Lupus Support Group
Lupus is an auto-immune disease in which the immune system cannot distinguish between threats (like viruses and bacteria), and healthy cells and tissue. As a result, the body produces antibodies that inflict cell damage, most commonly targeting joints, skin, kidneys and the nervous system. Join the group and find support for coping with lupus.
Hi Billylyne, sorry you are feeling so crummy.Hope you feel better.I wasn't sure what your test was so I googled it...Basically it is one of the antibody tests.
I guess, from how I understood it, some people test borderline, or not above a certain titer, so your doctor will do "the wait an see test".They retest after a certain amount of time, or after new symptoms appear or worsen.
It took me about 10yrs before I got a diagnosis.Doctors dismissed me, wrote off my symptoms as "in my head, or don't know what to tell you"...it was an awful ride of ill health and suffering that started in about 1986, and went on until about 2000.I dismissed alot of my symptoms myself due to the fact that I didn't go to the doctors alot, because THEY dismissed me and made me feel inadequate or whiny..But inadequate and whiny was so far from the truth.I was in a living hell.
Also, autoimmune is a master of disguises.They mimic alot of other illnesses, overlap with each other, morph...My Sle has also become friends with psoriatic arthritis. .DX'd with that last year after dealing with symptoms of that since about 2005.Doctors should base their beliefs more on patient evaluation, observation, then just blood tests.I was told alot of the autoimmune dont test positive, especially in milder cases, unless in an active flare.Don't know how true that is, but I believe it.
Chart your symptoms. .If you have anything unusual, such as rashes, obvious joint swelling, raynauds, TAKE PICTURES on your phone if you have that kind of phone..That is what I do, and then I show him, so he can't dismiss it as a faux symptom! Because we can't keep running in to the doctors everytime a symptom shows up.I avoid the place as much as I can :)
Take care of yourself..If you believe you have something going on, you just might! I posted a little info on the test you had...Since you are above, but maybe not quite above what is considered symptomatic, I would think and hope your doctor will retest you in a few months, or depending how or if your symptoms worsen...
It stinks..I know.I have been there...(((hugs)))
Lucky for me I did find a rheumy that was willing to diagnosis me as lupus and Sjogren's w/o a positive blood test. According to him I have all of the symptoms so why wait for my blood to show it. I think he is one of a few that feel this way. I have been given hydroxychloroquine and prednisone. I get some relief with prednisone but all of the drugs have such terrible side effects. Plus I have a weak stomach that hurts very easily with others. I haven't had much luck with nerve pain meds, they help ease the pain but take away all of my senses (smell and taste mainly).
Were they willing to give you any meds to help?
Take care
I had Gabapentin but can only take a lowish dose as I have CKD so it stopped been effective.
The pain clinic gave me a lidnocane infusion also for the nerve pain and once my liver results normalise I am going to try pregabalin
None of this actually helps the joint pain unfortunately and I can't take NSAIDs due to the CKD so pain management is an issue
My rheumy suggested a non-NSAID anti inflammatory that helped with the joint pain but it still hurt my stomach and after several days of use my stomach was horrible and I was severly constipated. I can't remember the name of it but I can look it up and let you know if you want.
Did the lidocaine infusion help? I need something but I don't know what to do.
If you can find the name of the non NSAIDS that would be great thank you