Lot's of lupus symptoms, but not sure if I should freak out yet....?

I started going to the doctor at the beginning of the school year when my headaches that I've had for years started getting really bad and I had a week of the world spinning in my head along with ringing in my ears. I though it was M茅ni猫re's or just an ear infection since I have a history of it. My doctor told me my ear was fine and said I might just have migraines. Took lot's of migraine medicine, including Imitriex. Nothing worked and I switched doctors, my new doctor sent me to a neurologist after nothing worked. My neurologist made me get an MRI, CAT scan, Xrays, EEG, EMG (idk the names) I had blood drawn five different times, I even had a pregnancy test (why idk). My EMG (or w/e) showed that I had a pinched nerve in my back and neck, I took medication and had work outs, but my back still hurts (yea, I forgot to mention I have a bad back). My ANA tests came back abnormal, my doctor wanted a lupus profile though he said that he didn't think I had it.

My insurance canceled on my before I could get the profile thing done. I did some research on Lupus and then I realized, oh my, I have most of those symptoms.....so I'm not sure if I should freak out or not...
Symptoms:
X Painful or swollen joints and muscle pain.
X Unexplained fever
X Red rashes, most commonly on the face
X Chest pain upon deep breathing
X Unusual loss of hair
X Pale or purple fingers or toes from cold or stress (Raynaud's phenomenon)
X Swelling (edema) in legs or around eyes
X Swollen glands
X Extreme fatigue
X Anemia
X Low white something
X Headaches
X Dizziness
X Confusion
X mini-depressions.

So you tell me, I want to know if I should spend nearly a thousand dollars in medical bills...or more if I really do have it...

I would definately pay the money and get the insurance. From there I would have the doctor do further testing to investigate. There are a lot of diseases that can mimic Lupus and vice versa. It is better to rule it out (or in) than to let anything progress. If you do have something your going to need insurance with all the testing and presciptions!!
Have they given you Maxalt? that is the only one that semi works for my Lupus headaches/migraines.
Good Luck!

check webmd its a good reliable site

Its sounds like your back. I have the same thing.I have found tracktion helps a lot. Not all doctors like tracktion.Just get reffered to a phisio who does tracktion. I have my own set to do it at home now. It sure saves lots of pills ,heat packs, pain stifness, giddyness ,and most of all the headaches.But if you are still worried get a lupus test done.

Well, your symptoms to do not sound Lupus related. Many people have high ANA counts and either have nothing wrong or have other inflammatory conditions. I was diagnosed with Lupus in 1996 and was sick for many years prior - with nothing you describe. Of course it cannot hurt to have a work up done. Do realize their is no definitive test, blood or otherwise to test for Lupus.


Just read your edit - those are the symptoms of Lupus and of many other auto-immune diseases. So again, have the work up and see a reputable rheumatologist.

Honestly, I think it just has something to do with your bad back. My mom has a bad back and not a day goes by that she doesn't have a headache. There are lots of things that can go wrong to make tests be abnormal- which is why they are rechecking. Don't worry unless they are confirmed that you have it! And like your doctor said, he doesn't even think you have it! Hope everything goes alright with you!

*All of those symptoms can be associated with a lot of different health problems. There's something about hearing a disease that will automatically make you identify with all of the symptoms. If it is lupus, there is a lot that they can do with medicine these days. Just try not to worry, and listen to your doctor!

If you have something wrong with your back see a chiropracter. Most symptoms will go away when your back is healed. Think about it, your spine controls your whole body if that is not working right then your body cannot work right. Your spine is the central computer for your body that needs to run smooth. I would recommend a chiro that takes xrays first(check for ads sometimes they do crazy cheap first appointments. I am sure there are a lot of good chiros out there but I am partial to Palmer graduates they seem to have a lot more knowledge than other school grads(and no I dont work for them or know anyone who does I just like their care better) Hope this helps!!