Lupus One Day at a Time


The Lupus Bible

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53 Comments on Lupus Skin Rashes Body

  1. Elise says:

    How accurate is the diagnosis of Lupus from the results of a skin biopsy?
    I developed a rash three weeks ago. It began as one scabbed-over little hole in my thigh. Then it spread all over my stomach, eventually to my arms, and neck. They start as little red hard bumps, then kind of look like a pimple, but you cant pop it, then they become little indents of scabs in my skin for weeks. I have been extermely emotional lately, crying very easily and generally feeling depressed. I have also skipped my a few periods (and Im sure Im not pregnant) The doctor performed a skin biopsy on one of the bumps. He mentioned he was looking for excema, but i don’t know if that has anything to do with the type of skin biopsy or test he ordered. The results came back as lupus, however i don’t have the butterfly rash or joint pain that are symptoms of lupus. My skin rash symptoms are not sun related, since the rash began in areas of my body that never see the sun. I also dont have a family history of lupus. How accurate are the results of a skin biopsy? Could this be lyme disease?

  2. Skay says:

    I have sarcoidosis and now I am being tested for lupus because of fatigue, rashes on face and upper body.?
    I am taking hyrdoxychloriquine for the sarcoid. My hair has begun to fall out. My skin is exxxtremely dry and itchy. Its painful. Is this a symptom of Lupus?
    If the drs are having problems properly diagnosing & treating me, what should I do? These treatments and meds are expensive! I need relief from the discomforts of the disease. Any suggestions are appreciated

  3. Anonymous says:

    Does anyone know any natural remedies for LUPUS and itchy skin.?
    I am 51 years of age and have taken antihistimines for the body itch for years. I was told that there is no care for this ailment. Right now the only symptoms appearing are skin rashes. The butterfly one, face, checks and above eyebrow. And I have this awful rash on my forearms. It is black and circular in appearance, the circles are small and can become raised. I Apply triamcinolone cream at least once a day to the rashes and it has improved. My bowl movements have changed in the last year and break up very easy in the toliet water. I take fiber for this. Any suggestions? Can you advise of herbal remedies or otherwise that work? I do not have health insurance so I am unable to get any test done by allopathic doctors or reg. doctors. The rashes had got so bad that I went to the emergency room and the doctor informed me that it looked very much like Lupus. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you

    • Linda R says:

      Sounds like discoid lupus, and possible systemic involvement but I am not a doctor and there is not really enough information.

      Lupus, if left untreated, can be fatal. I would find a way to see a doctor.

      There is no cure for lupus, herbal or otherwise. The treatment goals are to minimize symptoms and prevent permanent damage.

      Some lupus lesions can turn into cancer if they are not treated.

      In the short term, use hydrocortisone creams, stay out of the sun, adopt a very healthy diet, and use stress management techniques. Sun and stress are MAJOR contributors to lupus flares.

      The thing about ice, and powder, and Jergen’s lotion is a bunch of huey. The problem with lupus is that the immune system attacks the self. No amount of Jergen’s can change that. Hydrocortisone is actually a topical immunosuppressant. You may need to take pills to do that for you.

  4. tammy_lynn2003 says:

    i have lupus and fibromyalgia and im diabetic,what im concerned about is this skin rash that?
    on my legs above my ankles and below my calfs and on my arms above my wrists and below my elbows.i do not use any body soaps with smells and i do not use any clothing soaps or softners with any smells or dies and i dont understand what the prob is,i stay out of the sun and i dont eat bad foods im at my witts on what this is, and as far as my house being unclean thats not a case i do not use harsh cleaing chemicals but i have noticed when i am asleep those places ive mentioned on my body sweat and then itch,so this is off,any way i need some feedback and my house does any have any fleas or bugs im very up on that

  5. Mandy Cakes says:

    This is a lot to ask, I know. But if someone could review my APA paper I would GREATLY appreciate it. ?
    I think my greatest problem is with grammer errors and my in-text citations. Also, all of those citations that repeat themselves look funny to me. They can’t be right? Can they? I’m also confused with secondary citations. I think they’re a no no but I can’t get a clear answer on what they are. Here’s the paper. Please kindly review if you’d like. I’d love yah for it.

    Kisses
    Mandi

    (Title page not included)

    Introduction
    Lupus is an autoimmune disease that permits the affected body to build antibodies to attack its own cells as if they were foreign. There are three main types of lupus. They are discoid, drug induced, and Systemic lupus erythematosus (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009). Doctors must be careful in diagnosing lupus since it can easily be confused with other diseases (Rahman & Isenberg, 2008). Lupus is capable of attacking any part of the body but for the most part it mainly affects the skin, kidneys, joints, heart, gastrointestinal tract, and serous membranes (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009). The cause of Lupus is currently unknown. Lupus truly is a sickness of mystery since the cause and cure have currently been unidentified. However, there are known genetic (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009) and environmental (Rahman & Isenberg, 2008) aspects that have been known to trigger this illness. On an inspiring note, there is presently a study being conducted with mice in search for the cure of lupus.

    Discussion
    Lupus is an autoimmune disease that is known to be a chronic (continuous or reoccurring) inflammatory illness that has the ability to attack any region of the body (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009). The symptoms of the disease are painful or swollen joints and muscle pain, unexplained fever, red rashes, chest pain when breathing deeply, loss of hair, pale or purple fingers or toes from cold or stress (also known as Raynaud’s phenomenon), sensitivity to the sun swelling in legs or around eyes, mouth ulcers, swollen glands and extreme fatigue (WebMD, 2008). Those that suffer from lupus may never have the same symptoms as another person with the disease (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009). However, the most common areas of the body affected are the skin, kidneys, joints, heart, gastrointestinal tract, and serous membranes (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009).. Also in most cases in order for a doctor to diagnose lupus the patient must illustrate at least four (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009) of the listed symptoms.
    The actual cause of the disease is unknown. However, there are genetic and environmental characteristics that could trigger lupus to develop. Many patients that suffer from lupus have a genetic association with the disease (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009). Lupus could be the result of mutated genes of interferon and the genes that play vital roles in regulating the immune response (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009). If a patient has a genetic link to lupus there are also environmental aspects that could trigger lupus. They are infection, ultraviolet light, certain drugs like; procainamide, hydralazine, and quinidine (Rahman & Isenberg, 2008), and extreme stress (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009). Factors that potentially contribute to the progression of lupus are interleukins and interferons (immune molecules). Interleukins and interferons have been shown to control the autoantibody release in response to certain bodily stimuli (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009).
    Lupus commonly affects women, African Americans, and Asians more than any other group (Rahman & Isenberg, 2008). Since 90% of all patients with lupus are female, women between the ages of 15-50 should be tested for lupus if they portray at least one of the symptoms (Rahman & Isenberg, 2008). Also, there is an increased risk of lupus in people who already have the Epstein-Barr virus. (Rahman & Isenberg, 2008)
    The healthy immune system’s mission is to protect the body from infections and foreign objects within the body. When the immune system is working properly it will recognize the foreign bacteria, virus, or objects as non-self. Upon recognition that something does not belong, it will build antibodies against the unwanted agent, attack and destroy it (Marieb, 2009, p. 408 & 410). However, the activities of the immune system are much different when the body is affected with lupus. Instead of the body producing antibodies against foreign bacterial that do not belong, the immune system will produce an autoantibody that attacks the body’s own cells and tissues. The reason for this is because they can not recognize their own cells or tissue as self. When an autoantibody attack occurs, the autoantibodies will attach themselves to various tissues and cells (Rahman & Isenberg, 2008). When this happens the body’s inflammatory response occurs. The same thing happens when we have been hurt and the tissue has truly been damaged.
    There are a few different ways Lupus can affect the body, for example in nearly all individuals that suffer from lup

    • mgunnycappo says:

      It’s a pretty good paper but in the beginning you made an error. There are four types of Lupus. Neo Natal (babies), Drug Induced, Discoid and Systemic. Then after that you should state that your paper is talking about Systemic Lupus because they symptoms you go on to describe are those of Systemic Lupus. Your citings follow the APA guidelines. I couldn’t see the entire paper as it got cut off. Also couldn’t see your works cited page. You don’t show any quotation marks so I’m assuming that you didn’t plagerize any of the information directly from the material.

