Symptoms of lupus???

[Croft123]

Hi everyone, I’m new here and wonder if someone could offer advice pls.

I’m female, 48 years old and have always been in good health. In December 2018 I suffered with, what I can only describe as a “chronic mental health” episode - 4 separate “life changing” things happened within 3 months and I got very ill. I eventually went to see my GP and was prescribed antidepressants. My physical health was also deteriorating - sudden weight loss, insomnia, joint pain, headaches and a multitude of others. I did my own research and felt certain all my problems were linked to low Estrogen and my age. Last July I woke one day feeling absolutely ill, a while later 8 veins in both my hands burst simultaneously. I knew then that whatever was going on with me, couldn’t be “age” related. I went back to the GP, who immediately started testing me for everything. They found I was desperately low in iron, prescribed supplements and also diagnosed with Raynards. I went on to see the GP fortnightly. Then at one appointment I was asked if I knew anything about Lupus, I replied “yes, my sister has it but this can’t be that....I’m far too ill”. I had bloods done and the ANA test came back positive. I now have an appointment with a Rheumatologist in March. Since last year I’ve been keeping a diary, and since reading all the information from the website, I’m now convinced I do indeed have lupus. Not like my sister, mine seems to be CNS, Brain and blood. My sisters problems are all organ related. I don’t think this only started in Dec 2018 either. In 2014 I had a few months of poor health, following an international house move alone with 3 children and a dog. My husband joined us 6 months later. That’s when the physical and mental health problems began, however once they passed and I was well again, I began to read up on low estrogen. I felt sure it had to be as that was the only thing that could explain my random/whole of my body symptoms. I went to the GP once with that episode and requested HRT. They wouldn’t prescribe it and said I was exhausted and stressed. I didn’t see my GP again til last March. Since then I’ve been over 20 times, probably more times than ever in my life prior to this past year. I’ve never been in hospital, never been to A&E and never taken medication for anything.

So, I guess what I’m asking is -

Could lupus develop, following stress at age 43....hang around a few months then go away. Only to return 5 years later following another stressful event?

Does anyone else in the forum have any experience of lupus affecting the CNS and brain? I have lots of physical symptoms, far too many to mention but it’s the mental health problems that worry me most.