Finding Answers

When I went to my primary doctor, I did not know what was going on with me. I was sent to an orthopedic doctor, who did not know what was happening. I went to a neurologist, who also did not know what was happening. After I had the EMG (Electromyography) test done on my nerves, it came out clear, with no blockage. I felt I was in more pain. After a few months of back and forth through the doctor and specialist, my doctor told me that she did not know what was going on with me. I was in tears, pleading for her help. She told me that all my exams were negative and said that there was nothing else she could do. I felt so horrible, and I remembered that my husband and I were looking up my symptoms, and we thought it could be Lupus. So, I asked her if there was another specialist I could see for this, even though my ANA test was negative. (ANA is an Antinuclear antibody that tests if someone has Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or any other autoimmune disease) She told me she could refer me to a rheumatologist. I felt some relief, but I was still nervous, thinking I would get the same reply from them.

               I was so nervous when I went to my first appointment with the rheumatologist. I was in pain for way too long, and I was on the verge of losing my temp job since I could not type a few words without being in excruciating pain. The rheumatologist that my doctor recommended seemed to be one of the good ones. When he was doing my evaluation, he saw how nervous I was and told me he would help me find out what was happening to me. He gave me hope and told me of all the blood tests he could do that a regular doctor could not do at his office. He told me that there were many in-depth tests for ANA that he could do and sent me to have x-rays and an ultrasound of my joint. Again, everything came out negative, and I cried from frustration. The rheumatologist told me not to worry. He will keep doing the tests until he figures it out. After all the testing and with my symptoms, he finally received a diagnosis of Lupus. This was in August of 2015. Unfortunately, that was just the beginning.