Hi everyone! I just found this board today. I am glad that I found it!

I am currently in the waiting period for my blood test results. I have about another week left.

I have had symptoms of lupus since I was 14. At the time, the dr told my mother I was too young to have it. Over the years, (i am now 30) things have gotten worse and new symptoms started showing up. (most I never knew were even related)

i got sick last august with strep throat. I never seemed to have recovered from it. My dr kept telling me it was a "viral thing" and would go away. Well, 8 months later it hasn't gone away yet. I have been out of work for a month now. I have had a battery of tests done to rule out different things. No one could seem to find the answer. I have been running a fever this whole time. If it wasn't for that, I would think that the dr's as well as myself would think it was all in my head.

I finally saw a rheumatologist last week. I was dx'd with tendonitis of the wrist, shoulders, knees and ankles by my primary Dr. That was almost 10 years ago. They have gotten more painful over the years, so I figured at best maybe I have arthritis. When I looked into arthritis, that is when I noticed a lot of my symptoms all related to lupus. Those were the things I brushed off.....The rashes, the headaches, the sunlight sensitivity, etc. Then I panicked having remembered back to when I was younger and they wouldn't test me. The rheumy agreed that I have many symptoms and even things like livedo reticularis....I thought that was just my normal skin doing it's thing.

So, hopefully something will be conclusive from all the bloodwork that was done.

I am really happy to have found a place where people understand the frustration and pain of trying to get a dx.

Pinkpanther74