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My doctor diagnosed me with inflammation?

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Posted 3/17/2015 6:37 AM (GMT 0)
My doctor diagnosed me with Inflammation. He gave me some kind of shot to help with Inflammation. He says he still thinks it could be Lupus. What on earth is wrong with my doctor? And he doesn't want to see me until 2 months from now. What if I have some other symptoms besides Inflammation that are related to Lupus and I get really sick. What am I supposed to do? Just suffer until my next appointment with him? I don't know what to do because you don't have to be diagnosed with Lupus to be put on like Prednisone right? Why didn't he give me some prednisone so I'm not suffering here for the next 2 months with other Lupus symptoms. I'm not even sure what the shot he had the nurse give me was called anymore. Does anyone here have any idea what shot he might have given me? I dunno. I don't like that this guy is seriously leaning towards the Lupus diagnosis but he isn't diagnosing me with it yet. Why won't he just diagnose me with it and get it over with, if he's that positive that that is what I have. I need some emotional support here. Cuz I'm sick of waiting for a diagnosis.
Posted 3/17/2015 9:45 AM (GMT 0)
Did it even occur to you that the injection may have been a corticosteroid?
Posted 3/17/2015 12:23 PM (GMT 0)
It takes a rheumy to diagnose Lupus is this Dr a rheumy? Also, Lupus is very hard to diagnose and sometimes it takes trying a course of treatment to see how your body responds to help decide if it's Lupus or not. Lots of us get treatment long before a conclusive diagnosis is made.

Also, of course you can call your Dr if your condition changes dramatically. Or you can get a second opinion if you need to. I generally advise checking with www.lupus.org and finding your local chapter. Then check which local Drs are involved with them -- these are usually the Drs in your area most knowledgeable about Lupus and how to diagnose it.

Best wishes,
Posted 3/17/2015 9:57 PM (GMT 0)

Tinkerbee said...
Did it even occur to you that the injection may have been a corticosteroid?

I have no idea what it was. Cuz I don't remember.
Posted 3/17/2015 10:05 PM (GMT 0)
I am guessing he gave you steroids (like prednisone) in the form of a shot. It should help with the inflammation. You might consider getting another opinion if you are dissatisfied with this doctor. But be aware that lupus can take years to diagnose. Hang in there.
Posted 3/17/2015 10:05 PM (GMT 0)

Lynnwood said...
It takes a rheumy to diagnose Lupus is this Dr a rheumy? Also, Lupus is very hard to diagnose and sometimes it takes trying a course of treatment to see how your body responds to help decide if it's Lupus or not. Lots of us get treatment long before a conclusive diagnosis is made.

Also, of course you can call your Dr if your condition changes dramatically. Or you can get a second opinion if you need to. I generally advise checking with www.lupus.org and finding your local chapter. Then check which local Drs are involved with them -- these are usually the Drs in your area most knowledgeable about Lupus and how to diagnose it.

Best wishes,

Yes this Dr. is a Rheumy. That's what I overheard some people in the waiting room saying. This one patient of his said she has been going to him for 15 years because he is supposedly a really good Dr. But to me if the Dr. thinks I have Lupus and will not diagnose me with it. It makes me think he doesn't really care that I am suffering and the longer he puts off diagnosing me he will be allowing me to keep suffering. I don't know about the trying me on meds to see how I respond to them thing. Because personally I have studied Lupus up and down and I have never heard that they do that. So if they do that. Please enlighten me and tell me more about this. And why I should trust that this Dr. is going to give me the Lupus diagnosis I desperately need eventually.
Posted 3/17/2015 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
Kristina,
What do you mean you overheard he was a rheumy in the waiting room? You have been posting about seeing this guy. Is this not your second appointment?
Why would you not ask what the injection was after all your studying of lupus?
If everything you are saying is true, most likely you were given a corticosteroid injection to see if it aleviates your reported symptoms.
Posted 3/17/2015 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
I called my Rheumatologists office and asked what injection he gave me. They said he gave me Kenalog which is supposedly a form of steroid. I have a really bad headache and I feel like I am getting sick.
Posted 3/17/2015 10:50 PM (GMT 0)
Maybe Kristina you have a bad head ache because the shot he gave you does not mix well with your current meds.
Posted 3/18/2015 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
Side effect of it is headaches.
Posted 3/18/2015 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
Lupus is very difficult to diagnose and doctors are not going to put you on suppression meds until a diagnosis can be made....clinical symptoms, labs, and other tests if warranted by your symptoms. As someone else said, if your symptoms worsen or new ones appear you can call and get another appointment. Most patients with lupus probably experience diagnosis hell for many months or years. I had blood symptoms for 15 years before I had clinical symptoms. My doctors "guessed" I might have lupus but until clinical symptoms appeared and were confirmed by labs they did not treat it nor should they have done so. Not all cases progress and it would be negligent for a doctor to treat because he/she thinks you might develop an autoimmune disease.

