Is this that lupus feeling?........

Hi All,

You will know if you have read my previous posts that I am not yet diagnosed person. Low neutrophils, platelets, aches, pains, tendonitis, dry eyes, sore throats, feeling flu like much of the time, headaches, dizzy brain fog etc and positive anti-ro and anti-la. I wanted to describe my day so far and ask if this is how you confirmed lupies feel and if this is what I should be describing when I see the Rheumatologist in 2 weeks time.

"....wake several times in the night, wake at 05.55 to the first alarm and switch it off. Head fuzzy (hangover like but no booze involved), hands and feet swollen and stiff, neck ache, lie there until the next alarm at 06.10 and switch off. Think to myself that I would like to get up and take the dog for a run but my body refuses to move. Roll out of bed at 6.30. Toast and 3 coffees for breakfast. Can't be bothered to make my lunch for work. Shower. Feel dizzy whilst doing so and my arms and shoulders feel like I have been lifting heavy weights. Notice an itchy red rash on my neck. Could it be something I ate? Something I washed with? Notice a couple of new bruises....not sure how they got there. Get to work, computer screen makes my brain fog seem worse, legs feel like jelly, smile and on we go......"

[saranne]

Sounds familiar! have you had the anti-DNA antibody blood test, this is the one that confirmed lupus for me. It took a while though - I had blood tests for years before this came up - in the 6 months before I was getting lots of symptoms and losing weight and finally too stiff and too much pain to push the duvet off me! But it was the blood test not the symptoms which gave the diagnosis. Anti ro and la can I believe indicate Sjögren's syndrome, do you have dry eyes,(mine were often red) dry mouth? and Sjögren's can also cause fatigue and joint pains so can be hard to sort it all out! Good luck

[Hidden]

Thanks for the reply. Not sure I have had that one done. Yes Sjorgens is on the differential diagnsis list I think. I doi get dry eyes and they are always blood shot, but no probs with saliva etc I think I will list everything and let the consultant try and unravel it.

[saranne]

Well I included the dry mouth as that is usually part of it, however... I have confirmed dry eyes but loads of saliva!! so not always...Yes I would write a list with dates if possible as it is hard to remember when you are there. The treatments often overlap anyway, good luck