Just need some opinions please

Not sure if this is the right forum, but I'll post here anyhow. Just wondering what people think of the following symptoms and if I should be concerned.

A little over a year ago I started getting a rash on my right arm (looks mostly like eczema), however it seems to flare when I am too warm or when I'm in the sun. It's not particularly itchy and will almost always show up if I have a hot shower, but will also show up at random if I am stressed. So my family doctor sent me to a skin dr to have a look at it (I was just hoping to get some cream to calm it down) and my skin dr was convinced it wasn't eczema and that I should get some blood tests.

Blood test showed positive ANA so he wanted to do more tests. follow up tests seemed to be negative (from what I was told) except the high ANA (>1:640)

nothing came of that, and no cream for the rash. Fast forward about 7 months and I was at my family dr for something unrelated and I mentioned those tests the skin dr did and apparently they never got a copy. So my family dr got in touch with my skin dr and had the results forwarded. They called me back and said I had to repeat them because they were old. I did a repeat and again ANA >6:40 so my dr referred my to a rheumatologist (rash still ongoing).

3 months later I finally get an appt with the rheumatologist. He wants to do a more in depth testing. Results again high ANA (>1:640) speckled pattern and my CRP is 69 (which I guess means inflammation as it should be less than 8). Everything else appears normal no anti sm or any of those. My C3 and C4 tests also ran on the high normal side of things.

Other symptoms I experienced during this time frame are fatigue, heat rash almost anytime I work out, sun sensitivity (though I'm very pale so I don't really count that), mouth sores very frequently, and I get numbness/tingling in my arms from time to time.

My family dr was concerned with the amount of inflammation I seem to have but couldn't say much other than I should return to the rhuematologist (which will be in another 3 months lol).

I'm not overly concerned since I manage day to day life, but I'm just wondering if this could be lupus related, or some other sort of problem?

sorry that was long winded. Any help would be great :) cheers

thanks for the response. No, neither of them suggested taking any meds and neither of them even gave anything for the ongoing rash. My family doctor was pretty insistent that I follow up with the rheumy - I have an appointment in March. Unfortunately I'm in Canada so I need a referral to go to the rheumy and there isn't many to choose from and they all have extremely long wait times. So I guess I'll wait and see.

I have very similar skin rashes/reactions. I think you should consider 2 things: polymorphous light eruption or PMLE and an overreaction to stress hormones. Both could be related to autoimmune issues. I have a distinct pmle like reaction to sunlight. And a 'splotchy' skin reaction to stress. I also have high estrogen which, if I understand correctly, can exacerbate this.

I'm trying to level out the estrogen with progesterone to balance it and watching my diet. And the clothing as couchtater suggested, combined with sunscreen. After a couple weeks of sun protection I feel as if there is some improvement, people at work have commented that my skin appears healthier. Hth