Advice on Lupus like symptoms

For about seven months now there has been something clearly wrong with my body. I am a male in my 20's and have never had a single health issue until this past August when out of nowhere, I began to feel weak in my legs and arms, stiffness, sore muscles, eventually a burning sensation on my skin, particularly in my legs, and on and off throat symptoms. I have had a ton of tests, but the only things that came up were a positive ANA titer with a speckled pattern, a low positive anti-ccp (arthritis, I believe). I also tested positive for myasthenia gravis during a test done on my leg, and then when repeated on my hands it was slightly positive. I then went to a clinic for a confirmation diagnosis for which they used the muscle between my neck and shoulder, but it was negative.

The past week or so, I see to be flaring up significantly. The burning sensation has been very bad, my hands feel clumsy, I'm beginning to get what seems like reynauld's when my hands are in the cold, and I constantly have shaky hands. I also am getting a couple raised red bumps around my elbow that sometimes hurt.

Another weird symptom I've been having over the last 7 months that I read in someone else's post is the reaction to fluorescent lights. When I walk in to walmart, it seems like my vision gets worse, my vertigo gets worse, and my body just feels weird.

I saw a rheumatologist in October who said he would put me on plaquenil if I continued to feel bad for longer. I go back this Thursday and think I will try it. I don't know what else to do at this point. Some doctors have mentioned undifferentiated mixed connective tissue disease, which I think makes some sense. Another doctor is convinced its post viral syndrome or fibro. I don't think either of those really match up though.

I'm just looking for advice or people who can relate to this. I hate not having a concrete diagnosis and would just love to finally get a blood test that is positive for something. I always worry that my doctors are missing something, like a hidden cancer causing these symptoms.

What does the exposure to sunlight cause? Just worsening of symptoms?

Couchtater,

I've read plaquenil can take up to six months. Sounds like you noticed a difference prett quickly. How common is that?

Is it worth asking about prednisone? Would a short trial of it potentially help?

I will inquire about it. I know it's a nast drug, so obviously I don't want to be on it for any amount of significant time. I'm wondering if trying it and feeling a discernible amount better will help to confirm that there is something lupus like going on.

I have my appointment tomorrow, so I will likely start the plaquenil tomorrow. Last week or so has been miserable. My hands feel like hammers. They're just so achy and stiff it's hard to do things with them.

Has he ruled out Lyme Disease?

I had the two different lyme disease tests. I know some people say even that isn't good enough, but I never found a tick bite or had a rash.

I've been tested for just about everything else. I brought my b12 and vitamin d levels up to the recommended range and didn't improve. I've had two MRI's, several EMG/NCS, and many blood tests. Everything seems to point to auto-immune.

Saw the doctor today. He said he believes there is an auto-immune issue but since I don't test positive for any specific antibodies, he can't say which. He prescribed the plaquenil, so I'll start tonight. No prednisone for now.

My C3 and C4 were normal. I don't think I had the others.