Feed: People diagnosed with Lupus… need help and info!? - AggScore: 11.0

People diagnosed with Lupus… need help and info!?

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pI do not wish to write a paper about all the details and symptoms, so Ill just summarize, then ask my question. Over the last 5 years, I have had symptoms of EXTREME fatigue, joint pain, canker sores, mild hair loss, etc. I am also anemic which no amount of iron or B vitamins changes in the slightest. In this time, I have also had a false positive Syphilis test, and chronic kidney stones 3 in 7 years.In August of 08, I developed a cough that STILL has not gone away. I have been to TONS of doctors and been diagnosed with pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis, allergies, etc, and put on more antibiotics than I care to think of... all the antibiotic treatments actually made me feel worse.I also developed a sudden, strange rash on my leg after being out in the sun for a couple days... which also has not gone away. And more recently, I have a light butterfly rash on my face.Last month, I finally found a doctor that said quotWow... 8 of the 11 symptoms of Lupus... lets get you tested.quot I was xrayed to check for Pleurisy in the lung tissue, and put through about 10 blood tests also checking for lyme disease, just in case.Even after the false positive Syphilis, and the anemia, I tested negative on the ANA test. Kind of. I tested higher than normal, but apparently too low to make a full diagnosis of Lupus. What does this mean exactly Is there such a thing as borderline Lupus And I know there are a few other diseases that mimic Lupus... but what are they I know that Fibromyalgia is one of the quotmimicquot diseases, but would that also account for the blood disorders that I DO have and the rashesI do have another appointment with my doctor in a couple weeks, and I also know that making a Lupus diagnosis can sometimes take a while... but has anyone had the negative ANA issue and still been diagnosed with SLE And what was your experience... anything I should ask my doctor to look for on the next visitThanks!Oh, they did also check my thyroid... everything normal there. And should I mention, also, that my symptoms began during pregnancy and have gotten progressively worse This has been going for about 5 years... and just now Ive screamed loud enough that I am being taken seriously.p