[JoandLuke]

I am yet to convince my doctor that there is something wrong with me (he keeps on putting it down to virus's or when I nearly fainted he says because my bloods are fine - I've only had the bare minimum done - & that I've felt lightheaded for 10 years that it wont kill me!!!!)

Anyway I seem to have a lot of the symptoms relating to either lupus or fibromyalgia. I have always had rosy cheeks (& its not roseaca as I get no spots on my cheeks), but this last 6 months I have noticed the redness spreading to over my nose & the redness on my left cheek has got worse & spread more. Do any of you know - even though I have had this since I was little could it be part of lupus or does the facial redness come on suddenly??


Thanks
Jo

 

[lazylegs]

Hi Jo,

Welcome to the site.

Many diseases share similar symptoms. It is hard to tell if your redness is related to Lupus, Fibromyalgia, or something else without the proper testing. Since your GP is being unresponsive I suggest seeing a Dermatologist. That may start the ball rolling for further testing. If not try another GP.

I am not sure about others on the site, but my rash came on suddenly. Normally I am as white as a ghost so it was definitely out of the norm for me.

Lightheadedness can have many causes. How is your blood pressure? Did the doctor check your Thyroid? In your other post you mentioned ringing in your ears, that may also have something to do with it. Further investigation sounds warranted.

Take care,
Lazylegs

 

[LolaLola]

Hello Jo, I wanted to welcome you.
I can be any colour from pale to purple, it can vary a lot. Not everyone has a rash as such it can just be a slight blush, which annoyingly makes people look quite well!
You will have learned by now from other posts that blood tests are not the whole story, they can often be unspectacular but if your symptoms are causing you problems you need help with them. Do you get much joint pain? How is your sleep?
x Lola

 

[JoandLuke]

Thanks for your replies.

I have had bloods done for thyroid, anaemia, diabeties ect as started with tiredness, light headedness, headaches & hot sweets about 10 years ago. Since then I now have IBS, tinnitus, clicky jaw (may be tmj), pmt plus too many other things to mention!! I always thought it must be something to do with my thyroid until about 6 months ago when I started with joint pain & aching. It has gotten so bad I'm even struggling to go swimming which I love. My blood pressure has always been fine apart from when I was pregnant.

I just feel that people think I'm making it all up & being a hypocondriac. I would just to know what is wrong whatever the outcome so I can move on & try to deal with it.

Sorry for the moan. I have started to keep a diary of my ailments so when I go back to the doctor I can take that with me & show him.

 

[LolaLola]

Hello Jo, The sweats are something familiar to us here. When I was first ill my Night sweats were dreadful. You are not a hypochondriac, you need relief!
It took a lot of us a very long time to find the right Docs. and get a diagnosis, hopefully we can help to spare you some of the problems along the way.
x Lola

 

[Douglas]

If I do not like what my mechanic is doing for my car I find a better mechanic. Surely you deserve more respect from your physician. Good luck on finding a better one.
As to the rash, I usually have the complexion of the belly of a dead fish so when anyone says how well I am looking I know the mylar rash is back.:lol:
It took far too long for the medicos to turn me form a medical mystery into a textbook case of SLE. I hope you can light a fire under someone.
Douglas+

 

[KarolH]

Hi Jo,

Welcome to a great place. Keeping a diary is a wonderful idea and like Douglas said, If this doctor is not working for you but against you then fire him and go find another one.

YOU know your body best and if you feel something is wrong then it probably is.

Doctor's are quick to make us feel like hypochondriacs yet once things show up in the blood work they are not too quick to deliver the apology.

I hope you get some answers soon. Take pictures of the facial redness and this way you also have that to show your doctor when you go back.

I also keep a temperature diary to document any fluctuation in body temp.

 

[Monica3]

Recommend rheumatologist!

Dear Jo,

You have been suffering too long! If you have insurance that does not require a referral, try to get yourself to a rheumatologist as well as a dermatologist (as recommended by lazylegs). Perhaps you can get the name of a proper rheum in your area on the searching for doctors thread on this site.

By the way, I keep a diary for two reasons--because I have become increasingly forgetful and need that info for doctor visits, etc, and to try to put pieces together when my symptoms get complicated and I am trying to explore relationships between environmental factors, meds, etc. It's amazing how much you can forget when you have lots of symptoms presenting.

Re: rash--I am blond and fair and always felt that I was rosy when hot, but when my symptoms came on, I was getting comments from others about looking like I just worked out (when I hadn't). My rash is not raised and it covers my nose and upper cheeks. It does not itch or hurt me. One of my dermatologists took a biopsy from the red area and from a control area in front of my ear and found lots of things consistent with Lupus. Can't recall the details now (must look at my records or journal!). No treatment for it, but it does seem less noticeable when my symptoms are not so bad.

Good luck!

 

[JoandLuke]

Thanks for all of your replies. It makes a nice change to be able to speak to people who feel the same way I do & dont make judgements or dont beleive you.

I am going to carry on writing in my diary plus I have wrote a nice long list of ailments & will show it to my doctor next time a go!!