challenging diagnosis -private consultant

[moss]

i ve been under the same rheumy for ten plus years. when i saw him thursday he said my symptoms are more in keeping with fibro than prior daignosis of connective tissue ?sle. as some may know he has requested i stay on the steroids-which has baffeled me a little. any how to get to my point-i am begining to wonder if it is worth getting a second opinion. i find it odd how after all this time he still can not give me a diagnosis

[Hidden]

Hello Moss, thanks for your question. It is most certainly a good idea to get a second opinion. The problem is that with Fibromyalgia, some of the symptoms are also seen in other conditions and is not easy to diagnose, hence the confusion and misdiagnosis. It does seem confusing that after 10 years there is this doubt, but I suppose your condition could have evolved more over this time and made the diagnosis more likely maybe.

I would definitely ask for a second opinion, you are entitled to that anyway. I hope this works out for you. Please let us know how you get on.

[nadine1974]

fresh set of eyes may be able to see symptoms which yours overlooks??

worthwile haveing second opinion x

[LindseyMid]

It can be extremely hard to differentiate between UCTD or early stage SLE and Fibro. It may well be that you won't be able to get a better diagnosis than Fibro plus probably UCTD/possible SLE for some time. As long as your doctor is treating both issues, that is okay.

Getting a second opinion can sometimes be good though. It does sound like perhaps your consultant hasn't explained things as well as they could have done. Maybe talk to your GP first?

[Vicki1]

Good luck and hopefully you will get to the bottom of it