Kenalog is a corticosteroid like prednisone but is used primarily for arthritic/joint conditions and skin problems. It is possible that lupus or some other autoimmune disease is causing your problems but treatment of an autoimmune disease is a long term process and often is indefinite. Your doctor might be trying this treatment to see if you improve or not and then if you get worse again. That would be an indication that you have a chronic disease or condition.

Bill
Posted 3/18/2015 11:11 PM (GMT 0)

Bsime said...
Lupus is very difficult to diagnose and doctors are not going to put you on suppression meds until a diagnosis can be made....clinical symptoms, labs, and other tests if warranted by your symptoms. As someone else said, if your symptoms worsen or new ones appear you can call and get another appointment. Most patients with lupus probably experience diagnosis hell for many months or years. I had blood symptoms for 15 years before I had clinical symptoms. My doctors "guessed" I might have lupus but until clinical symptoms appeared and were confirmed by labs they did not treat it nor should they have done so. Not all cases progress and it would be negligent for a doctor to treat because he/she thinks you might develop an autoimmune disease.

Kenalog is a corticosteroid like prednisone but is used primarily for arthritic/joint conditions and skin problems. It is possible that lupus or some other autoimmune disease is causing your problems but treatment of an autoimmune disease is a long term process and often is indefinite. Your doctor might be trying this treatment to see if you improve or not and then if you get worse again. That would be an indication that you have a chronic disease or condition.

Bill

Wait so if I get worse on the Kenalog he gave me it's an indication that I have Lupus possibly?
Posted 3/19/2015 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
The only thing it would mean is that the kenalog isn't working. Normally, the first treatment for lupus, if the doctor believes the patient has lupus, is plaquenil. If the symptoms are severe then it might be oral prednisone at a high dose and tapered over a period of weeks to a lower one.

I know that it is stressful when you initially think you have lupus or get a diagnosis but treatment usually starts out on the conservative side before hitting the patient with any immunosuppressant which is why plaquenil is often used. It also works well for mild cases. Although I can't determine from your posts, it seems as if your doctor is treating some of your obvious symptoms but has not come to a conclusion about lupus. Even if he did, treatment is not always the same and many go through treatment hell over a period of months or years. It is not easy to diagnose or treat lupus.

Your questions are all questions you should be asking your doctor or even get a second opinion. None of us are doctors but many of us have been lupus patients for many years and have a lot of knowledge.

Hope you can be diagnosed soon and get relief.

Bill
Posted 3/19/2015 1:26 PM (GMT 0)
So you're seeing this doctor, but you don't know what his specialty is? You're not able to remember what medication he gave you? Maybe it would be a good idea to carry a notepad with you to write things down. Sometimes when we're really worried about what's wrong with us it can be hard to hear and remember what people say to us, and writing things down can help.

Another possibility is to have someone you trust accompany you to appointments to be an extra memory. My husband and I do this for one another when needed. A parent, sibling or close friend could help with this, just be sure it's someone you trust.
Posted 3/21/2015 12:22 PM (GMT 0)
I just wanted to add my 2 cents, if he is a good rheumy then he is probably worth the wait. And his patient schedule may be full. I had to wait 4 months to get in with my rheumy and 3 months for the new eye dr. I had a rheumy follow up after 1 month, the next was 2 months, and now its every 6 months. Every patient is different and it will take a good rheumy some time to fully understand what your body is doing and how it is handling treatment.

My rheumy has encouraged me to communicate to his office if my symptoms change or if I'm having any problems with my meds. Your rheumy probably wants you to do the same. The notepad idea is great. It probably wouldn't hurt to write down and keep track of the new meds and your symptoms after taking them. This will help you and your dr understand what you're experiencing.
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