New, Being tested for Lupus...dr. wants me to come in about my blood test results

Hi, I'm new to this site and potentially looking for info, advice, etc. anythings appreciated!

I'm a 23 year old female, I'm a nurse so when there is something wrong with me I research & assess things, alot.

I've had problems with pain in my right wrist for years. For no reason every 1-2months I'll feel a surge of pain go through it and it becames immensely painful for 1-3 days, then goes away. When I was 19, I started having problems with headaches, fatigue, nausea & urinary frequency. Urine tests revealed blood & protein, but no infection. Tests/scopes revealed nothing, and it was never brought up again but the problems continued to come & go. Later that year I fell on my kneecap & it has never been the same since, it's difficult to bend, & exercise it seems to lock up and hurt more. When I was 20 I developed problems with my GI system. Excruciating stomach cramps, alternating constipation & diarrhea, the nausea continued. Again, testing/scopes found no cause, and that issue was also dropped. I just turned 23 and have been sick for 6 weeks. I developed red skin lesions on my arms, legs & neck, generally body itching, fever for no reason, a persistent dry cough, and 1 of my tonsils enlarged & has still not come down. On 2 occasions I coughed/vomited up blood. After a few days I started becoming short of breath, and had spells of difficulty breathing. Infection has been ruled out. A pulmonary function test revealed some type of obstructive defect, and that my diffusion capacity was down--they said very unnormal for an athletic girl in her 20s, especially for no known reason yet. I don't smoke either. A CT revealed diffuse thickening in my esophagus, possibly caused by inflammation.

After ruling out infection, a pulmonary embolism, celiac disease, other things, my doctor mentioned connective tissue diseases. Upon family research I have learned my maternal aunt has Lupus, and a paternal aunt has Scleroderma with Raynaud's.

On Monday, I had the blood tests done to look at lupus & other diseases like that. My doctor's office called today and said that some of the results were in & the doctor wants to see me about it. I'm really nervous, anxious, everything really right now. In a way it sounds horrible but I almost want her to say I have it just so this battle of constant testing is over with & I can finally have a diagnosis after all these years and get the right treatment to help control it.

What I'm basically asking is, how were you feeling right before diagnosis? Were you feeling like you would never find out what is wrong with you? Did you ever feel like maybe you were just crazy & it was all in your head? I feel like that alot of days now because for so many years they couldn't find anything. I'm just overwhelmed that if it is Lupus or something, how I'm going to adapt, all these medications, things to alter in your life stuff like that. Just need a little support, it would be appreciated. I'm also scared that if it's not this...then what is it & will it ever be found.

I was very frazzled. Everyone was telling me I was a hypochondrac and was lazy. They'd tell me to lose weight and I'd feel better. I had doubts that my pains were real because I'd feel good then suddenly feel bad. But deep down I knew something was wrong. I just needed answers.

To couchtater, I was diagnosed with lupus, high antibody/ high titer, thought I had lupus for a year before UCLA Rheumatology said that it wasn't full blown lupus, but fibromyalgia that I have. I've found that many women diagnosed with fibromyalgia have suffered from endometriosis, Epstein Barr, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel and some kind of lupus connection. In fact, when the world heard that Lady Gaga suffers from lupus, I asked my rheumatologist who said that "no, she actually has fibromyalgia." You might want to inquire about this as a possible diagnosis for yourself. Best of the best to you.

He said it was Secondary Raynaud's and that I had Moderate Lupus. The plaquenil helped a lot with keeping them down.
I've been in a flare for the last few days thanks to overdoing things lately so I'm feeling poorly.
Overworked + Overstressed = flare

Hi hun, I have been getting sick since I started college. One day I woke up with a rash on my face (across the nose on cheeks), I also could not move my arm for no reason. I did not injure it and it was much more than a "oh I must have slept on it funny" moment, I had to go to the ER and have it put in a sling. I actually made up a story that I was moving boxedsthe day before because I didnt want them to think I was nuts. I also deal with having shooting burning pains/sensations in my legs, arms, adomonin plus joint pain in knees. I also deal with extreme fatigue and chest pain. My lymph glands are always swollen also. I also took a urine test and there was high levels of protien and my last blood test showed I had a Vit D level of 7! Its suppose to be 30 or higher.

I had blood test done when I first got sick and I tested positive for multiple autinmune diseases and lymes I also had a positive ANA. Then I tested again and I was neg for lymes, then I tested again and I was pos for lymes and neg ANA (this is all over the course of 4-5 years) I became fed up and stoped going to the Dr's. Well now I am back he says he is pretty certain I have systemic lupus and he ordered tons of blood test. I had to have 7 tubes out of me and I am underwieght so I became very sick. I also got a script for plaquenil which I found out can cause weight loss so I am nervous as I cant loose weight (I am 5'2 and 93 pounds).

I never felt like it was all in my head as I am a very positive, happy person who enjoys life. At the time I got sick I was in college taking courses I loved with many friends. Now I work at a law firm but I love my job and the people I work with. My Dr knows I am not depressed and lead a happy life(excluding my health issues) so he says he knows nothing is releated to depression or anxiety.

Everytime I take blood test I get called in as they always find something wrong. I am expecting to be called in this time also. Just relax and think about how you may finally have answers for all your issues even though it is a scary process.