Should I get tested?
Posted , 3 users are following.
About 6 months ago I started getting some odd symptoms. It started with a burning sensation in my mouth and lips, eventually it evolved into hives/rash on my face, but mostly on the right side. I went to an urgent care office and they prescribed prednisone and told me to follow up with my doctor. The prednisone did the trick and I went to my doctor a few weeks later. His suspicion was a food allergy, as was mine. He referred me to an allergist. I couldn't get an appointment right away so decided to wait a few weeks and call back when my after summer as they advised me I would have to be off Claritin for 7 days prior to any testing. By the time fall comes my seasonal allergies are minimal so I could discontinue the Claritin with minimal issues. About the time its finally getting cold enough to discontinue the Claritin the burning, itchy, rash comes back on my face, although on the left side mostly this time. I decided to cut my diet down to a few foods to see if that helps. It doesn't. Meanwhile I call the allergist back and they can't fit me in until December. I make the appointment but explain that I'm pretty miserable so they advise me to go back to the urgent care and get another round of prednisone. I went this morning and got the prednisone, but in the exam the practitioner said the other thing that came to his mind was Lupus. I remembered many years ago a doctor friend telling me to be on the lookout for Lupus symptoms when he told me I had Reynauds. The only other symptom I know of is occasional hip joint pain. So am I jumping the gun if I seek out a rheumatologist?
0 likes, 2 replies
shirleygirly annette72733
Posted
Hi Annette,
I had the same problem as you. It was all over my body. I went to my gp and they thought I had Lichen Planus. But when I checked on line I did not have the symptoms. I went back to my gp and insisted on a lupus test which came back positive. So yes you could very well have lupus.
Su2 annette72733
Posted
Hi
as you have hip pain a Rheumatologist is the right specialist to see and they can look at the range of symptoms and find out if it is Lupus/autoimmune.
I started with bad wrist/hand pain and swollen joints but a GP dismissed my symptoms as nothing. That was over 35 yrs ago. If they'd been more thorough, I would have been diagnosed sooner. I'd had migraines from childhood and UV sensitivity from my early teens. Prednisone will help to ease symptoms in the short term but it's important that you get the right diagnosis and treatment. Best wishes.