  6. Mandy Cakes says:

    This is a lot to ask, I know. But if someone could review my APA paper I would GREATLY appreciate it. ?
    I think my greatest problem is with grammer errors and my in-text citations. Also, all of those citations that repeat themselves look funny to me. They can’t be right? Can they? I’m also confused with secondary citations. I think they’re a no no but I can’t get a clear answer on what they are. Here’s the paper. Please kindly review if you’d like. I’d love yah for it.

    Kisses
    Mandi

    (Title page & reference page not included)

    Introduction
    Lupus is an autoimmune disease that permits the affected body to build antibodies to attack its own cells as if they were foreign. There are three main types of lupus. They are discoid, drug induced, and Systemic lupus erythematosus (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009). Doctors must be careful in diagnosing lupus since it can easily be confused with other diseases (Rahman & Isenberg, 2008). Lupus is capable of attacking any part of the body but for the most part it mainly affects the skin, kidneys, joints, heart, gastrointestinal tract, and serous membranes (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009). The cause of Lupus is currently unknown. Lupus truly is a sickness of mystery since the cause and cure have currently been unidentified. However, there are known genetic (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009) and environmental (Rahman & Isenberg, 2008) aspects that have been known to trigger this illness. On an inspiring note, there is presently a study being conducted with mice in search for the cure of lupus.

    Discussion
    Lupus is an autoimmune disease that is known to be a chronic (continuous or reoccurring) inflammatory illness that has the ability to attack any region of the body (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009). The symptoms of the disease are painful or swollen joints and muscle pain, unexplained fever, red rashes, chest pain when breathing deeply, loss of hair, pale or purple fingers or toes from cold or stress (also known as Raynaud’s phenomenon), sensitivity to the sun swelling in legs or around eyes, mouth ulcers, swollen glands and extreme fatigue (WebMD, 2008). Those that suffer from lupus may never have the same symptoms as another person with the disease (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009). However, the most common areas of the body affected are the skin, kidneys, joints, heart, gastrointestinal tract, and serous membranes (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009).. Also in most cases in order for a doctor to diagnose lupus the patient must illustrate at least four (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009) of the listed symptoms.
    The actual cause of the disease is unknown. However, there are genetic and environmental characteristics that could trigger lupus to develop. Many patients that suffer from lupus have a genetic association with the disease (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009). Lupus could be the result of mutated genes of interferon and the genes that play vital roles in regulating the immune response (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009). If a patient has a genetic link to lupus there are also environmental aspects that could trigger lupus. They are infection, ultraviolet light, certain drugs like; procainamide, hydralazine, and quinidine (Rahman & Isenberg, 2008), and extreme stress (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009). Factors that potentially contribute to the progression of lupus are interleukins and interferons (immune molecules). Interleukins and interferons have been shown to control the autoantibody release in response to certain bodily stimuli (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009).
    Lupus commonly affects women, African Americans, and Asians more than any other group (Rahman & Isenberg, 2008). Since 90% of all patients with lupus are female, women between the ages of 15-50 should be tested for lupus if they portray at least one of the symptoms (Rahman & Isenberg, 2008). Also, there is an increased risk of lupus in people who already have the Epstein-Barr virus. (Rahman & Isenberg, 2008)
    The healthy immune system’s mission is to protect the body from infections and foreign objects within the body. When the immune system is working properly it will recognize the foreign bacteria, virus, or objects as non-self. Upon recognition that something does not belong, it will build antibodies against the unwanted agent, attack and destroy it (Marieb, 2009, p. 408 & 410). However, the activities of the immune system are much different when the body is affected with lupus. Instead of the body producing antibodies against foreign bacterial that do not belong, the immune system will produce an autoantibody that attacks the body’s own cells and tissues. The reason for this is because they can not recognize their own cells or tissue as self. When an autoantibody attack occurs, the autoantibodies will attach themselves to various tissues and cells (Rahman & Isenberg, 2008). When this happens the body’s inflammatory response occurs. The same thing happens when we have been hurt and the tissue has truly been damaged.
    There are a few different ways Lupus can affect the body, for example in nearly all individuals tha

    • slawekp2001 says:

      Get rid of all the citations that are repeating themselves,that a big no no.Use each citation only once ok.I think alround its great and you should get a good grade.Hope it helps

  7. Eden* says:

    I agree with Brian. Rumours and hearsay with a desire to hurt and dismantle someone is pernicious. And as you said once in another post, useless to defend yourself when a person’s mindset is immovable.
    I can understand the Lupus rash for obvious reasons, although it was the one thing my daughter was never afflicted with severely, now and then she did have patches of dry skin that turned red and brown and were very painful and as a result she never wore dresses or skirts in the summertime so if Michael wore a glove to try and disguise his condition why does anyone have a problem with that?
    He’s going to be judged no matter what facts come out to the contrary sadly

  8. Shelly H says:

    can someone who has lupus give me some advice?
    for the past 5 months…i’ve had a spreading rash on my body…started on my chest (for about 3 months)…didn’t panic about that….but then it spread to my leg, shoulders and arms. I then booked an apt with a well know dermatologist practice in the area. I saw a young trainee and she told me i had ringworm…gave me 2 weeks worth of medication and asked me to get blood work done.
    this didn’t work so when i went back the 2 weeks later…another doctor met with me and said i’m sorry but you don’t have ringworm…we believe its lupus. she said we need to take a skin sample to do a biopsy and will get back to you within 10 days.
    friday willl be the 10th day…but since i’ve met with them 5 days ago….its gotten even worse…should i call up today ????
    also what is the treatment ???
    what helps to cover up the rash ??? spray tan ????
    i just need to know as much info as possible about lupus…i’ve googled of course but i want to hear from someone who has it.
    i have had hair loss….some fatigue (but maybe thats in my head )…and my wrists do ache in winter time……i’m 28 years old !! female
    i know everyone talks about the butterfly rash…i do not have this. – no rash on my face of yet.
    just the other areas i mentioned…starting to see tiny spots coming on my hands and feet.

  9. Paula says:

    Do you know if this is this LUPUS?
    Skin breakouts all over body epsecially arms and back. Circle shaped red rashes on hips.

  10. skylar says:

    Have you done your H1N1 (Swine Flu) shot research? Read this…..?
    My bf did research on a article….kinda long but important, just do a quick read and you see the important parts!!!

    Excerpts from TORONTO STAR article:
    Pregnant women will get a shot of Aussie H1N1 vaccine
    October 27, 2009

    OTTAWA–Pregnant women will be able to get an alternative version of the H1N1 vaccine by early next week.The Australian imports do not contain adjuvant – a substance added to the vaccine to stretch supply and boost immunity. (YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF, WHY CAN’T ALL OF OUR VACCINES BE OF THIS KIND?)

    The adjuvant used in most of the 50.4 million doses being produced by GlaxoSmithKline Inc. at its plant in Ste. Foy, Que., is a mixture of squalene (derived from fish oil), tocopherol (containing vitamin E) and an emulsifier called polysorbate. (SO WHAT ARE THEY NOT TELLING US? WELL LETS DO OUR OWN LITTLE RESEARCH. LET’S LOOK BELOW

    Sweden’s Karolinska Institute found that on injection, an “otherwise benign molecule like squalene can stimulate a self-destructive immune response,” even though it occurs naturally in the body.

    Other research shows that squalene is the experimental anthrax vaccine ingredient that caused devastating autoimmune diseases and deaths for many Gulf War veterans from the US, UK, and Australia, yet it continues in use today and for new vaccines development in labs.

    Other autoimmune diseases are also linked to humans injected with squalene. “… squalene-based adjuvants can induce autoimmune diseases in animals…observed in mice, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits.
    -Micropaleontologist Dr. Viera Scheibner conducted research into the adverse effects of adjuvants in vaccines and wrote:

    Squalene “contributed to the cascade of reactions called “Gulf War syndrome. (GIs developed) arthritis, fibromyalgia, lymphadenopathy, rashes, photosensitive rashes, malar rashes, chronic fatigue, chronic headaches, abnormal body hair loss, non-healing skin lesions, aphthous ulcers, dizziness, weakness, memory loss, seizures, mood changes, neuropsychiatric problems, anti-thyroid effects, anaemia, elevated ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, ALS, Raynaud’s phenomenon, Sjorgren’s syndrome, chronic diarrhea, night sweats and low-grade fever.”

