[JoeCanada76]

Okay, over the past year lost 45 lbs without even trying. Butterfly rash.
Hair loss before lower legs grew back and now gone again smooth like a babies bum.
Palpitations, blood pressure fluctuations. Episodes of shortness of breath and problems swallowing. Shaking and weakness, muscle tremors and twitches occasionally.
Recently went to chiropractor for neck and back pain, only to have nauseous feeling like I am going to vomit. Mri of the neck will be done within three months. Because abnormalities were found on the x-ray.

[J_9]

While it's commonly known as the "women's disease," have you been checked for Lupus?

I'm also thinking hormonal imbalances. Has your testosterone been checked recently?

[Wondergirl]

Isn't anyone checking you out for Lupus?? You seems to have the entire spectrum of symptoms.

Symptoms of Lupus --
* Butterfly rash
* Abdominal pain
* Difficulty concentrating and mild trouble with memory
* Fatigue
* Fever
* Hair loss
* Headaches
* Inflammation of the lungs and chest pain when breathing deeply
* Lesions or sores in the mouth or nose
* Muscle and joint pain and swollen joints
* Nausea and vomiting
* Rashes elsewhere on the body
* Sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitivity)

Do you take a fish oil capsule every day? Have you tried acupuncture?

[JoeCanada76]

The hormones have not been checked at all. Just regular normal routine blood work. Never checked for lupus and not sure if doctor would be even willing to check into that possibility.

[Wondergirl]

Can you stomp your little feet and demand that someone look at the possibility?

[J_9]

Hummm, I suggest lupus first and I get ignored? :(

[Wondergirl]

Hummm, I suggest lupus first and I get ignored? :(

You weren't ignored. He mentioned hormones in his post. My post is time-stamped the same time as his, so he saw yours first.

[J_9]

You weren't ignored. He mentioned hormones in his post. My post is time-stamped the same time as his, so he saw yours first.

I'm just messin' with you! :D

I didn't have the time right now, at work, to go into as much detail as you did. But great minds do think alike, don't they? :p

[Wondergirl]

Lupus is not something to ignore, Joe. It can really make you sick. Do you want me to write letters? Storm the doctors' offices? Send my attack cat? Your auntie loves her little cyber nephew and wants you to demand medical help and a diagnosis.

[J_9]

Lupus is not something to ignore, Joe. It can really make you sick. Do you want me to write letters? storm the doctors' offices? send my attack cat? Your auntie loves her little cyber nephew and wants you to demand medical help and a diagnosis.

I totally agree Joe! You might have a hard time up there in Canada getting a doctor to test you as it really is known as the "women's disease," but you seem to have the classic tell-tale symptoms. You need to really be your own advocate now.

[JoeCanada76]

Tests for ANA antibody came back negative.

Doctor is not sure about the hair loss.

We are going to be focusing on the sleep and reflux and go from there I guess.

Weight loss, thought I loss more but doctor said my losing weight has leveled off the last few months.

So there you have it.

Will be going for a swallow test next week, and also going for a neck MRI in January.

[Wondergirl]

No one is putting all this information together to decide what is going on? Or they're still accumulating data?

[JoeCanada76]

No one is putting anything together, just going for test after test if nothing comes back its all in your head. Pretty much sums up my experience and their approach.

[J_9]

Joe, ANA is not the only test. It should be used in conjunction with other tests to diagnose Lupus. Your SED rate should be tested for presence of inflammation, as well as the CRP (C-Reactive Protein).

I found this interesting.

A negative ANA result makes SLE an unlikely diagnosis. It usually is not necessary to immediately repeat a negative ANA test; however, due to the episodic nature of autoimmune diseases, it may be worthwhile to repeat the ANA test at a future date if symptoms persist.

ANA: The Test | Antinuclear Antibody

[Wondergirl]

J_9 hit the nail on the head: "the episodic nature of autoimmune diseases." That's why doctors aren't pulling symptoms together into a diagnosis. Reminds me of the story of the blind men and the elephant.