Waiting for dx

I am currently waiting for a dx after seeing a Rheumy last week. They took 13 tubes of blood from me for tests. Scared me to death. I guess my question here is... can you have Lupus without rashes?

I have alot going on in my body right now. I do get rashes that come and go but nothing serious.

I suffer from;

Fatigue, joint pain, muscle pain and weakness, chest pain, had Raynauds but it has gotten better over the years.

My elbows and the joining muscles hurt so bad I can barely pick up a glass of water.

I had a positive ANA and RNP from a previous test.

Won't know what is going on until next Friday the 25th.

I am currently taking 2 meds. One is Tramadol and the other is an Anti Inflammatory drug.

Just wondering what those of you that have Lupus think about my symptoms and your experiences with this illness.

I realize you are not doctors but who better to talk to than the people that live with this every day.

Thanks for your time!

Rhonda

Sorry you are not getting all the responses that you were hoping for.  I think many of us who have the disease sometimes get tired of always talking about it and don't mean to ignore you.  Anyways, I started out over 2 years ago with just mostly joint pain and swelling.  It got soooo bad I became bedridden for about a week and ahalf until the flare subsided somewhat.  How I was diagnosed was based on a positive ANA, a false-positive syphilis test (that I had for 25 years) and joint pain.  No rashes, no sensitivity to sun, no mouth ulcers, fatigue, hair falling out, or many of the other symptoms that Lupus will have.  My rhuematologist diagnosed me based on the 3 criteria that I had.  I sometimes think it is more RA because it affects my hands mostly, but regardless, I have autoimmune issues, and they treat many of them the same.  Autoimmune diseases are tricky and it takes many people along time to get a diagnosis.  Hang in there, you want to make sure that they are covering all aspects of your symptoms and getting you the right diagnosis so you can get the right treatment.  Keep us posted as to results.

Hugs and Angels,

Lynnette

DX - carpal tunnel and sle

RX - plaquenil, prednisone, etolodac, lisiniprol, hormones, tramadol and lots of vitamins

I hope that you get some answers and some relief Lsaul! I am right there with you at this point!

Thanks for sharing your symptoms Lynette. I appreciate your input on how this disease affects you!!!

Ya know... thinking back years... I had alot of these symptoms after having a ruptured silicone breast implant...

Terrible raynauds, joint pain, hair loss... a whole gamut of issues. After having the silicone removed my symptoms slowing went away for the most part. Last October, after a lot of research and thought, I opted to have saline implants put in. Since the surgery I have been getting sick again. Fatigue, muscle weakness, joint pain and more. 5 weeks ago I started having horrible pain in my right elbow and the muscles around it. It has been terrible. Bending and straightening my arm kills me. Lifting even a glass of water sometimes takes both arms. I wake up in the middle of the night in tears and have to literally use my left arm to straighten out the right... it hurts so bad! I feel like my arm has been crushed by something but have had no injury to it. Last year I woke up and my toe next to the big one was killing me. It felt broken and it throbbed and I couldnt move it. It also turned purple. Went to the Dr and he didnt know what it was. The severe pain only lasted a couple days and mild pain continued for a few weeks but it was tolerable.  Anyway... long story short... (Sortof) lol... I am thinking that I have had this for years and started having mor symptoms with stress in my life and then the surgery I think caused it to flare even more! What do you think?