name
Link to yours
http://www.thelupussite.com/forum/search.php?searchid=135021
I gather that you haven't already seen a dermatologist? If you have longstanding lupus skin problems you should be prescribed an antimalarial.
The one most often used is called hydroxychloroquine sulfate, known as Plaquenil. This is the first oral medicine for SLE and used as a base medicine even when others need to be added. It is especially good for skin, joints and fatigue but has important general disease modifying properties, slowing down activity and reducing flares.
It's hard to say whether a dermatologist might want to refer on to a rheumatologist when it is clear there are other likely lupus symptoms even if blood work is negative.
It would be a good idea to find out what tests have been done. Usually a GP would only do complete blood count and and ANA, & maybe a rheumatoid factor, RF. Ideally other lupus related tests should be done even if the ANA is negative. There's one antibody called anti- Ro that is often found in ANA negative lupus and is often associated with one of the sorts of lupus skin called subacutecutaneous, which in turn is most often on chest, back and arms. " Discoid " is sometimes used as a generic term for lupus specific skin that is not the malar rash that's associated with SCLE. You could have a look at the pictures links that are in the sticky post at the top of Symptoms section of the forum called "Lupus and the Skin".
I certainly think you should mention the fatigue and joint pains again to the locum and make sure it;s down in your notes. I don't know if she will consider you ought to see a rheumy or refer you for some imaging of the joints to see if there's any damage, if she is able to do that
She might give you some NSAIDs to help with the joint aches. Sometimes a short course of Prednisone is prescribed to help bring down general inflammation but each doctor has their own way of doing things.
Let us know how you get on please.
Good Luck!
Clare
