ventcrew

Hello Everyone,

I posted the following on the Lupus board but am not sure what is going on with me so I thought you all could help me also.

Sorry this is so long. I just need to let you all know all of my symptoms.
Please help me to understand. I am a 49 yr. old female with symptoms of horrible burning, numbness, tingling mostly in the head, but often enough in my entire upper torso. I also have pulsating tinnitus, ddd of the cervical neck and thoracic spine with spasms, soreness, stiffness and tender points in both areas. Sometimes my knee swells up and gets real sore and red. Occasionally I wake up in the morning with my elbows swollen but not sore. MRI of brain ok, cervical and thoracic spine showed ddd. 24hr. blood pressure okay, Heart catheterization okay along with all the other cardiac workups ok. EEG ok. EMG showed carpal tunnel in both hands. I can not sleep very well. I am up every couple of hours, but can get back to sleep now. Seven year history of a mystery rash that occurs once or twice a year and lasts 4 to 6 weeks. Sometimes on my upper torso and no where else or like now on both arms and legs (no where else). Dermatologists has given me a ton of creams, nothing works. Took Prednisone and it went away immediately but returned with a vengence only of both arms and legs as soon as the prednisone was finished. Derma biopsied it but do not get the results for a week. He does not feel that it is an allergic reaction. He feels it is something immune related. It is bright red, raised spots and patches that are very itchy. Also on my right back arm red raised rough long itchy area also the same thing on my right upper thigh. The entire rash on both arms and legs is very itchy. I also am always red in the face, mostly across nose and cheeks and sometimes chin. It is not a rash and does not itch. Sometimes it is hot but mostly just feels normal. Following tests were positive: Lupus Anticoagulant (detected) based on the following results: PTT-LA 71 H Seconds (range 40 or less) DRVVT Screen 51 H Seconds (range 42 or less) Phospholipid - Confirmed. Neutralization Not Confirmed. I have multiple nodules on my thyroid but only one count the T4 was slightly elevated. Ultrasound shows a goiter, but my one doc said just to watch it. ANA Normal, Tons of blood work all normal but my Gastrin was elevated by 2 points. My 24 hour urine was okay except for slightly elevated metanephrines. I am in Physical therapy and feel that it has helped with lessening some of the symptoms. My Rheumatologists does not know what is wrong with me. I have been to the family doc, internal med doc, dermatologists, neurologists and PM&Rdoc. Your thoughts on all of this would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all so much in advance.


Sincerely,

ventcrew

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Karen