I have not been diagnosed with lupus but show all signs except for the rash on face. Any help would be great. I live in Canada and have not rec'vd my health card yet. Moved here 3 months ago with husband. So I cant go to doctor right now. I have been having problems with this since I was 4 yrs old. They thought I have had everything from RA to MS. I have scaly hands and feet, pain in knee joints that is spreading to arms and hands, hair loss, fatigue, swelling hands in the morning when I get up sometimes, bloating feeling, can someone help. I am leaving out some symptoms, just cant think right now.
I have a ?
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Hello and welcome 
I'm sorry to hear you have not been feeling well for so long.
It sounds as if getting that doctor situation sorted seems a priority right now.
Once you are able to go to the doctor it might be an idea to get your ANA retested (I presume it already was during previous investigations) and see whether that comes back positive or not. For most SLE sufferers it will (though not all). There are then further tests to be done to see whether it is SLE or not as well as the clinical symptoms which are esential in diagnosis.
The problem with lupus is that it is a very complex disease and also a great imitator, so not at all easy to diagnose or to get diagnosis. It is important not to go in to a doctor "sure" that you have SLE or indeed to convince yourself of that. The complexity means that it could be so many things. Docs don't take well to patients coming in and saying they think they have so and so.
I think that asking the GP if he/she thinks that anything autoimmune "might" be going on and asking for a referral to a rheumy would be a good starting point (or maybe even a dermy if your skin problems are rashes - a skin biopsy might be a helpful diagnostic option in your case - I'm not sure from your description, you'd obviously need to run that by the doc).
It is best to try and see a doctor who has experience in autoimmune diseases. Not all rheumies do. There is a find a doctor section here on the boards where you can ask for recommendations from our members in Canada.
It might also be worth taking time to look up the diagnostic criteria here in the "Not yet diagnosed" section to see whether anything fits. Sometimes we have so many weird symptoms that seemingly have no link that it's not easy to tell what's what.
Keep us posted on how you do and I hope you get that doctor situation sorted fast.
Katharine
I'm sorry to hear you have not been feeling well for so long.
It sounds as if getting that doctor situation sorted seems a priority right now.
Once you are able to go to the doctor it might be an idea to get your ANA retested (I presume it already was during previous investigations) and see whether that comes back positive or not. For most SLE sufferers it will (though not all). There are then further tests to be done to see whether it is SLE or not as well as the clinical symptoms which are esential in diagnosis.
The problem with lupus is that it is a very complex disease and also a great imitator, so not at all easy to diagnose or to get diagnosis. It is important not to go in to a doctor "sure" that you have SLE or indeed to convince yourself of that. The complexity means that it could be so many things. Docs don't take well to patients coming in and saying they think they have so and so.
I think that asking the GP if he/she thinks that anything autoimmune "might" be going on and asking for a referral to a rheumy would be a good starting point (or maybe even a dermy if your skin problems are rashes - a skin biopsy might be a helpful diagnostic option in your case - I'm not sure from your description, you'd obviously need to run that by the doc).
It is best to try and see a doctor who has experience in autoimmune diseases. Not all rheumies do. There is a find a doctor section here on the boards where you can ask for recommendations from our members in Canada.
It might also be worth taking time to look up the diagnostic criteria here in the "Not yet diagnosed" section to see whether anything fits. Sometimes we have so many weird symptoms that seemingly have no link that it's not easy to tell what's what.
Keep us posted on how you do and I hope you get that doctor situation sorted fast.
Katharine
Welcome to the forum Justme
It sounds as if you might have lupus or a similar connective tissue disease and I hope you can get some medical care very soon. Katharine has given very good advice.
It's hard to know what to suggest meanwhile, except to get all the rest you can and try some over the counter pain reliever, a non steroidal anti inflammatory. You could take an omega 3 supplement, fish oils is the most usual although flax oil is another possibility. This is reckoned to help reduce inflammation. You could also learn some relaxation and de-stressing techniques that be useful in all aspects of life but come in handy when living with chronic disease and pain.
All the best
Clare
It sounds as if you might have lupus or a similar connective tissue disease and I hope you can get some medical care very soon. Katharine has given very good advice.
It's hard to know what to suggest meanwhile, except to get all the rest you can and try some over the counter pain reliever, a non steroidal anti inflammatory. You could take an omega 3 supplement, fish oils is the most usual although flax oil is another possibility. This is reckoned to help reduce inflammation. You could also learn some relaxation and de-stressing techniques that be useful in all aspects of life but come in handy when living with chronic disease and pain.
All the best
Clare
Hello Justme 80,
Do you have any indication whether OHIP will cover you or not? Generally everyone gets coverage. It's been a long time since I've looked into it, but I think you have to live in Canada for 3 months before receiving approval. If you know you will be covered, you have 3 months to sumbit receipts for payment. At least this is what it used to be. I know my daughter's card "accidently" expired, so they told me that the doctor has 3 months to submit a claim. So if you know you will be approved, there shouldn't be a problem. If for some reason you are not, then the doctor would just bill you after the 3 month period. I don't know how much a doctors visit is anymore. For my daughter it was $38, but that was almost 10 years ago. Have you talked to your local OHIP office. I guess I should specify that I live in Ontario (OHIP - Ontario Health Insurance Plan). It should be similar in each province, but they all have their own policies.
Do you have private insurance through an employer? Or medical expenses out of pocket can be claimed if they go over a certain percentage of your income. I think you get a credit for 17% of the costs. Again, the percentage may be wrong, but that's what I do. I have 80% coverage from our work plan, but my expenses are so high I always have this deduction on my taxes.
There should be someone who can help you out with this. What province are you in? Maybe I can help you out a bit more once I find this out.
Nutty
Do you have any indication whether OHIP will cover you or not? Generally everyone gets coverage. It's been a long time since I've looked into it, but I think you have to live in Canada for 3 months before receiving approval. If you know you will be covered, you have 3 months to sumbit receipts for payment. At least this is what it used to be. I know my daughter's card "accidently" expired, so they told me that the doctor has 3 months to submit a claim. So if you know you will be approved, there shouldn't be a problem. If for some reason you are not, then the doctor would just bill you after the 3 month period. I don't know how much a doctors visit is anymore. For my daughter it was $38, but that was almost 10 years ago. Have you talked to your local OHIP office. I guess I should specify that I live in Ontario (OHIP - Ontario Health Insurance Plan). It should be similar in each province, but they all have their own policies.
Do you have private insurance through an employer? Or medical expenses out of pocket can be claimed if they go over a certain percentage of your income. I think you get a credit for 17% of the costs. Again, the percentage may be wrong, but that's what I do. I have 80% coverage from our work plan, but my expenses are so high I always have this deduction on my taxes.
There should be someone who can help you out with this. What province are you in? Maybe I can help you out a bit more once I find this out.
Nutty
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