    The Washington Post also confirmed that the H1N1 flu vaccine l contains the mercury derivative thiomersal, a toxin linked with autism and neurological disorders.

    The swine flu shot ingredients also include formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, and Polysorbate 80, a preservative which causes infertility in mice.

    -polysorbate
    It is toxic and should not be eaten, drunk, put on the skin or injected.

    Polysorbate 80 is a ubiquitously used solubilizing agent that can cause severe nonimmunologic anaphylactoid reactions.”

    Put in plain English, polysorbate 80 can affect your immune system and cause severe anaphylactic shock which can kill.

    THIS IS ONLY THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG OF REAL PROFFESIONAL RESEARCH
    ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS A LITTLE RESEARCH YOURSELF AND YOU’LL GET THE TRUTH
    so do you really want to drink the kool-aid now?

    SO my question is…how many people are planning to get this shot without knowing what is in it? What are your thoughts on the shot?

    Thanks everyone!
    Anything AFTER the LOOK BELOW is outside research not from the article, the article tells you that it is safe, yet research can show otherwise.

    • BJC says:

      You have been mislead by the anti-vaccine propoganda machine. With their half-truths and inflammatory language they have been deceiving the public for too long. I also think you need to reconsider your use of the phrase “real professional research”.

      Were you aware that vaccines that don’t contain adjuvants have to have far more toxin (antigen) in them than vaccines that have adjuvants? We use adjuvants to be able to provide a vaccine with less toxin and still get the same immune response. Why can’t all our vaccines be like that? There is the answer.

      The studies you mention are being taken completely out of context and many of them cannot be applied to the presence of these substances in vaccines. (I checked up on your sources..ps. The Karolinska Institute thesis where the info was derived from does not say what you say it does…it is being horribly misinterpreted by people without a scientific knowledge base) It’s like providing someone with the toxicity information of formaldehyde in mass quantities (it can cause this and that and do this….ooooh it’s so scary) and talk about that in relation to vaccines that MAY contain microscopic traces of formaldehyde in them, and ignoring the fact that an infant has 10x more formaldehyde coursing through his/her veins produced as a metabolic intermediary than could be found in 10 vaccines. Do you see how this information is easy to misconstrue? Formaldehyde that may be present in some vaccines cannot cause cancer. Why is there formaldehyde traces in vaccines…..they prevent bacterial and viral contamination. Before the inclusion of formaldehyde in the production process (again only trace elements of it are left, if any at all, in the final vaccine product)…..people died from bacterial contamination of vaccines. The only people at risk are those who are allergic to formaldehyde and I have not heard reference in the literature to this allergy being common.

      This is one of the main tactics behind the propganda machine. Twisting things and using studies out of context, or using studies that are not scientifically sound and have not been peer-reviewed. And, the general public is not informed enough to be able to be critical of the information and so are easily mislead by the lies and inflammatory language

      Saying that squalene was responsible, or even “contributed to the cascade” with deaths/illness in Gulf War veterans who received Anthrax vaccinations is patently untrue and completely innacurate. There have been no deaths caused by squalene in vaccinations. A micropaleontologist provided that gem of a quote, I see. Are you aware of what a micropaleontologist is? Hint hint: paleontology is the study of the forms of life existing in prehistoric or geologic times, as represented by the fossils of plants, animals, and other organisms. She sounds super-qualified to be doing research on vaccines!

      Saying that squalene in vaccines has induced autoimmune diseases (they are referring to arthritis which is an AI disease) happened when the mineral oil was applied generously to the exterior of these animals’ mucosal membranes in quantities so much larger than what would be contained in a vaccine…..again with the twisting…..

      Oh, and ANY foreign substance can cause severe anaphylaxis if you are allergic to it…..but in the context of what you were writing it makes it seem like it is common and very scary. Squalene has not, to my knowledge, ever been associated with allergies in large amounts of people (or even a smallish number of people)

      And PLEASE, mentioning the “link” between autism and other neurological disorders……which is again, hogwash. No link has ever been established. And how is information on this being twisted by the anti-vaccine propaganda machine?. Check out the difference between methyl mercury and ethyl mercury…one of which is a possible ingredient in some vaccines and the other (VERY DIFFERENT) chemical is what causes environmental neourological disorders when a person is exposed for a lengthy time. Often when the anti-vaccine propaganda machine uses information about mercury…they forget to tell people the information they are providing is for a completely different chemical. Ethyl mercury (thimerosal) has been shown to clear the body very quickly. Methyl mercury (not used in vaccines, but found in some industrial workplaces) is a chemical that our body’s cannot clear quickly and which result in long term exposure. We know, conclusively, that mercury causes brain damage only through long term exposure. Ethyl vs. methyl…..didn’t see you talk about that in your post. The link does not exist.

      And now to address polysorbate 80. Polysorbate 80 is an emulsifier and solubilizer that is used in MANY foods (including ice cream) and is used in MANY medications that are given using an IV. Ever had IV meds before?

      In conclusion, your data is bogus and at the very least, taken completely out of context. The real professional research you have done has been to visit websites created by the anti-vaccine propaganda machine and taken the bait hook, line, and sinker.

      My problem with your posting has to do with the fact that you are passing on the lies and misinformation that will end up causing more deaths and anguish. That is dangerous, unethical, and egregious. Please stop spreading lies.

  11. Lulin the Nephilim says:

    Peculiar symptoms..? What’s wrong with me?
    If you are not in the medical field or studying medicine or have not experienced these symptoms as well, then please don’t give your input. If you know someone that has had these symptoms, that is acceptable, I am willing to hear anyones opinion except from those that have no idea what they are talking about or have something nasty to say.
    I have a long list of symptoms; I am not a hypochondriac; I don’t have insurance so I can’t see a doctor about it right now.
    I have nearly all the symptoms of Lupus and Cushings Disease, but my previous doctor last year dismissed my concerns and diagnosed me with Poly cystic Ovarian Disease, Fibromyalgia, and Hepatitis B. My PCOS diagnoses was just him saying he’s sure I have that because of some symptoms. I had blood work and my ovaries came back just fine, yet I was still diagnosed with PCOS anyway.
    Ok, symptoms: Daily fatigue, awful back and shoulder pain, upper body obesity, a rounded face, increased fat around the neck, and relatively slender arms and legs,bruises easily, and heals poorly., never developed breasts, no period for over a year (I’m 25), thinning hair on scalp, but hirotism (excessive body hair), stomach discomfort, urine smells very strong of ammonia without signs that it’s a UTI. Dark circles under my eyes, excessive thirst, bright red cheeks, diagnosed with osteoperosis I’m 25!!! skin problems including frequent acne around my chin (I never had acne as a teen), Depression & Anxiety, Keratosis Pilaris on my upper arms (the excess production of keratin, creates a goose-bump appearance), boils and bumps on butt, now a rash on my butt! I know I sound disgusting, but please don’t make me feel worse than I already do about myself. Please help me out if you are familiar with these problems… I’m sure I have other problems that I’m not contributing to the list, so if you want to ask if I have other symptoms, please ask and I will answer asap.
    Thank you both for your responses, however – I have already been tested numerous times for thyroid problems and they function very well. As for diabeties, my fasting glycemia level is 79-80, so I’m nowhere near diabeties, I’m closer to hypoglycemia, but not that either. As for meningitus, I was also tested for that a while ago and that was negative. I have Hep B. so that could explain a liver problem, since Hep B eats at your liver when in flare. I was told to keep an eye on a stomach rash or soreness around the liver, which I don’t have. So I’m not concerned about a liver problem right now. Anyone else have any ideas?
    My BMI is high, it’s 27. I am just below obesity, which really sucks. I used to be very thin and active – age 20/21 I was 80lbs lighter and much more active. Over 5 years I have gained 80lbs and pain has overwhelmed me to the point where I am not as active. I play with my son and I am a postal worker – so I get mild/moderate exercise, but at the end of the day, I’m wiped out and in pain. For osteo – I consume a lot of Vit D and normally take supplements. Lupus, I was unaware of the plastics! I am constantly drinking from plastic bottles and cans without washing. I only run my fruits & veggies under a cold tap for maybe 30 seconds before consuming… so I guess that’s bad. Steroids, I can’t recall ever taking any – but it’s possible.

  12. Stace! says:

    Does this sound like Lupus?
    Hello all!! I have been having some strange symptoms, and would really appreciate help from anyone who knows anything about them.

    Here are my symptoms…
    -Whenever my skin has been getting cold (or even chilly), my skin breaks into rashes. Any part of my skin that is cold (arms, legs, feet, etc) will get the rash. It’s a blotchy red rash with slightly raised bumps. It is very uncomfortable. Kind of an itchy/burning feeling. I’ve tried all sorts of anti itching creams, etc., but nothing works for it.
    -I’m always tired. I feel like I could sleep at any point of the day and for the entire day.
    -I’ve been getting intense headaches. It hurts from the sides of my head to the back of my head. They also make me slightly dizzy.
    -I’ve been having pain in some of my joints. Currently, I’m experiencing pain in my shoulder, wrist, elbow, and knee.
    -I’ve been finding huge bruises (softball size) all over my body and I have no idea what they are from (no big injuries).

    Do any of you know anything that would cause all of those symptoms? I would really appreciate the help. I’m trying to figure out what kind of doctor would be best to go to (dermatologist, specialist, allergist, etc.)
    Thanks!

    • Allison says:

      The main symptoms to look for in lupus are:
      - Butterfly rash (butterfly-shaped rash on the face, spreading across the nose and over both cheeks)
      - Arthritis (typically seen in ankles, knees, and wrists, but can be experienced in any joint)
      - Fever (that can’t be explained by something else)
      - Extreme fatigue
      - Swollen lymph nodes (neck is the easiest place to check; if it’s very sore it’s most likely swollen)

      Now I suggest taking these steps:
      - Keep a log of all symptoms, any new ones, when they worsen, etc. Doctors will appreciate it!
      - Find a good rheumatologist and schedule an appointment. Explain your symptoms.
      - If lupus seems likely, you will be sent for an ANA blood test and urine samples testing for protein. Go ahead and look up ANA.

      Remember, lupus is difficult to diagnose, because it is so broad. Different doctors may have different opinions. Remember to get ALL the facts, and in my opinion, it is smart to get MULTIPLE professional opinions. GOOD LUCK (:

  13. j says:

    what could be wrong with me?
    i have been having skin rashes,a rash on my cheeks and nose, an awful looking mottled rash at both ankles,a red rash on the inside of both elbows,my hair is falling out and i have joint and muscle pain all over my body.everything hurts.no fever.extreme fatigue.tingling and numbness in hands,fingers and feet and toes.doc ran tests for rheumatoid arthritis, was 20,said no,lupus ana was 1:160 doc said that is negative also.lyme test negative. neuro said severe carpal tunnel in right hand,though no idea how i got that as i am stay at home mom.mri tests say i have alot of disc damage from two herniated disca and spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease and a focal kyphosis all in my neck(cervical spine) though the only symptom i have there is a stiff and sore neck every once in a while.doc says it is arthritis of the spine.what kind of arthritis affects the entire body and attacks the spine if not rheumatoid? the rashes if not lupus? i am miserable and confused!
    also forgot to mention that i have been seeing black dots in my field of vision for over a year now.
    also a blood test called sed rate that measures for inflammation was very high.also a vitamin d deficiency.

  14. Pseudo Nym says:

    Can the ER diagnose Lupus?
    A little back story- I have several symptoms of lupus. Excessive tiredness, joint pain, painful skin rashes that come and go, mouth ulcers, all that stuff. My physician doesn’t seem to take me seriously when I say I don’t feel well, or that antihistamines and itch creams do not help my rashes. My fingers do not turn blue when cold, but the nail beds do. So far the skin rashes have been mild. It’ll start with a few bumps somewhere and by a few days later I have several small patches of itchy, painful rash that take a week or two to resolve. The worst case I’ve dealt with, until now, was during a trip to the beach. I thought maybe I was sensitive to something new I encountered on my trip and again allergy meds and creams did nothing. It wasn’t until I started reading about Lupus that I found out about photosensitivity and rashes caused by sun exposure. That incident took 3 weeks to fully resolve.

    Starting two weeks ago I started getting tired, almost zombie like. I was very groggy, couldn’t think straight, and my hands HURT. The only comfortable position I could keep my hands in were balled in a loose fist, extending the fingers was painful. That eased up a bit, but body aches soon kicked in, and are worst first thing in the morning. On Saturday I noticed a weird spot on my upper thigh that looked like rug burn under the skin. Nothing raised, no sores, pain or itching involved. By last night I had a couple of bumps surface and that was it before bed. When I awoke this morning my thighs burned. I had an intense rash down the front and inner parts of both thighs. The rash bumps thinned out but still continued to my calfs. I also have patches of bumps on the nape of my neck, my shoulder, my ribs and I have non-raised red spots on the back of my hands and underside of my right arm.

    I am tired of my doctor’s lack of understanding of the issue. I went in last week for the pain and fatigue and he wanted to test my thyroid and other basic blood levels. All was normal except for my vitamin D, which I take a daily supplement for already so I found it odd that it was low. More research has revealed that lupus patients often struggle with low vitamin D. I’m afraid that if I go to my doctor that he’ll try to brush this off as a basic rash and send me home with another cream that will do nothing for me. If I go the ER will they be able to do anything? I want to be seen with the rash in full force, so waiting for an opening at a new physician’s office won’t do. I don’t want to waste a trip to the ER if they’re just going to tell me to see my primary doctor.

    Advice please!

    • 2blest2Bstrest says:

      Better than waiting for a rash……. From the sound of it, you very much need to have the thyroid testing … TSH and Antibodies (make sure BOTH!) All of this can be from thyroid disease.

      Blessings

  15. Esha says:

    how many of you have or know someone with lupus – and how did you get it diagnosed?
    hi, i live in the uk and myself, my family and even my doctors know i have lupus, although struggling to get a diagnosis as it hasnt shown up in my blood test or skin biopsy. i suffer from awful butterfly rashes on my face, am prone to infections, when i am particularly rund down rings appear all over my body, i am suffering with terrible arthritis, especially in the mornings amongst many other things. now they want to do a bone marrow biopsy, which im afraid of. why do i need the official diagnosis if im already receiving all the medication. so how did u discover you had it, and how does it affect you? thanks xx

  16. spelled2003 says:

    I have reaccuring spells of extreme joint followed by entire itchy skin I have had neg lupus,RA,ANA, test
    I do not have any rashes on my body but I do have a slight butterfly rash on my cheeks I do not take any meds that are causing this. Has anyone been diagnosed with a disease or disorder that sounds like this. All doctors I have ever seen believe it is an auto immune disorder but cannot figure out which one i have been battling this for 8 or so yrs and it is continuing to get worse every year.Lately it is untolerable. I have been give vicoprophen for the pain but I need answers and cannot get hooked to this kind of drug. Plus the med only works for an hour or two.

  17. Anonymous says:

    Could it possibly be Lupus?
    I’m very tired of being treated as though I’m just going nuts. A hypochondriac in a sense. I’m not…I’m sick. Without much to back up what is causing it. The symptoms mainly started when I was around 18…I’m 24 now. I’ve been to the doctor many times being told the same thing. I’m perfectly fine. One doctor finally took into consideration I had a list of symptoms too long for my age and sent me to a digestive specialist. I wasn’t able to continue seeing the specialist, but from the two visits I was able to attend, he determined I had GERD. But I just keep getting worse. It’s not just my upper digestive system, it’s my entire digestive system. Nothing seems to work properly. I’m vomiting in the mornings from acid and bile building up in my stomach throughout the night. I can hardly eat anything without feeling nauseated afterward. My stool varies in color and texture. Some days it’s near normal, others is sticky, others it’s like water. I stay pretty bloated the majority of the time. So bloated and gassy that I have to where a pant size larger than usual. I have to pee once or twice an hour. I get chest pains that are more than likely associated with pain in my esophagus. It’s pretty deep and aching.

    Aside from my digestive problems, just last year I started developing eye and skin problems. I’ve never had any problems with my eyes. Never needed glasses. I’ve started having static like vision (visual snow), I sometimes see bright spots (seeing stars), I’ve noticed an increase in floaters in my vision. Some have came and gone…others are still around. I feel what feels like sparks bursting in the inner corners of my eyes several times a week. I see ghosting. Distant objects are now slightly blurred and my eyes tend to stay dry. All of this developed within the last year. The eye doctor said I had developed an astigmatism. Seems like more is going on than that…just in the last 5 months since my visit to the eye doctor…the symptoms have worsened. Seems a bit quick and much to just be an astigmatism.

    My skin problems started developing around the same time my eye troubles started. I started out just getting a rash on my side. It wasn’t raised…more like a big red blotch. Didn’t itch. I didn’t pay much attention to it until I noticed over a week period it had come and gone in the same spot 3 different times. A few weeks later I started breaking out in hives. They started just on my thighs, then progressed to my entire body over time. They wouldn’t go away unless I laid down, and even then it took hours before the majority would cease. Hives became an ongoing problem that randomly popped up for about 8 months. I could never find a trigger for them. Some days I’d be working and notice them, others I’d wake up and have them…indoors, outdoors, no food allergies, no medication…stress…nothing. I could never find anything. I haven’t really had an outbreak in hives now for about 3 or 4 months. Instead I’ve been getting itchy skin (not dry skin), and more red blotches (not raised) on my skin. First they were mainly coming on my chest, then I started getting them on my hands, feet, stomach, legs…wherever. They seem to start on my chest. Sometimes they itch…sometimes they don’t.

    My symptoms all come and go…aside my eye problems. The dryness in my eyes come and go…but the rest stay pretty constant. But my digestive problems and my skin problems come and go. I have no thoughts as to what may trigger these problems.

    I know that is a lot to read, so if you’ve done so, thank you. Aside from all of that, I stay tired, I have minor body aches that come and go. Especially in my arms and in my knees. I find some days I can’t think as clearly as others…mild confusion occasionally. I have good days and just down right nasty hateful days. Dunno why. I stay depressed for weeks at a time. I went to a State Park just two days ago. It was a cold but sunny day. First time I’ve really been out in the sun that long in months. That night I noticed the butterfly rash across my nose and cheeks. Not a sun burn. It faded yesterday for a few hours and today it’s darker again. This is what made me begin thinking…could this be Lupus? and yes, it does run in both sides of my family. Lupus and Leukemia both do. I’ve had several people tell me even on good days…”You don’t look so good” My last employer told me I wasn’t working out because I just seemed too drained all the time.

    I am uninsured now, and I’m not sure how I would get tested for Lupus…or even how they test for it at all. I’ve read some websites about Lupus, it just seems like such a complicated disease. Any thoughts? Thanks again.
    I forgot to mention my miscarriages. I’ve had 4 healthy children, yet before and after my successful pregnancies, I’ve had 6 miscarriages without a reason being determined. Dunno if that has any relation to this…but thought I’d add it.

  18. shaun says:

    i have to take 2-10mg hydrocodone every 4hr for pain is there anything else less harmful for my organs?
    hydrocodone is for my chronic pain the doctors are trying to find out how best to treat it but im looking for pain management alternatives i live in texas so im limited to pain management treatments. i have a liver problem they are looking into also so the hyd. will not be able to be taken for much longer i have looked for substatutes and have found nothing, my pain is in my body flu like feeling muscles, back, neck, chest, hands arms joints , headaches skin rashes and the heat gives me upset stomach and tiredness and body aches. im currently being treated for lupus but they are not sure if they know just yet they are 100 percent right.

    • Bradley R says:

      There are a number of other opioids (same class of drugs as hydrocodone) that do not contain acetaminophen, or how its probably labeled, APAP, which is just tylenol. The narcotic portion of the combination you take is very safe and does not damage organs at all but the tylenol in it is very bad for your liver. They make a drug called vicoprofen which is a combination of hydrocodone and ibuprofen. The ibuprofen (commonly found in motrin) is not harmful to the liver but if you have gastric issues like ulcers or acid reflux it wouldn’t be the best choice.

      There are also dozens of preparations that do not contain a combination but only a narcotic aka opioid. Opioids if taken long term can produce physical dependence however they do not harm your organs at all. You can get extended release or regular 4 hour doses of morphine or oxycodone. I find the latter to be the closest in effect to hydrocodone. Other single product opioids include 72-hour transdermal fentanyl, methadone, levorphanol, pentazocine, oxymorphone and hydromorphine. There are many so I am probably leaving one or two out but they all have essentially the same effect. There is also another, newer drug called tramadol (brand name ultram) that is not quite an opioid but largely binds to the same receptors and therefore has a similar effect although I’m not sure it would be strong enough for you.

      Are you being treated with immusuppressants like prednisone for the possible lupus? Not only would these help any possible autoimmune disorders like lupus, but they will help with muscle pain and joint pain if there is inflammation present. If steroids like prednisone helped reduce some of pain you could take less hydrocodone (or whatever drug) placing less strain on your liver.

      I hope you find a regimen that relieves your pain. I also suffer from chronic pain and I don’t envy anyone who has to deal with it. Feel free to email me if you have any questions about what I discussed here or if you have any other questions about pain medicine. I hope you feel better! Take care

  19. bwaystar123 says:

    HELP!!! my dear friend is extremely sick with these symptoms please please help!!?
    ok my friend was admitted to the hospital abot a week and a half ago. she was first admitted with a diagnosis of scarlet fever but since then the doctors have no idea whats wrong with her. her symptoms include extreme weight gain she’s gained 25 pounds since bein admitted. She has develo[ed a rash all over her body and her skin has become very very sensitive. she literaly bruises if you touch her. She has had a fever of 103 consistenly since being admitted and she is extremely tired. yesterday was the first day she could eat and keep it down since going to the hospital. does any one have an inkling about what this could be? im thinking its lupus but please please any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. The doctors have no idea whats wrong and i decided to try and do some research please help. and thank you all sosososo much!!!
    she is just turned 21……..

  20. 4 due in Sept 2011 says:

    doctor testing for lupus? because of rash?
    rash started small on arm thought was an allergic reaction to something,

    then it spread on more of arm and leg thought was staph infection
    treated no luck

    its not staph its also not scabes or bed bugs,

    they are saying it looks like blood pockets where blood is comming to the skin surface and then some spots where those are inflamed

    it has spread and is all over my body but the main spots is my arms and fingers and palms of hands

    also had severe back pain since around the time this rash started and very tired and no appitite hardly

    what would you think i can take pictures if you want to see if you think you may know what it is

