I am 43 years old. For the past 18 months I have had all kinds of weird symptoms. I was admitted to ER thinking I was having a heart attack. Since then I have had pleursy/pericarditis/myocarditis/ abnormal troponin values, I've fallen quite frequently, feel like I have 2 left feet, in Spring admitted with Pneumnia, I have a 1" calcification on my kidney, arthritis in my hips, feel stupid have a hard time spelling words sometimes and my short term memory is just that SHORT. My ANA test came back negative.... I was also diagnosed in the last few weeks with Cholesterol level of 220 a year ago it was 208. I also was diagnosed on my last echo as having borderline 3 chamber dialated cardiomyopathy. Help I think I'm crazy! ALSO my sister has Lupus.
Not Yet diagnosed can someone offer advice
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I have kidney problems and arthritus. I have had 3 surgeries on my hips so far, have one complete replacement on my right side. Before i was dx i was getting phneumnia slmost 2 times a year and they didnt know what was wrong. I didnt pay much attention in the begining so i'm not sure what all went into dx's. I've recently learned about APS from other members and that could explain the head issues. I am not much help on that though. I hope you get a dx's soon!
Hello there and welcome 
I think the first thing to do, when suspecting any auto-immune involvement is to seek a referral to a rheumatologist. It is best to check up beforehand (for example here in "find a doctor") to find one that specialises in autoimmune diseases. Not all do.
A negative ANA test does not necessarily rule out lupus but you will need to see a doctor with good clinical experience to get to the bottom of what is happening as auto-immune disorders can be incredibly complex and difficult to diagnose.
I'm sure you are not crazy. Crazy people generally don't know they are!!
You just need to keep pushing to get answers and find a doctor that will take you seriously. Unfortunately many do encourage us to feel crazy at times!
hugs :hug:
Katharine
I think the first thing to do, when suspecting any auto-immune involvement is to seek a referral to a rheumatologist. It is best to check up beforehand (for example here in "find a doctor") to find one that specialises in autoimmune diseases. Not all do.
A negative ANA test does not necessarily rule out lupus but you will need to see a doctor with good clinical experience to get to the bottom of what is happening as auto-immune disorders can be incredibly complex and difficult to diagnose.
I'm sure you are not crazy. Crazy people generally don't know they are!!
You just need to keep pushing to get answers and find a doctor that will take you seriously. Unfortunately many do encourage us to feel crazy at times!
hugs :hug:
Katharine
Hi Ruth,
Ok take a breath you have all the big words wrong with you lol. Your first step is to find a good doctor to stand by you until he finds out everything going on. Second you should relax, no wait I forgot to welcome you see we all have memory problems. Ok was just trying for a smile, really now, I hope you keep talking with people and sharing things you might run across someone that will say ask your doctor to test for this or that. In the mean time we would love to visit with you anytime.
Tammy
Ok take a breath you have all the big words wrong with you lol. Your first step is to find a good doctor to stand by you until he finds out everything going on. Second you should relax, no wait I forgot to welcome you see we all have memory problems. Ok was just trying for a smile, really now, I hope you keep talking with people and sharing things you might run across someone that will say ask your doctor to test for this or that. In the mean time we would love to visit with you anytime.
Tammy
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