New here! Long story and some ??

Hello everyone..I am new to this board but very grateful I found it!! I have a couple of questions for anyone that can help. Let me give you a little info about myself..
I have had joint/muscle pain since I was 10 years old and have been tested 3 times for RA. They have always been neg..Thank goodness! but I have always had the pain and stiffness and the swelling. 2 years ago I herniated a disc in my back and it has never healed, has been hurting (not unbearable but uncomfortable) since then. I thought that my back was making my pain and stiffness feel worse and maybe I was just feeling icky from being in some level of pain for awhile. But in December, I finally got into a doctor because I was starting to feel extremely fatigued and hurting more all over. My hair started to thin alot and I just didn't feel good EVER. I was researching my symptoms online...i know But I was convinced it was my thyroid. Well, got in got labs and about a week later I got a call that "Everythings fine, except a kidney infection" I was not relieved at all...I for sure don't want anything to be wrong with me but I also want a reason to why i feel like I do! I cried like they told me I was dying!! Then about a week later on a friday night at around 7 she called me before she was going on vacation to tell me some of the other labs came back and we needed further testing. So yesterday was my appointment and I wasn't told the specifics of my results (I should have asked) but I know my ANA was positive and my c reactive protein was elevated. After my embarrassing physical exam ( I am 29 and move somedays like I am 99) he started me on prednisone 60 mg then decrease slowly for 2 weeks and some b12 shots (because he said I looked very fatigued and drained) and some melaxicam. and I have to come back in a month, then will draw more labs and make appt with rhuemy if needed at that time. Does this sound familiar to anyone else? Is this a pretty standard way of diagnosing lupus? He said he didn't want to say for sure yet until he sees how I feel when I come off the steroids. ?? And also one more question.. I have never had an ulcer in my mouth before, does it start out with a hard knot where your cheek meets your gum? I have a hard knot but it doesn't look like a canker sore at all and it hurts pretty bad and my face is swollen from it a little. Sorry so long, I just wanted to get everything out. Thanks for any help you can offer

Welcome to Healing Well!

Your doctor sounds like he is addressing overall inflammation and tiredness with Prednisone- some GP's think they can handle Lupus but this fellow suggesting a Rheumy is a good sign. The rheumy's are more experienced and better trained for Lupus than a general dr.

There are other medications (ie Plaquenil) that do more to address Lupus itself rather than the inflammation, there are also some treatments like Cellcept, Imuran, MTX and others that can be used in more symptomatic situations.

There are lots of different mouth sores, warm salt water is always a safe treatment, but if it persists after a week check in with your dr.

Hope you feel better soon,

I doubt it will ever be shown for sure if the seizures were/are connected or not, but to be on the safe side I would always include them on your medical history so your current doctors know they occurred.

Thank you so much Angelina!! I am down to 20 mg a for the next few days on my pred and can already feel the pain in fingers and toes again. But I keep thinking maybe I'm just nuts. I can't wrap my head around all the things I have been feeling the last few years have been connected and there's an actual treatment. It's weird. hopefully I'll get some news next month when I go back. I'm just thankful to know that other people are dealing with the same things ( even though I don't wish this on anybody!!)
The mouth sore is not hurting anymore and never "came up" it's went down alot but it's more on my gum and just swollen now. The dr looked at it when I was there and said it may be lymph nodes along there because I had a very red, hurting ear (I'm easy to get ear infections) or it may be a canker sore. If it doesn't heal up pretty soon, I'll get to the dentist for sure though.
I'll keep you updated on my visits, Thanks Angelina!