lupus diagnosis

Lupus has many faces. It's tricky to diagnose.
Have you had an ANA screening? It's a blood test that helps in determing if you have an autoimmune disease.

Are you seeing a rheumatologist? He can run the needed testing.
Meanwhile, go to lupus.org for information on signs of lupus. You must meet at least 4 of the 11 signs of lupus.

As for lupus it attacks everybody differently. For me it's skin, joints, muscles, and fatigue. I have asthma from inflamation in my lungs.

couchtater, i have had bloods done last Thursday but not sure exactly what for. Do not yet have a rheumatologist, i live in an area where they do not visit often. Will see GP & also speak to rheum nurse for advice this week hopefully. Thanks for your advice

Hey,
I can sympathize with your situation. I have many symptoms as well. Out of the 15 symptoms listed on the lupus.org website, I have 9. I haven't been tested yet, but am waiting for my appointment with my Rheumatologist. Of course, there is a possibility it is just the combination of the many diagnosis that I already have. Somehow I do believe they are interconnected though.
Good luck and keep us posted.

If I indeed have Lupus, the effects I have on my skin are a rash that is on both cheeks, covers the nose and there is a touch between my eyebrows. Different things can cause this to flare up into small blisters that are irritating and look like little pimples. This is called the butterfly rash usually associated with lupus. My neck is covered with a rash that appears like dimes laying beside and covering up parts of each other. This would be considered the discoid rash that is associated with lupus.

Other skin that is affected is the back of my arms. They are covered with red bumps. The skin on both arms, legs and face is dry and scaly and when I dry off after a shower there is usually a lot of dead skin that rolls off with towel rubbing.

I bruise extremely easy and it isn't just color. It feels like it goes to the bone. I get knots under my skin on my back, shoulders, arms and legs that are very painful and can easily be felt by someone else.

I always ache like I have the flu and there are days I cannot even get out of bed. My muscles hurt, I have a lot of joint pain and my hands, feet and ankles swell frequently. There have been weeks at a time that I haven't even left the house and now doing so causes anxiety, because of over stimulation in traffic and in crowds.

I am depressed because I am tired and I am tired because I am depressed. I am tired because I don't move and I don't move because it hurts. There really seems to be no middle ground for me just yet.

His Stripes,
So I've been getting the little red bumps on my buttocks, thighs and back of my legs. I thought it was the lupus but wasnt sure. Recently my legs have been going numb and tingly, my skin also has "knots" and is pretty painful when I rub my fingers over them. I have the whole bruising thing too and I hate it because I either look like I'm clumsy or my husband just beat the heck out of me..lol

I'm so glad that there are people out there that understand what I'm going thru..it helps to vent.