RE:Hi Barb/ waiting diagnosis!

[Guest guest]

Hi Barb-

How are you feeling today? I hope you got up and out a bit .......

I know it's hard to rest up for the work week. I wish you a pain free day Hon-

The other Biker Babe - Lynzster

Re: waiting diagnosis!

Dear Barb,I read your post and first want to say welcome. I also have RA and lupus, and am 48, probably have had it undiagnosed for awhile. Finally got e nough blood testing when this last spring i felt like you did, like i had flu everyday. I have bad discs and have had two back operations, including fusion in my neck, so ive had a lot of chronic pain for years...but usually it was bad at the end of the day----and id be okay after some rest and PT---- when i started out first tthing sitting at my desk at work and my whole body wracked with pain crying i thought i cannot go on, now what.I also was active, and its been very isolating as one by one all my non work activities bite the dust. Forget the old hobbies of canoeing hiking riding, 0r even take long walks. grocery shopping is a major accomplihsment but i pay for it the rest of the aftern oon. sound familair? To a lot of us. And not many peopole in my life, inclusing the boyfriend i just lost, undesdtadn why i look okay, but cant work up the ebergy to go to an art msuem or sometimes even have a quiet dinner. so i am despressed too. like many of us here, its part of the journey. some days i cope better than others, this group has helped. and support from the few, very few friends who get it. youre in good company here, ask any questio0ns, someone will have had some expeirnce with it...and brenda's webpahe is pricelss.good luck and hugs, leslie> Hello to all and thank you for the warm reception.> > My name is Barbara Ladd and I am waiting for diagnosis but my Internal Medicine Dr. says I have enough symptoms that he is pretty sure that Lupus or one of the connective tissue disorders is the problem. Have had blood work an my GYN. and all is ok except lymphocytes a little high. Wants to do more blood work and 24 hour urine test. Will have that Monday. I test possitive for rheumatiod arth. 15 years ago and then again neg. three months later. Just let it go.> I now have several symptoms such as constant low grade fever, joint aches, constant fatigue, lympth node swelling in elbow, chronic eye conjuctivitis, headache, loss of appetite, unrestful sleep, night sweats and depression. I sometimes have a rash after sun exp. but not always and never on my face.> I take prozac for depression and zanax to sleep. Weekends have become just a time to rest so I can make it to work through the week. I have slept up to 36 hours a week-end and need 10 to 12 a night to make it to work. My job is demanding and I feel as if I have the flu everyday. Some days are better than others but none are normal. I take as much as 1200-1600 milligrams of ibuprofen for pain but this does not break the daily fever. 99.2 - 100.2 is the norm EVERYDAY. I am 44 year old and very active (or used to be) I used to enjoy Motorcycle riding both street and dirt. (I have my own) Swimming, bicycling and working out. Now I just try to make it to work. I'm not a person to let thing get me down but this is really kicking me around! Well thanks for letting me share!> Barb Ladd"The LUPIES Store" Come check out our store...http://www.cafepress.com/thelupies"The LUPIES Web Page"http://www.itzarion.com/lupusgroup.html"The LUPIES online photo albums!" Check out what your fellow Lupies look like...http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=lupies