Ok. I keep going from being totally convinced I have lupus, to not at all so I'd like to ask about a few symptoms that I dont know some answers on and see if anyone can give me some feedback, or whether they've shared the same things, past or present.
Rash: two different types. One is red 'spots' in patches, not normally itchy but can be when healing. Doesn't leave a scar. Can come out mildly on my neck and chest but worse and more frequent on lower ribs, tummy and sometimes lower back. Can travel (ie. part next to it will become inflamed, while the other end is healing. I had one that started on my back and has now stopped at my mid left abdomen.).
The other is normally set off by a bite, or something like that, and looks like a group of spots until it reaches a 50p (approx.) size, then seems to heal in the middle, while a ring around it continues to grow, and spread. Normally very red, sometimes raised. Again, doesn't really itch unless it goes along eg. bra-line. Will heal at origin and spread like other rash (again doesn't leave a scar). Also confined to ribcage/tummy, but once had it on the side of my eye (temple) and went quickly with steroid cream.
So 'non-lupus' as far as I can see with these rashes is that they aren't normally on the face, neck or chest, only sometimes. And I have no idea about them moving! Also, not all bite/sting/whatever marks result in a rash. They can normally be just mildly inflamed and then heal normally.
Red face- Classic shape, sometimes travels down one or both cheeks to my jawline too. Becomes red, hot and swollen (but normally I feel that the swelling and redness is a lot worse than it actually is when looked at in a mirror) when in sun, stressed, done exercise, or sometimes just sitting down doing nothing! (I an understand the first three, it is the last one that puzzles me!) Have had 'redness' on cheeks for at least 8yrs. Now have some awful thread veins. I didn't think the malar rash in lupus lasted that long though, and father has red cheeks (sorry Clare T, just wanting to make sure everything is there! :lol
.
Eyes-sometimes a bit itchy, and extremely prone to styes, but I wouldn't class them as dry. Same with my mouth. I have some sores on the fleshy parts at the front (both top and bottom), sometimes get a sore on the side of my tongue, and have always had really bad teeth (I have dentures now!), but I wouldn't say my mouth is
very dry.
Joints- Ache in esp.knees and ankles, sometimes right arm, wrists (had to have them bandaged when I did my g.c.s.e's as all that writing wore them out!), but never so much that I can't walk, etc. Sometimes shoulders hurt too. Also, get shooting pains sometimes down calf/arm. Lower back 'goes' every now and then (also with shooting pains down at least one leg) but could be a past horseriding injury (they said that ligaments were stretched, etc. but nothing major-this was when I was about 12/13). When my back goes, I am virtually immobilised. Hasn't happened for about a yr though.
Headache - At back of head, been there for 3 wks now. I can exactly pinpoint it! I thought Lupus headache wasn't at the back though, and was more generalised.
I'll leave it at that for now. Any help duly appreciated!
Thanks! :bigsmile:
