Hang in there kid...

I know it is hard but try to stay positive. It look a long time for the doctors to help me manage my sypmtoms. Plaquenil has helped me the most overall in my entire body. I also take prednisone 2-4 days out of the week depending upon my pain. I have come a long way since I started this. It look Plaquenil 6 months to start working, but it's helped me walk with less pain and helped my achy joints all over.

Have they put you on any steriods or immune suppression drugs? My doctor has even suggested chemo treatment.

I wish you the best and I hope things better.

Thank you both! It's definitely been a struggle. Tonight I'm having trouble breathing right, feels like my lungs are heavy and I've been coughing up stomach acid all day. My stomach has this bruised feeling all over. I'm hoping I can get into the doctor soon. I'm currently not on any medication whatsoever. I was put on prednisone previously by my former rheumatologist and it caused me issues, he didn't continue treating me. I switched rheumys, and the guy I go to now that's supposed to be the best of the best says I just have fibromyalgia even though I'm positive for lupus and show symptoms. If not lupus, I know it's something that's eating my body alive. I feel like I'm dying and getting no help whatsoever. The MRI showed nothing as well...do you ever feel like youve gone crazy when your tests show nothing? I know I do. :( thank you for the support. It's much appreciated.

Most of us were told at one time or another that it was all in our heads. Sometimes literally, sometimes with an eye roll when we complain, and at times by drs who say they cant treat you. Finally, you get someone who believes and tries to help. Then you get a diagnosis your friends and family believe. Meanwhile, Plaquenil is great. I will tell you the first few weeks will make you sick but in most folks, that gets better. I also have the stomach issues. I take Prevacid 2x a day and it really helps. Nothing is perfect and I still have some stomach issues but nothing like pre meds. Good luck.
Mary Ann

A rheumatologist may be the best of the best when you show a lot of markers, and not so great if you don't have markers. Since plaquenil helped me so much even though I did have huge amounts of ANAs but lots of lupus symptoms, I definitely think you should try to find someone who is willing to treat you now. Working in a hospital might be helpful for you to ask around about rheumatologists, but I have often had to go to a university practice to get treated. My diagnosis now is undifferentiated connective tissue disease, but they can call it mushroom disease, as long as I am treated.

You can take prednisone in different doses. Larger doses are harder to take than smaller doses. Now I'm on 5 mg, but it takes the edge off a bit. I always take it with food to decrease stomach upset.

Do you have an ergonomic chair? If the chair causes you problems, ask for another chair. Also, it always helped me to move around periodically.

Good luck with everything. YOU ARE NOT CRAZY!