  21. Afhr4 says:

    I am a 32 year old, up until recently, generally healthy female. Took a trip in Feb. to AZ and came back with?
    a cough.Then had some teeth pulled. They put me on amoxicilian,a steroid and pain killers. Then everything started falling a part. By day 3 on the meds I began to have swelling in my whole body. Day 4, I was like a round ball.Gained almost 20 pounds in water weight.So swollen the skin under my feet were cracking and bleeding.I began having extreme pain in the right side of my jaw.Went to the E.R,after calling the dentist he said I might be having an allergic reaction to meds. Never had a problem with penicillin before. The hospital kept me for 3 days. I.V. antibiotics and steroids.Tested my blood for everything from Lyme disease to Lupus to rheumatoid arthritis. They said I was now allergic to penicilan.All blood work came back normal. Extremely high white count though. Said I had some sort of infection.They sent me home with a months worth of Doxycyline and more pain meds. Went to reg. doc. they did more blood work came up empty,except for slight anemia,always had that though. Then I began with a weeks worth of prednisone,still on the Doxycyline, pain meds and sleeping pills. Still hadn’t slept through the night for about two weeks. Now begining to get extreme fatigue,then developed night sweats and chills and more swelling and alot of pain. Went back to the doc for more blood work,still all normal. Then developed a painful red bumpy rash ONLY on chest and started coughing up blood.Not alot just dime sized every couple of days. Then getting dizzy and seeing white blurry spots sometimes. They sent me to the specilist,he came up with Valley Fever. Went for that blood work and cultures and also diabetic blood work. Now 2 weeks later the cultures haven’t grown anything, all the blood work has come back normal and have had 2 more trips to the E.R, with all those symptoms and having chest pains,numbness and tingles in my left side of body only. Also having moments of forgetfullness. Everytime I have been to the E.R they did chest x-rays and blood work all kept telling me it was normal. Now on my last visit to the E.R they said I have pnuemonia.Last two chest x-rays were three days part. The first one they said was clear. They are sending me to a Pullminary doctor. Except for having mono in high school and a severe case of pnuemonia 2 years ago(hospitilized for a week) I have never been sick.I have not had fevers or weight loss. Though my appetite has decreased I am still gaining weight. I am only 5’2″ and almost pushing 190 pounds. NOT normal for me. I am not pregnant,had four children then had my tubes tied. I do smoke but am trying to quit. Down to less a pack a day. Can anyone PLEASE PLEASE give me some ides. The doctors have told me they don’t know what is wrong and only treating the symptoms and not the PROBLEM. I have a family history of Lupus,diabetes,heart disease. It all runs rampant through both my parents sides,,them included.
    Let me clear up any confusion. The first specialist I saw stopped all the steroids. As of right now I am taking only Naproxen for the joint swelling and pain killers. He is the one that thought I had this Valley Fever. But the cultures have come negative. They keep dumping me from Doc. to Doc. because of all my tests comming back negative. No one seems to know what is wrong. They are trying to handle only the sypmtoms and not the underlying problem. One says now I have pneumonia. I am not sure about that though. I had it two years ago and it isn’t anything like that.

    • Jenn says:

      Could any of the medication throw off your test results for lupus? I think maybe some of you symptoms are a result of the lack of sleep or allergic reaction to the medications. Which is also throwing the doctors off. Can you think of anything you might have done/eaten that would have put you at risk of getting something while out there. What symptoms do you still have since you’ve been back, why did you have your teeth pulled. I would seek a second opinion, or fourth. I wouldn’t stop any medication unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

  22. Reiley R says:

    Purple skin after shower and pimply like bumps?
    Ok, so I take showers. they’re not too hot… i don’t like to burn myself. while im in the shower, my skin seems fine, but as soon as i turn the water off, my whole body, but especially my legs, get this purple lacy rash thing that itches like CRAZY. once i step out and rub myself down with my towel (dries and itches at the same time) it goes to red, then fades back to my normal skin color, but remains itchy for about half an hour or so.
    my question is why???

    also my arms get pimple like bumps on them and get very red and rashy looking if i wear a sweater or something of that sort. not t shirts or smooth fabrics like that, but even cable knit ones give me rashes that itch. i don’t know if this is related or the same thing or something totally different from the shower thing, but it seems like there’s something wrong with my skin.

    also, if i itch my chest with even the lightest of touch, it turns red and rashy for hours.

    my mom has had lupus of the skin for 15 years as well as rosatia (spell?) and fibromyalga (spell?) so i worry about my health a lot because she has had so many problems.

    i would just like to know if this is something i should look into or not!

  23. CalaLilly says:

    Does Anyone with SLE Lupus & Discoid Lupus or have TENS or Steven Johnson Syndrom Have advice?
    I have been living with 2 types of Lupus SLE & Discoid for 13yrs. I recently have had an external rash for about 4 months now & was hospitalized for it in March from the severity of the pain & scabbing issues. 3 Dr.”s are saying its Stevens Johnson Syndrome others are saying could be TENS. My Rheumo Dr. doesn’t know & 1 Dermo Dr. said it’s my SLE Lupus. They discharged me just to keep an apt with a Dermatologist that took me 3 weeks to get into. I couldn’t take the pain or burning & suffering from this rash (as I have chronic pain & Fibromyalga on top of other Auto Immune Diseases) on every inch of my body, ears, mouth, nose, eye lids, scalp, loss of hair, bottom of feet throbbing & blistering, palms of hands, arms & finger tips & nail beds. I went to Dermo & because my insurance doesn’t pay much he wouldn’t even look at me, said it was the SLE Lupus, Told him Infectious Disease Dr. & other attending Dr.’s need him to do a skin scrape & skin Biopsy & he wouldn’t even listen to me or acknowledge me. Just said its your Lupus let your Rheumotologist deal with it. This was in March. The scabbing went away but now with my anxiety & any stress it’s causing the Rash to come back in full force leaving me in extreme pain, on 80mg Prednisone daily until I can see a new Dermatologist to get this Biopsy done. They thought it may have been caused by an allergic reaction to one of my Medications, but have not been diagnosed yet. I am back @ square 1 waiting for apt but I cant take the pain & skin feeling it’s on fire & the scabbing. Can Anyone help me with this? Blood work showed that my ANA was 1/1,280 any advice?
    I am waiting on Healthcare Authorization to see new Dermotologist but feel I am going to end up back in the ER before I get the Authorization to go. I have about 4 different DR”S waiting on this Biopsy and cant get the proper treatment until the get results back.

  24. Beth says:

    I had a skin biopsy Wednesday, I had two area’s that needed looked at.?
    Five years ago this coming July I was diagnosed with Invasive Malignant Melanoma Clark’s Level II, they removed all of the melanoma and all has been good, except for the mental part of cancer.
    On Wednesday 2/24/2010 I had a small mole removed. I also had a area removed from one of my toes. I had the biopsy on my toe to find out if I had Raynaud’s (lupus).
    The other biopsy was of a mole on my upper arm-lower shoulder, (I didn’t think anything of it being the same arm) the same arm the melanoma was found in the front side of the arm.
    My question is I had a bad rash around the biopsy site was wondering if anyone else may have had a rash or trouble healing after the biopsy and before their results/diagnosis has returned & if those results was melanoma & if this was my body was telling me something. I had trouble with healing on the one 5 yrs ago.

    • Orion says:

      The waiting and wondering part before you get your biopsy results to me is one of the hardest times. Try not to second guess yourself or let your imagination run wild. The most common reason for a red rash around an incision is irritation from the bandages or infection. Call your doctor to see if they want to see you, and ask when the results will be back.

      You can get good information on Melanoma at http://www.mpip.org both the bulletin board and the chat room of other survivors and caregivers.

  25. Laurel says:

    Symptoms for 7 months, no diagnosis. Excessive hair loss, muscle pain, swollen nodes.?
    Hello!

    I`m a 19 year old female who`s been experiencing a series of symptoms for the past 7 months that doctors have been unable to diagnose.

    Firstly, my hair has been falling out and as you can imagine, this has been very emotionally stressful. Since about 7 months ago, I`ve lost more then 75% of hair from all over my head. The hair loss is not patchy, but has been thinning all over. I used to have long, extremely thick and beautiful hair, and now its almost gone. The hair loss is not localized to my head as I’ve even noticed that the hair on my legs and in my pubic area have barely been growing back after shaving. I did see a dermatologist and he said that I must have an underlying autoiumme disease that’s causing the hair loss. He suspects lupus or a related disease, but as of yet, blood tests have shown no irregularities.

    Since around the same time my hair has been falling out, Ive noticed that the lymph nodes in my neck have been swollen. Sometimes they are red and sensitive (especially after drinking alcohol or smoking) but usually they’re painless. I’ve also been experiencing a lot of joint/muscle pain and stiffness. Some days it gets really bad and I can barely move, even typing/writing is difficult because the muscles in my hands are so stiff. I feel like every muscle and joint in my body is inflamed. I’m only 19 and I’m having as hard of a time moving around as my 55 year old mother with MS.

    Lastly, (and I’m not sure if this is related at all) my skin has been really dry and especially itchy. I’m not sure if I’ve noticed any rashes, but I have noticed some redness (light red spots) randomly on my skin.

    My family doctor did a thorough blood analysis and everything came back normal. There is no sign of vitamin deficiency, my thyriod was normal, no diabetes, my blood cell count was normal, kidney/liver function was normal, and I’m clean for STD’s/STI’s. I really don’t know where to go from here and im terrified that if I don’t find out whats wrong, I’m going to go bald.

    Does anyone know what these symptoms indicate? Any advice as to what I should get tested for/where I should go from here would be great.

