Worried about having Lupus

I'm sorry if I posted things were I'm not suppose to, I'm learning as I go.
I have had achey joints for years and it just keeps getting worse the older I get. I'm 36 and I have 2 kids. Last night I had my joint pain to flare up again.. I had been doing pretty good for about a month. I didn't have to take my meds, just something for the pain every once in a while. I just feel so tired all the time.. being out in the sun really makes me feel sick, I've even noticed that my nose and cheeks stay red..some people think I've been drinking alcohol but I haven't..I even brake out into hives when I take a warm shower and it's really bad I itch and itch and have to take a Benadryl. I've had one ANA test to come back positive and I'm waiting on the results of my last bloodwork. So, what is your opinion? I would like to know if this could possibly be lupus or am I over reacting.
Thanks so much

I don't know a lot about lupus, but thyroid disease and lupus run in my extended family.

I've heard that Hashimoto's thyroid disease can result in a positive ANA without having lupus.

I know personally that thyroid problems can cause fatigue, dry skin, and muscle/bone aches. You might want to get a TSH and antibodies test to help rule out thyroid disease.

It sounds like a possibility. Other auto-immune disorders can have positive ANA titers as well. Don't expect to get a quick diagnosis though. It appears that it's very common to have cried/whinned/complained to your doctor a hundred times, seen evey specialist in the phone book and had every " uncomfortable" test known to mankind, before most doctors ate willing to commit to a systemic
( illness that effects many different organ systems)disease. I hope that all turnes out well for you, and you begin to feel better soon. julie

Originally posted by teresamarie36:
I'm sorry if I posted things were I'm not suppose to, I'm learning as I go.
I have had achey joints for years and it just keeps getting worse the older I get. I'm 36 and I have 2 kids. Last night I had my joint pain to flare up again.. I had been doing pretty good for about a month. I didn't have to take my meds, just something for the pain every once in a while. I just feel so tired all the time.. being out in the sun really makes me feel sick, I've even noticed that my nose and cheeks stay red..some people think I've been drinking alcohol but I haven't..I even brake out into hives when I take a warm shower and it's really bad I itch and itch and have to take a Benadryl. I've had one ANA test to come back positive and I'm waiting on the results of my last bloodwork. So, what is your opinion? I would like to know if this could possibly be lupus or am I over reacting.
Thanks so much

The things you describe do indeed sound like lupus symptoms. The thing about lupus is, it's not necessarily one disease, but a collection of a whole bunch of different symptoms. In the early 80s, a scale was developed to define the characteristics of lupus....11 characteristics are given, and if you have 4 of those 11, you are considered to have lupus. I can't remember all 11, but here are some of them:

Inflammatory arthritis in more than one joint

sensitivity to sunlight (break out in a rash)

unrelenting rash on nose and cheeks (malar rash)

discoid rash (a more severe rash on cheeks or other parts of body)

inflammation of the membranes in your abdominal cavity (patient will complain of abdominal pain)

positive blood test for lupus antibodies

neurological symptoms like seizures or confusion

ulcers inside the mouth

Okay...I can't remember any more, but if you want to know more, let me know and I'll go find them.

Do you have any more of those above that I mentioned?

I just want to Thank all of you that responded to my post..it means everything to me to have some were I can go that people care about me enough to take the time to write back
I'm still having leg pain off and on, I'm still tired.. and my face is still red... I'm still waiting on my bloodwork to come back!! It's been 9 days now! I'm getting tired of waiting.. I just wonder if this test does come back positive (ANA) If my symptoms could be lupus... Thanks so very much for listening. * I have noticed when I get hot and sweaty I break out in hives on my stomach area.. Is this a symptom too?? http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/confused.gif

[This message has been edited by teresamarie36 (edited 08-16-2003).]

I just thought I'd let you all know that I got my ANA test back and it's still "mildly positive" and my Doctors setting me up a appointment with a rheumatologist... here I go on the ride,like I've heard so many of you guys go on.. I'll keep in touch