I had been having problems with numbness and tingling in my hand, along with redness and soreness for about a year and a half before I was diagnosed. I was first told that I might have Multiple Sclerosis, which really scared me. I was sent to a Neurologist, went through neuro conductor tests, but he couldn't find anything wrong. My family doctor then ran a series of blood tests. After these tests were complete, he then sent me to a Rheumatologist, who then confirmed a Lupus diagnosis. My present symptoms are extreme fatigue, chest pains, achy joints, headaches, numbness, and sometimes a rash across my cheeks. I am achy all the time, and also suffer with Raynaud's Phenomenon which leaves my fingers red and sore. I recently starting having bad headaches and seeing flashes of light before my eyes, especially before bed time. I am constantly tired, and sometimes experience a heaviness in my legs and arms. I was also told that I have "sticky blood", which is the Lupus Anticoagulant Syndrome and can cause either clotting or excessive bleeding. This is presently being treated with one baby aspirin a day. I sometimes have trouble with speech, as when I go to talk, nothing comes out. I have numbness in my left hand and sometimes down one side of my face, I have trouble with my jaw, and eating is sometimes difficult. I also bruise easily, which can also be caused by the Anticoagulant Syndrome.
My present symptoms are extreme fatigue, chest pains, achy joints, headaches, numbness, and sometimes a rash across my cheeks. I am achy all the time, and also suffer with Raynaud's Phenomenon which leaves my fingers red and sore. I recently starting having bad headaches and seeing flashes of light before my eyes, especially before bed time. I am constantly tired, and sometimes experience a heaviness in my legs and arms. I was also told that I have "sticky blood", which is the Lupus Anticoagulant Syndrome and can cause either clotting or excessive bleeding. This is presently being treated with one baby aspirin a day. I sometimes have trouble with speech, as when I go to talk, nothing comes out. I have numbness in my left hand and sometimes down one side of my face, I have trouble with my jaw, and eating is sometimes difficult. I also bruise easily, which can also be caused by the Anticoagulant Syndrome.
I feel I have had well-educated physicians and good health care, but I do not have family support. Some days are better than others. The Lupus web sites have helped me cope. However, I have also obsessed over this illness, taking in too much information and have scared myself with some of the material I have read on Lupus. I would like for my family to know that I am scared, and I need some understanding.
Emotionally, I deal with this illness by myself as my husband and both my children are very unsupportive. I try not to worry about my symptoms, but I sometimes cannot help being concerned about my health. I am considering homeopathic remedies and vitamins, as I have been told that vitamin E is particularly helpful to those with lupus. I think it's worth a try.
I am linked to 2 other Lupus sites and feel privelidged to receive such wonderful responses from some very caring people. This disease has changed my life and now I have to find a way to manage it so that it doesn't consume my everyday life.
Thanks for listening.
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