Plaquenil

I've been suffering with a long list of symptoms (joint pain/stiffness/swelling, fatigue, nose and mouth ulcers, rashes (urticaria and petechiae), sun sensitivity, Raynaud's, dry eyes and mouth, nail pitting etc). I've seen a rheumatologist who's said I have symptoms of Lupus and Sjogren's, but my blood tests come back all normal. I've seen three rheumatologists and they say because my blood tests (and lip biopsy for Sjogren's) are negative, there's no autoimmune disease. I respond very well to Prednisone taper packs.

I had a bone scan that showed some uptake in my joints and based on this my rheumatologist said she'd be prepared to trial me on a 6 month trial of Plaquenil.

I've been on Plaquenil almost 5 months now and I'd say my joints and fatigue have improved by at least 80%. I haven't had swelling in the past 3-4 weeks. I'm able to get up and go to university all day and still have energy. I've had one nose ulcer, no mouth ulcers in the past 3 weeks. I haven't noticed any improvement in the other symptoms.

I'm wondering, why am I responding so well to Plaquenil if I don't have an autoimmune disease? Is there any explanation for this?

Thanks.

Thanks. My doctors rely so heavily on the blood tests it just seems like I'm not going to be taken seriously unless they show something. I don't have 4 of the 11 criteria, I think I have 3. I meet the criteria for Secondary Sjogren's, but don't have a primary diagnosis. I wonder what my rheumatologist will say about how I've responded too it. They seem extremely negative and pessimistic, so I'm expecting "it's a placebo". To me, getting relief from my symptoms is most important, but I would like to know why I feel so terrible. It's difficult when people ask why I'm sick, I have nothing to tell them and if I say I have arthritis or a connective tissue disease etc, I feel like I'm lying.

Thanks.