I have yet to be diagnosed over seven years of on-and-off symptoms. From what I have read, all my symptoms (or the majority) correlate with lupus. However, my rheumatologist seems to think differently despite what my mother and family doctor believe. I was told I may never be diagnosed unless I get significantly worse.
My symptoms include: nerve-like pain in soles of feet and palms of hands (so bad I describe it as "walking through fire on broken glass"), arthritic pain in wrists and ankles at all times - but worsened during a flare-up, swelling in joints, poor circulation, mottled skin, weakened/inactive immune system (secondary immuno-compromised), extreme sun sensitivity (sun stroke-like symptoms and slightly discoloured to brown/tan skin that is hard/dry), the butterfly rash on my face, bleeding lesions, iron deficiency, muscle pain/weakness, uncontrollable full-body twitch, stutter, memory issues (forgotten words, lose my place in conversations), extreme fatigue - even outside of a flare-up I will sleep for up to 12+ hours.
Anytime an illness has been around my town, I have caught it. I've also had chicken pox and shingles within a year of each other (I'm 17 now, young for shingles). I had a strain of mono as well. It takes a long time for me to fight off flu and cold symptoms, while most people can still function with a cold, I will be so ill that I can hardly move from bed and it will take me weeks to fully recover. Oh, I also have had hives that covered me from head-to-toe. When I first got sick, it seemed like my immune system flew away. I had the flu and hives. Every time I'd have a flare-up after that, I would get some form of a rash near the joints that ended up in pain.
My symptoms include: nerve-like pain in soles of feet and palms of hands (so bad I describe it as "walking through fire on broken glass"), arthritic pain in wrists and ankles at all times - but worsened during a flare-up, swelling in joints, poor circulation, mottled skin, weakened/inactive immune system (secondary immuno-compromised), extreme sun sensitivity (sun stroke-like symptoms and slightly discoloured to brown/tan skin that is hard/dry), the butterfly rash on my face, bleeding lesions, iron deficiency, muscle pain/weakness, uncontrollable full-body twitch, stutter, memory issues (forgotten words, lose my place in conversations), extreme fatigue - even outside of a flare-up I will sleep for up to 12+ hours.
Anytime an illness has been around my town, I have caught it. I've also had chicken pox and shingles within a year of each other (I'm 17 now, young for shingles). I had a strain of mono as well. It takes a long time for me to fight off flu and cold symptoms, while most people can still function with a cold, I will be so ill that I can hardly move from bed and it will take me weeks to fully recover. Oh, I also have had hives that covered me from head-to-toe. When I first got sick, it seemed like my immune system flew away. I had the flu and hives. Every time I'd have a flare-up after that, I would get some form of a rash near the joints that ended up in pain.
