How long should i wait to be tested for lupus??

Two of my cloose family members suffer from lupus, and i have been advised to go get tested. I don't know how long i should wait to go to the docs to talk to him about it. I am 18 and in the middle of my alevels, in my last year, and suffering from frequent headaches at the moment.

can someone help with the confusion as i been told it should wait, but there agian to prioritise things.
and any hidden sites? i know about some of the lupus research and support ones.

thanks

i do have joint pains. I did have two strange spots under my eyes, a bit like normal spots except they didnt go away from about three months, and didn't have anything in them. Thanks for making me remember to help by putting more info on for the person wit the first answer.

When you have some free time, go see a Doc and tell him your worry. If I was your Doc listening to this, then I would think, well I do some blood tests anyway and see what the results are. Now it might be all the blood tests come back Normal, in which case your fear and worry have been solved. On the other hand it might be that certain tests return abnormal. Lupus is a autoimmune condition, BUT that does not mean you have Lupus, however it could mean you have another autoimmune condition. Therefore having a blood test could save your life. I do not want to panic you, but a Friend of a friend. Her Mother is in Politics and daughter took off to US, with Husband to start their life. The daughter was healthy. Three months later the husband came home from work and the wife was dead on the couch? They had the Autopsy and found out she had undiagnosed Lupus! She had no symptoms, no signs, was healthy, was jogging with Husband, never complained to her Mother that she felt unwell, tired, exhausted, nothing. I have read that several people had heart attacks, ambulance called, taken to Hospital and they eventually diagnosed Lupus!
I think you are a positive person because you know it is in your family and you are wondering if you should be tested, so that is what they term positive health approach. Good Luck

Do not panic.
If you have join pains, rashes, sensitivity to light ... as your primary care doc to test you. The tests are ANA and Anti-DS-DNA.
If you do NOT have these symptoms, then simply do not get tested. Diagnosing lupus in the absence of symptoms will not lead to any treatment.
Good luck!

Dont wait you silly moo!

But there is no specific lupus test, just a diagnosis of symptoms, such as tiredness, nausea or family genetics(as you mentioned) among others.

As for websites, uklupus.co.uk is a good one and also lupusnewslog.blogspot.com also lists some helpful ones as well as personal experiences and blogs containing information.

First, there is NO lupus test. What test were you planning on asking for? A diagnosis of lupus is made when a variety of other condtions are ruled out, and your symptoms meet some of the criteria for diagnosing lupus and your CBC and CMP, sed rate and other markers indicate lupus. Many people struggle for years trying to be properly diagnosed.

Why would you wnat "hidden sites?" There is a lot of very good, peer reviewed information out there. Start with www.lupus.org.

If you are having symptoms, talk to your doctors. It could be lupus or something else. But I don't understand why you would wait.

Best wishes.