My mom wants me tested for lupus...

[cmarie18]

A few months my body began to go through some strange changes. The most recent thing is female issues, I began to pass clots and then soon after that I began to swell in my hands, feet, ankles, and legs with pain in my wrists and ankles. After researching and reading on the symptoms and signs of lupus I found that I have or currently experiencing some of the signs associated with lupus. Just ten years ago this month I had thyroid cancer and had to get my thyroid removed. I experience terrible headaches (migraines), I am always tired (but I just put it on my thyroid), in the summer time I get this bad itchy rash on my arms that I always brush off as sunburn, and just this winter (two weeks ago) I was so cold outside my entire body ached. I got nauseous and very sick. I had never felt that way before. My mom is pushing me very hard to get tested for lupus. She says I was showing the same signs and symptoms as her best friend before she found out she had lupus. My question is, should I be concerned or just take what my gyn doctor says which is it could be hormonal?

[Atibrat Moderator LUPUS SUPPORT]

I would see your regular doctor and see if he thinks you should be tested. It is never good for us to assume that strange symptoms are just hormones or no big deal. I think when something is not right you should talk to your doctor about it.

[cmarie18 in reply to Atibrat]

Thank you, I have an appointment today so I hope I can get some answers on what's going on with me.

[lupus-support1 Administrator]

Welcome to LUpus Patients Understanding & Support (LUPUS) at HealthUnlocked.

I am sorry to read you had thyroid cancer. This must have been very traumatic for you. I can also understand your mother's concern, as well as your anxiety as to what may be wrong.

Lupus is described as the "disease of 1000 faces" because it can mimic almost every medical condition. SLE is difficult to diagnose; there is no single blood test and this means the need to see a lupus specialist. Not all rheumatologists are expert in SLE.

However, before going that route, I suggest you see your GP as soon as possible. I recommend you write down all your symptoms and changes that have happened. I would also recommend seeing your endocrinologist to check on your current treatment. Your GP may order extensive blood tests to see whether there is anything amiss. As you are passing clots, it may be a good idea to see a gynaecologist as this is not something you should ignore.

I appreciate that this may feel traumatic and it is understandable to feel anxious.

We also have another website called the LuPUS Message Board where you can also post questions and talk to other people. Registration is FREE and we offer free information and free online psychological support. We specialise in psychological support with our own counsellor/psychotherapist available.

By becoming a Member, you will have access to the private forums and because they are private, only Members have access and even bots and search engines are forbidden.

When you register, please use the following format for entering your date of birth: nn-nn-nnnn where n=number. Please use the "-" separator and not "/".

Finally, please go to: lupus-support.org/LuPUSMB and Sign Up.

I look forward to talking with you more!

Sometimes we need to talk to people who understand and who are not family or friends.

With good wishes,

Ros