Hi there. Im a 20 yr old mother of a 15 month old lil boy. I have been experiencing many symptoms over the years and have been put off by some of my family as well as drs.
Around 7-8 yrs old I complained of my legs hurting. It was a deep ache and it would wake me up at night. I remember my mother saying it was just growing pains so thats what I went with. A few months ago I looked up growing pains and read a book about them. Apparently growing pains ONLY occur at night and my pains were all the time. I realized it was the same pain I experience now as well. I also grew up with mouth ulcers and frequent sore throats from them. They were obviously painful but id get them in my mouth as well. At the age of 15 I had my first seizure..a grand mal. Out of nowhere. Due to lack of sleep I assumed as I only slept a few hrs that night. The only thing found wrong in my hospital stay was that my brain waves had a spike in them. I was given carbatrol for 2 yrs. The first seizure occurred in Oct of 2003 and the 2nd one following that Feb due to me not taking my pills out of some teenage rebellion act along with a 2 yr depression as well as lack of sleep again. I was also slightly iron deficient and anemic but was not treated I guess because the dr didnt feel I needed to be. I also had symptoms like waking up pale, weakness, shakiness, hot flashes & cold chills, joint/leg pain, mouth ulcers, fatigue, cold hands and feet with color changes including white, purple and red when warmed up. I would also get flushed in my face and chest like a sunburn almost when I got nervous or too hot.
I went to my pcp a few months ago for the joint/leg pain again. I just noticed it one night reappear I guess. I had a case of what was thought to be mono recently before that but it was never confirmed by the er drs I went to see. My pcp checked my ana and esr levels and they were negative. I was also checked for lymes disease, anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, and vitamin deficiencies. The lymes came back negative. RA was inconclusive because there wasnt enough blood, it came back I was anemic and iron deficient. I was put on iron pills which have helped the overall fatigue but nothing else. In fact my other symptoms seem to have gotten more frequent. Ive been on the iron pills for over 2 months and am due to see a rheumy nov 12th. I experience things(daily this past week or so)such as weakness, shakiness, sunburn like rash, hot flashes/cold chills, numbness/tingliness in my hands and arms, joint pain in anywhere from ankles, knees, hips, wrists, elbows etc, leg pain, headache(more of a pressure than a pain), nausea, warm/burning feeling in knees up into hips and sometimes wrists. mouth ulcers(mostly painful in previous experiences but realized recently i have at least 4 that are painless), fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain(with deep breathing and not), the cold hands/feet with color change as before....there are probably more I cant think of off the top of my head but I am wondering if this sounds like lupus or similar to anyone else with lupus because I know everyones lupus is different. This is my experience and comments, suggestions etc are welcome. thanks so much! *hugs* and God Bless -Brit