Hi hun, well I doubt you wil get much of an answer tomorrow he will need lots of blood work. The good thing is most of the test come back pretty quickly. Sadly it can take weeks to months to years before they come up with an answer t work the problem is. What normally happens is they treat the symptoms even without knowing what the problem is. Don't be surprised if you have to see 3 or 4 different rheumys before you find one that will work with you. It's pretty common.
as for my symptoms I have two different diseases. (maybe) I was dx'd with COPD which is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. caused from smoking or pnemonia or bronchidus.My lungs are shot. My doctor thinks it's caused by what is caused Lupus lung. it's where lupus attacked your lungs. She's wants my rheumy to deal with it but he says I have primary billiary chirrosis which is caused by auto immune attacking my liver. My liver is enlarged. It's my understanding a biopsy is not pleasant and so they are fighting about what they want to do with me. My back hurts all the time because my lungs are enlarged. they push my ribs toward the sides and causes a lot of pain kind of crushing the bones in my ribs in my back. I have what is called lupus fog where you can be in the middle of a sentence and completely forget what you were talking about. It can also effect your brain. Other symptoms come and go. I've had the same swelling in my legs and feet. It seems like most people here start off with a horrible feeling of the flu that won't go away. I cried in my sleep. From my knees down were bright red. below the knee was swollen half the size of my thigh. both legs. You couldn't see my ankles anymore because they were so swollon. My feet bled because they had stretch marks from being so hugh. I could barely walk for about two weeks. I have what look like spider veins on my chest and back. I have little red dots on my fingers. of course they did all the blood work and knew there was somthing but blood work alone doesn't tell ya much. there are like 11 criteria and you have to have at least 4 to say you have lupus. Alot of these things come and go. I actually have good days. I'm just going back over the past couple of years of things that have come up sence you asked me about symptoms. The best I can tell you is to be patient because it takes a long long time to figure out. Oh yeah yes there is pain involved. In fact one of the ladies in the group made me a bean pillow that has helped me to sleep at night which has helped me alot.
good luck and keep us updated
hugs
carol