    Thank you in advance for the help!

    • Moped Mama says:

      my endocrinolgist , said i had sluggish thyroid normal levels, my VIT D was dangerously low my vit b 12 was low i have hypo thyroid symptoms normal thyroid I HAVE goitors never knew it until i choked and had ENT do a nasal scope, so follow my advice my endocrinologist put me on synthyroid , 37.5 mcg works for me VIT D and VIt B 12 also AVOID wheat products you could be celiac syndrome try eatting oatmeal rice potatoes NO wheat pasta buy rice and corn pasta drink V* 8 splash change your diet

  26. Adam says:

    Lupus Question Please answer?
    Autoimmune Disease tends to run in my family, aunt died of Lupus. Another aunt has Graves.
    Although I experience some symptoms are these severe enough to get an ANA Test.?

    Chest pain, Skin rash. Skin rash on my face. And other parts of my body? just not quite sure maybe it could be something else.

    • Beth Montana says:

      Hi Adam,

      Considering the symptoms you are experiencing, I really feel it may be a good idea to go ahead and have the ANA test done. It’s just a simple blood test that measures the anti-nuclear antibodies in your blood. If the levels are elevated it can suggest that you may be suffering from an autoimmune disease such as lupus.

      If it is elevated then your doctor will refer you to a Rheumatologist who will take a full medical history and conduct some more tests to determine exactly what you have.

      In the off chance that you do have lupus, and the fact that it runs in your family makes the chances a little higher, it is really important to have it diagnosed so that you can start preventative measures to control the disease so that you can have a good quality of life.

      You might find the website below helpful – it itemizes all the early symptoms of the disease and also explains the different kinds of lupus.

      Hope that has helped,

      Regards,

      Beth.

  27. Kimberly says:

    What is my diagnosis? Please help.?
    About a month and a half ago I went to my Gyn because I was having unbearable head-aches and extreme amounts of hair loss, it was the first time I’ve seen her and she wasn’t too understanding or concerned, but she ran tons, (21 test tubes) of blood work on me. I have also had 3 previous miscarriages. As time progressed I began having bad muscle and joint pains, night sweats and fever, I’ve been so moody I can barely tolerate myself, and I just feel completely disoriented from my body. My blood work came back, and I had a positive ANA test. My doctor sent me to an Oncologist who specializes in Hematology. He diagnosed me with an auto-immune disease and wanted to chalk it up to Lupus. He also ran an MRI to see if I had a possible brain turmor. My MRI came back bad because I have braces and they weren’t able to see anything. I went to the Diagnostic Clinic in Houston this week and I have started seeing a new doctor. He is running more extensive blood work on me but I am so confused what is going on with my health.

    I am so tired all the time, my body aches constantly, and I can’t get rid of my headache. My short term memory feels like it has gone away, my nervous system is just a reck. I don’t have any skin rashes, or weight loss. I don’t know what could possibly be going on with my body. Any help would be great.

    • fstmny4 says:

      Lupus can be pretty nasty, and it sounds like your in that category. Its an autoimmune disease, meaning it causes the body to fight against itself. It has no specific target, but joint pains, and kidney problems are some of the main signs. I have known people who have had their lungs attacked, heart, colon etc. there are drugs available that can make most of the symptoms be alleviated. But you can never be rid of lupus, and you will have attacks from time to time. good luck.

  28. Ursula says:

    I have an undiagnosed condition and need help!?
    I am a 20 year old female who has been having stomach problems for the past year or so, and it has gotten much worse in the past six months. The symptoms are now starting to affect more parts of my body, and the pain can be debilitating and is affecting my schoolwork. I was tested for thyroid issues and Celiac, but both were negative. I also went to the ER for abdominal pain a few weeks ago, but that didn’t turn up any new results.

    Here is a list of symptoms:

    Digestive symptoms – abdominal pain (sometimes crampy and all over, sometimes very sharp in right upper abdomen or left lower abdomen, sometimes made worse coughing or sneezing), LOTS of diarrhea, undigested food in stool almost every day, sometimes fat or mucus in stool, loss of appetite, lots of extreme bloating, some nausea/heartburn/dry-heaving, sometimes foods taste very different than they should (ex – candy tasting extremely acidic, milk tasting like sushi, plain white rice tasting nutty)

    Skin symptoms – I get a red skin rash almost every night or afternoon. It’s itchy, not raised, and not dry. It’s not related to any contact allergy or physical activity. Sometimes, it seems to happen more often or with more severity when I feel really warm or cold. My hair has thinned significantly in the past year, and I’ve started getting coarser hair elsewhere on my body (arms, face). My skin feels itchy most of the time.

    Nervous symptoms – extreme fatigue/malaise, depression/anxiety, headaches, trouble concentrating, photophobia and phonophobia, increased sensitivity to cold and heat, numbness in fingers

    Other symptoms – occasional low-grade fever, muscle weakness/pain, joint pain/swelling, easy bruising (once I got a bruise from the elastic band on my sweatpants and it wasn’t tight, another time on my arm from holding a package – the bruise was in a line from where the package was resting against my arm), I had some very mild jaundice and green-tinted urine at one point. I’m anemic and have high liver function according to the most recent tests. I don’t drink, and I don’t take any drugs unless they are prescribed (I deal with headaches by drinking water and resting). Small doses of Lortab helped relieve many of the digestive symptoms (prescribed by the ER). Diseases that have come up with my doctor are: lupus, Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis, IBS, Celiac (apparently false negatives are common?), and diverticulitis. Also, gallstones and pancreatic cancer were suggested, but less likely. We are pretty sure it’s autoimmune.

    I’m sick of being sick, and am reaching out for help in every place possible. I would love any suggestions or ideas, questions to ask my doctor, tests to request, warm thoughts, or stories (if you had a similar illness and got a diagnosis or found a way to manage the symptoms). I’m seeing my doctor next week, but because I’ve already gone through two series of tests, I want to be more prepared this time to help lead to a diagnosis more quickly. Thanks in advance!

    • Semper Fi says:

      You have a lot of symptoms that could indicate a variety of problems. Celiac Disease, possible intestinal obstruction (Intestinal carcinoma, lymphoma), bruising is indicative of a bleeding disorder such as Von Willebrand disease or leukemia. Upper right quadrant pain indicates gallbladder disease, especially if fever and nausea are present also. Some of your symptoms are also those that present with kidney disease and diabetes so you have a real jungle of symptoms which has a tendancy to lead me back to Celiac Disease because …

      Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disorder which can present with an amazing array of symptoms, Gastrointestinal (cramps, pain, bloating, fatty stools, nausea, vomiting), Neurological (tingling, numbness, nerve pain, fatigue, depression and more) and so it is just frustrating for people who have it yet have not been diagnosed plus false negative tests are common. The definitive diagnosis is based on a positive biopsy of the small intestine. It’s not uncommon to have a false negative blood test yet have a positive biopsy.

      If you had maybe thought you had Celiac Disease and went on a gluten free diet before being tested that could have created a false positive and it may create a false biopsy if you have been on the gluten free diet for anytime allowing your small intestinal cells to heal and the villi to re-establish. However that doesn’t sound likely that you have adapted the diet because you said you are still experiencing symptoms even though some people with refractory Celiac do not see a reversal of symptom via diet.

      If it were me I’d ask the doc to re-test for CD (blood work) and also do stool fat, total protein, albumin, calcium, vitamin b12, autoantibodies, vitamin d, vitamin e, CBC, CMP.

      Oftentimes Celiac Disease causes malabsorption (reason for fatty stool) and this in turn creates vitamin deficiencies within the fat soluble vitamins such as d, calcium, vitamin k. b12 and so forth. It also causes anemia in many people and a host of other symptoms and complications because (via autoimmune response) it can attack your organs such your heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and pancreas (autoimmune response) thereby creating symptom from those sources as well.

      Celiac Disease can also cause lactose intolerance (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea in severe cases) and so this complication could be a portion of your symptoms.

