[vicky mcculloch]

hello my name is vicky i have been feeling really unwell for a couple of years now, the last few weeks being exceptionally bad, every muscle in my body has been hurting, my head and neck painful and belly constantly bloated havent been to the doctors because it seems like i got to many symptoms going on!!! i am always tired and sometimes when i walk it feels like someone has kicked me in my ankles, my arms feel weak and my hands have started hurting doing something as simple as peeling potatoes. i am normally the most positive bubbly person you could meet but im feeling really run down and tearfull lately someone mentioned lupus to me i have never heard of it was wondering if anyone thinks i have symtoms?????????? sorry to go on but there are a few other thing that puzzle me it's that i get bruises from nowhere that are there for months, and the last thing i promise is that even my teeth and face hurt. hope someone can help because at the moment it feels like my personality is being taken away many thanks in advance vicky

 

[Zoi]

Hi Vicky and :welcome: to the forum!

You can find a lot of information on lupus and related autoimmune diseases on the forum as well as a lot of wonderful, incredibly supportive people.

It does sound like something is not right with you, yes. It also sounds like you need to go to the doctor. Sometimes it might feel like so many things are going wrong than no one will ever be able to figure out what's what so to speak, but for the overwhelming majority of people that's really not the case.

Your GP or internist should be able to do a clinical examination, take your blood pressure, do a U/A check those bruises you mention and also run blood tests to help figure out what is making you so unwell at the moment... According to the blood test results, the clinical examination and your account of what is going on the doctor will then be able to either recommend an appropriate course of treatment or further testing and referral to a specialist if needed.

It might help to make a list of your symptoms to take with you when you go to the doctor so that you don't forget to mention things during your appointment.

Do let us know how you get on,

:flowery:

Zoi

 

[Maia]

Have you been to the doctors in earlier years and found them to be of no help and is that why you are reluctant now to go back with "too many" problems? If so, then you may want to seek out a second opinion. Your symptoms could be due to lupus, or could be due to some other disorder as well. But clearly, you need some help and some further investigation to get to the bottom of it. Anyone living with chronic pain and fatigue for years would find themselves getting teary eyed at times, if not down right depressed, no matter how upbeat they are normally.

Please go to a doctor, armed with a symptom list, and ask him/her what they think should be tested for. Hopefully they will decide to check for the possibility of autoimmune disease (by running an ANA test) or will refer you on to a rheumatologist for further investigations regardless of the outcome of the ANA test.

I hope you get some answers and helpful treatment soon. (((hugs)))

 

[onetay]

hi vicky,
You have a lot going on so my advice to you is to keep take of them all and keep in touch with a good general doctor. Let them know that someone said something about lupus and ask the doctor. I am not a doctor so I would not know if you have lupus but it is worth checking into. If it is not lupus then it is something and you need to know what in order to get treatment. I hope the best for you and hope that you feel better soon. Keep good thoughts as no matter what it is you will still be the same person keep that in mind.
Tammy

 

[vicky mcculloch]

thankyou from vicky

thankyou so very much to the three kind people who took time to reply and offer words of encouragement. It is so true that i have been to the doctors many times over the years and just thought it was something i had to put up with!!!!!!! like i stated the last couple of weeks had got so bad it was scary, my hubby was worried sick and as much as i tried to disguise the pain(thats what i always try to do) my eyes showed it all. I know it sounds weird and i would not wish any illness on anyone but it would just be so good to have a diagnosis. vicky

 

[LolaLola]

Dear Vicky,
Your symptoms do sound familiar. A GOOD rheumatologist may help. Please be aware they are not all experienced in Lupus. If you are in the Uk you could if desperate go to London privately, where you will be taken notice of. Even if you don't want to do this at the moment, it is good to remember the option exists.
x Lola

 

[Joandublin]

Hi Vicky

Its nice to meet you but sorry you are so unwell at the moment. Everyone has given good advice. I remember for about two years prior to being referred to a Rheumatologist I was going to my doctor more and more frequently with all manner of things that seemed unconnected at the time.

It was at one of these visits that my doctor commented that he was seeing me more and more frequently and he wondered if there was a bigger picture going on. Before all this I would be lucky if I saw my doctor once every year or two!

Now that you have taken the plunge and decided that maybe your symptoms might be related, its time to forge ahead to get proper answers. Tammy mentioned above to say to your doctor that someone mentioned Lupus. Just be careful about saying that to your doctor (unless you have a very good relationship already). Doctors sometimes dont like for patients to be the ones to 'diagnose' themselves. It can bruise their egos. You could say that you wondered if there might be something autoimmune going in that is causing all these strange, seemingly unconnected symptoms.

As a start your doctor should be running a full blood count, checking urine, blood pressure and he could also ask for an Anti Nuclear Antibody blood test which, if positive, can definitely help with getting a Rheumtology referral. A high positive ANA can indicate an autoimmune problem and is usually the first clue that the doctors need. Its just a simple blood test. Also get him to test your thyroid levels and B12 levels. Google these if you want to find out the symptoms from deficiencies in both.

In the meantime, like everyone has said, start keeping a diary of your symptoms, check your temperature as well to see if you are running any low grade fevers at times, take pictures if you get any rashes or swollen joints (many people with Lupus dont get these either).

In the meantime if you are in a lot of pain, ask your doctor for some pain relief to help you while you are both trying to figure this out.

Do let us know how you are getting on and if we can be of any further help just ask.

Luv n stuff
Joan:rose:

 

[greenhaggis]

HI Vicky

Yours symptoms do sound familiar to me and I would suggest that you do follow them through with your GP and even suggest whether a referal to a Rhuematologist would be in order.

Have you been put on any pain medications by your doctor or had any bloods done?

One thing to get checked out with your GP is whether your teeth and face pains could be related to sinusitis, especially if you are feeling a bit run down!

Take care and let us know how you get on!

Lesley