Could I have lupus?

[KaryMinuette]

Hey... so... grab some popcorn. This is going to be a long story.

In October 2015 I started to get severely dry skin that would itch to no end and patches started turning white or red and scaly. It happened on my arms mostly and a little on my legs. It went away on its own a few months later. Then once in late 2016 I got it again except this time it started happening on my face, on the cheeks right next to my nose and on my eyelids. This only lasted about a week and went away. Yet in 2017, around November, it started again... on my arms close to my armpits and on my face. Except this time it was a lot worse. My eyelids started looking like they were thickening and it got to the point where I definitely needed to see a doctor.

At first I thought I had psoriasis (my grandpa has that) but my dermatologist said I had atopic dermatitis. She gave me some creams for to put on the afflicted areas and that was that. After I started using the face cream however I SOMETIMES (not always) got a rash on my cheek area. Very much like a butterfly rash. I thought it might be an allergy to the cream but it didn't happen every time I used it, just once in a while. The cream is: Prodermic 0.1% Tracolimus.

My face did get better but when I told my dermatologist about the rash she didn't pay much attention to it and said that for the most part, at least I'd been able to use it and changed me over to another cream.

The face cream she gave me doesn't give me rashes on any part of my body either. By the way.

Anyway on January 27th I was away at the beach for the weekend with friends. We'd hung out in the sun for most of the day (I was wearing the sunscreen my dermatologist had given me) and later that day around 8pm my face started burning to the point that I was holding my cup of water and ice up to my cheeks. A friend of mine looked at me and told me I was red and I went to the bathroom to look at myself and sure enough I had a butterfly rash. I splashed cool water on my face and tried to ignore it and around 20 minutes later, it was gone. (I hadn't used anything else on my face other than the sunscreen that day).

That same weekend my arms started feeling sore like I'd just done exercise or something when I hadn't. And now I constantly feel like my muscles are tight. Like I have this need to stretch constantly. I don't really know how to explain it. Kind of a dull ache, I guess.

And then for the past week or so, I have super dry eyes when I wake up. To the point that I can hardly stand to open them because it hurts and I want to put water in them. And if I think about it, this dry eye thing has been a constant on and off thing for years.

I've been trying to think back to other strange things over the years and I remembered that back in 2015 or 16 I got this weird "burn" on my back. it wasn't a sunburn or anything. I hadn't been in the sun. I also didn't have a mark but every time something would touch my back I'd feel like a stinging/burning sensation and I'd have to sit up off the backs of chairs and stuff to avoid it.

Another thing is that I've been getting mouth ulcers quite badly and frequently since about September and before that I hadn't gotten them in years.

Also, my eyes itch all the time and as soon as I touch them (if I can't help scratching) they turn red INSTANTLY. They'll puff up and turn red and won't go back to normal all day.

Thinking back on other things today, I realized that my fingers sometimes feel weird since I was a kid. I don't know if I would call it numb.. more like I felt they were swollen... or like they had doubled in size or were fat or something... but they always looked fine. It was just the feeling of it. Maybe that IS numbness? I don't know.

And last I guess.. I sometimes have these days when I feel completely and utterly tired.. even from the moment I wake up and I'll just sleep all day without being able to help it. These don't happen often and I think in my whole life I've only had about 5 of these days. But a couple of them have been recent and coincide with my other "symptoms"(?) so I thought it may be worth mentioning.

I don't know. Maybe these are all completely unrelated issues but ALOT of people have told me "oh hey, this sounds like lupus". So now I want to know your opinions.. from people that have some knowledge on this.. does this sound like it could be lupus and should I ask to get tested for it?

I'll also mention I'm asthmatic. I don't know it that matters. And if I think of anything else I'll also add that it.

[AgedCrone]

Please get some medical advice...you must be rally miserable with all you are putting up with.

Make a list of conditions you want sorting & make an Appoinment today with whichever doctor you trust the most.

[Penguintaz]

Definitely make an appointment with the doctor, write down everything you've been feeling.

If the Dr doesn't suggest it ask for a blood test to be done to look for the various lupus indicators, if it's a good doctor they'll probably want to check your blood anyway.

[Paul_Howard Partner LUPUS UK]

Hi KaryMinuette ,

I'm afraid we couldn't say whether your symptoms could be caused by lupus or something else because it presents differently in everyone and your symptoms could also be caused by various other conditions.

If you suspect that you could have some type of autoimmune disease then it is worth discussing this with your doctor and getting investigated. We have a blog article about getting a diagnosis of lupus which has some helpful information and advice for you - lupusuk.org.uk/getting-diag...

Keep us updated with how you are getting on.

[leslieliesel]

I had a biopsy because of my terrible rash...the final result Subcutate Lupus....if not fo the rash, I never would have been tested and I would be having sore joints and dead dog fatigue..but at 62 I fugured that is the way it will be...but like you, looking back, I have had symptoms for a very long time.....Drs don't seem to take sore joints much further than arthritis and fatigue? I casually mentioned it...Drs need something they can see it seems...anyhow, I do hope you find your answer..Xx

[tarakannka]

Hi,I recently started online learning about health and nutrition because I thought that poor food my cause my health problems and I was right. Nearly all your problems could be caused by poor food. We need so meany vitamins every day and if we have not them enough for long time, then problems can starts . The symptoms you described all could be from malnutrition. So, better go to shop and buy fruits, nuts ,lettuce, berries etc. Plenty of different greens , eat less salt and sugar and better cook at home. ...And water, drink water please. I did all this changes as I had all this symptoms you described and I really feel much better, no ulcers in my mouth for while now. I lost a little weight and feel much happier, because malnutrition can make you feel depressed too. Or go to web page vision to learn and apply for courses. They are for free if you do all assessments . I recommend it for every one here. Good luck!

[Plb0322]

Sounds a lot like my history, skin sometimes painful to the touch, sun exposure has sure consequences , and constantly feeling like i have to stretch, constantly in some sort of pain or another, among so many other symptoms I'm dealing with. I'm sorry you're dealing with this, and I cannot confirm it's lupus, but it's a lot of what I'm dealing with and I'm 45, had it since I was 23. I went through maybe a year of tests, hospitilizations, seizures, etc before I was finally diagnosed with Systemic Lupus. I hope this helps.Take care!