Hello everyone. I am new to this board and am hoping to gather insight and advice. I have been chronically "ill" for 3 yrs without any answers. When I first became ill, my Dr suspected SLE, adrenal disease, Fibromyalgia, or MS. My first ANA was "weakly positive" with a titer of 1:80, but ESR was normal. So I was sent to a Rheumy, which took over a month to get an appt. When my appt came, I felt fine. He ran every test imaginable and all came back normal. He said it wasn't Fibro either because I did not have the tender points. I have since seen Infectious disease, Endo, and Neuro... still no answers. Last week I collapsed at home, and my husband took me to the nearest urgent clinic. Where I found a wonderful Dr who I will be keeping as my primary. She also suspects I have SLE, especially due to my new symptoms and signs. My blood pressure is very elevated, as well as pulse, which is not normal for me. My BP is usually 110/70, but has been steadily elevated at 140/100 - 150/110 with a resting pulse of 100-110+. So I am being sent in for a stress echo
My hair is also falling out, and is thin near my forehead (which the Dr noticed and asked about
). I am also very fatigued. My finger-tips are a purple'ish color, which she said is Reynaud's? I am currently achy from head to toe, which comes and goes. This illness certainly has a waxing and waning pattern. My RBC's are slightly elevated, but my platelets are borderline low, and my lymphocytes are low at 20%. Still waiting for the latest ANA, ESR, etc. Does this sound like SLE? I don't have a facial rash, no fever or fevers either. I don't think my joints are affected unless your neck is considered a joint? But my muscles certainly are. I also suffer from migraines. Can you have SLE without these key signs? My Dr said that you don't have to have all 11 signs/symptoms to have SLE, and that it is very difficult to diagnose. She thinks that right now the SLE is attacking/affecting my heart and blood. But most of what I have read online states differently, so I am confused! By the way... I am a 29 y/o female, 120lbs and otherwise healthy. Does anyone have answers or advice? Thanks