      I would suggest you keep a very concise diary of your symptoms, including when they occur (time, date, etc…) and of course exactly what they are. Note what you eat daily so that you can correlate your food intake with symptoms (note whether symptoms appear immediately after, within hours, or even a day or two after ingestion). Be as accurate as possible and by this I mean if you chew a stick of gum, write it down because …

      You’d be amazed how many products we eat contain wheat, barley or rye (sources of gluten) or are processed with wheat, barley or rye products. Even spices can contain wheat and wheat derivatives that contain gluten. If you drink wine the oaken cask it was probably aged in most likely was treated on the inside of the cask with a wheat paste to prevent leakage. That paste leaches into the wine and guess what? If you have CD you will most likely suffer intestinal damage.

      Of course I am not saying you have Celiac Disease. You may not have it at all. You may have something else entirely such as cancer that could present with a myriad of strange symptoms or it could be a combination of gallbladder disease (pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, jaundice are all possible symptoms) and kidney disease. Now, don’t let what I write frighten you, simply get your doc to rule various possibilities out by doing the appropriate tests.

      I wish you better health :-)

  29. Jessica Jones says:

    Should I get checked out for lupus?
    I’ve been noticing that things just aren’t right with me. After some research, I realized that it might be lupus, but I don’t want to go to the dr. If my symptoms aren’t from lupus. Here they are-
    I’m always really, extremely tired all the time no matter how much I sleep.
    I’ve woken up with rashes all over my body, thinking they were from an allergic reaction to certain foods, but I’ve eaten those foods since and didn’t break out.
    I’m prone to urinary tract infections.
    My skin gets itchy and blotchy in the sun.
    I sometimes get ulcers in my nose.
    Should I ask the dr to test me for lupus?

  30. roo says:

    I’m 16 and have lupus…?
    I’m sure I’ll be diagnosed when I go in on monday when they get the latest blood test results in. I’ve been having a wide range of symptoms for a long time…sickness similar to the flu, arthritis like pain, head aches, fatigue, low white blood cell/platelet counts, malar, and now the erythramatosis skin rash.
    I’m glad to finally know what’s been ravaging my body and it has opened my eyes to how important every moment here on earth is. For me, this life is important in the sense that it is preparing me for the next; and I’m glad for this disease I most likely have in the sense that it has inspired me to move with a greater swiftness, to do my duty as part of the Body of Christ on earth.
    God Bless You All!
    As you can see, I didn’t really put a question…So, say what you would like…Surprise me! I’d love to just hear from some living, breathing people.

    love love love,
    R.

  31. firewomen says:

    I suppose all of the above has affected those who have already received the swine vaccine……………*

  32. treefrog says:

    Can widespread inflammation cause fluid retention?
    I have SLE (lupus). Lately, I have been having a flare…so I know that I have been having some moderate inflammation going on in my body. (Skin rashes..achy joints..the usual.)

    I also notice that I am retaining some fluid. Not significant amounts, mind you. I’d be freaking out worrying about renal failure if that were the case.

    But I do notice the differences on the scale when I weigh myself. I’m just wondering if there is a correlation with inflammation and water retention. My guess is a big fat YES. lol

    Thanks in advance!

  33. britters * says:

    What is causing all these symptoms?
    I have been having health problems for the last few years and I’m determined to find out what is wrong! I am an 18 year old white female who lives in new york.. if any of that makes a difference.

    Some of my symptoms include: increased fatigue, I can sleep for hours and still feel tired. For the past 3 years I have gotten a rash on my neck and chest that is not inflamed but warm and comes and goes at all sorts of times and have heat sensitivity to that area and sometimes chest pain. A few months ago I had an infection in my arm pit and was told it was cellulitis and was given an antibiotic, since then I have had frequent pain in both of my arm pits and it seems to be swollen at times. For the past 2 years or so, I produce breast milk in my left breast but I have never been pregnant, sometimes it is a clear liquid that comes out and sometimes a milky liquid. About a month ago I had to go to the emergency room because both of my breasts were swollen and it was very very painful but they sent me home without telling me an explanation to what it was and it all went away a few days later. For as long as I can remember I have had joint and muscle pain all over my body, mainly the upper back and neck. In january of 2010 I went to the hospital because my back, both lower and upper, hurt so bad that I could barely move. I had high blood pressure and slight chest pain but once again they weren’t aware of the cause so I was sent home with some tylenol. I have noticed that when I get many of these symptoms I get very emotional, either very sensitive or angered easily. Recently I have been getting twitches in my hands, mainly in the thumb area. I have noticed that my concentration isn’t as good as it used to be, I am very anxious and impatient.

    Doctors have gave me some ideas of what it may be but nothing was ever diagnosed. They suggested: anxiety disorder, lupus, thyroid disease, tumor on the pituitary gland, breast cancer, skin cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, graves disease and I think thats about it.

    Someone please help before it gets worse!!!

    • Tuning In... says:

      Sounds like Cryoglobulinemia.

      Symptoms vary depending on the type of cryoglobulinemia and the organs that are affected. In general, symptoms may include:

      Difficulty breathing
      Fatigue
      Glomerulonephritis
      Joint pain
      Muscle pain
      Purpura
      Raynaud’s phenomenon
      Skin death
      Skin ulceration

      And many more others as it’s is a syndrome with many possible symptoms

      The doctor will perform a physical exam. There may be signs of liver and spleen swelling. Tests for cryoglobulinemia include:

      Complete blood count (CBC)
      Complement assay — numbers will be low
      Cryoglobulin test — may show presence of cryoglobulins
      Liver function tests — may be high
      Rheumatoid factor — positive in types II and III
      Skin biopsy
      Urinalysis — may show blood in the urine if the kidneys are affected

      Other tests may include:

      Angiogram
      Chest x-ray
      ESR
      Hepatitis C test
      Nerve conduction tests, if the person has weakness in the arms or legs
      Protein electrophoresis – blood

      As there are too many complications, anxiety builds up within yourself which is why doctors may think you have anxiety disorder or as suggested by the other answer of having neuro related illness.

      This blood disorder is very difficult to be diagnosed and treated. It won’t kill you but you’ll have to take constant medication so as to contain it. Many doctors are baffled by it and seriously many don’t even know about this blood disorder.

      Please suggest to your doctors to try those tests on your blood. I have a hunch I am right.

      Take care and good luck.

  34. Dance-a-Holic says:

    I need help editing my research paper. I’m really bad at papers…..please help!?
    Well, its on lupus. I have the intro and two body paragraphs, and I still need to do the conclusion. So, I was wondering what I should change on my paper, and what I need to add..? I also have to do a powerpoint based on the paper, that should last a minimum of 5 minutes up to 15.

    The reason why I chose this topic was because my dad has lupus, and I wanted to know more about the topic. He was diagnosed with lupus when he was about fourteen years old. He still receives treatment for it by going in for blood tests and taking medication He has the most common form of lupus, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), in which causes the antibodies to react against his own normal tissue. He has arthritis and joint problems, but nothings wrong with his internal organs. To support my dad and other lupus survivors, my family and I all go to the lupus walk in honor of remembering the people who had lupus that died. The things the audience can expect to read in this paper are the different types of lupus, the symptoms, the treatment and cures.
    Lupus is the result of an unbalanced immune system that can be destructive to any organ in the body. It can be categorized into three groups: discoid lupus Erythematosus, systemic lupus Erythematosus, and drug-induced systemic lupus Erythematosus. DLE is always limited to the skin and is identified by a rash that may appear on the face, neck, and scalp. It can evolve into the systemic form, which can affect any organ or system of the body. Systemic lupus Erythematosus is more severe than discoid lupus and can affect almost any organ or organ system of the body. No two people with SLE will have identical symptoms. Drug-induced systemic Lupus Erythematosus occurs after the use of certain prescribed drugs. It is more common in men, because the drugs are given to them more often.
    Lupus is hard to diagnose because it has a wide range of symptoms involving various parts of the body; and symptoms differ from each person. Most people develop painful joints and a rash, but lupus may also cause fatigue, depressions, and kidney problems. The treatment of lupus varies from person to person because each person has different symptoms. Most people with SLE require a regular blood test to check for lupus flares. Medication is the primary medical treatment for lupus. Presently, there are no other methods available to treat lupus because there is nothing else that can have the necessary impact on the immune system. Currently, there is no cure for lupus, but with early diagnosis and proper medical treatment it can significantly help control the disease.

    thanks. it would be much appreciated!!!!

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