another new rhuemy

I finally got into the rhuemy I have been wanting to see. He took a look at all my biopsies & labs it turns out I have discoid lupus not tumid. He is concerned it has turned to sle. He pulled out his lab papers & marked everything on it. By the time the lab was done with me I gave them 20 tubes of blood! Good thing Iv'e developed a tolerance to needles. It has took me 4 yrs to find someone who cares enough to really find out what is happening. My next appt will be a phone appt when my labs come back & then he says we will go from there. I have started my plaquenil again because my body hurts sooo bad I can't stand it. Boy what I would do for a real pain pill! I hope the plaquenil kicks in fast.  He also is wondering if my lupus has something to do with my hypoglycemia. I really don't think my lupus has progressed any more than what it was, I just never had a doctor listen to me from the get go. I have been in this flare for months & have actually thought I was dying & all docs could do is look at me & say whatever it is it is serious. ( NO ---- ! ) Hopefully he will have some answers for me. Sorry if I sound grouchy it just gets overwhelming. I always thought you get sick go to doc & they  would know how to make you feel better. It is disapointing when you find out the truth! But now i feel so much better knowing I'm with a doctor that is knowledgable in lupus.

Danab,

Grouch all you want. I'm feeling kind of grouchy myself so I can identify more than you know. How wonderful, though, about your doctor. I'm going to be going to a new one too and I hope he's just like yours. The plaquenil won't work quickly, but eventually it will kick in. All three rheumys I've gone to have told me that I'll be on that for the rest of my life & I would assume that applies to other lupies as well. Even though it might not feel like it's working, it can actually stop the progression of your lupus and you really want that.

I hope you get some answers from the 20 vials of blood he took.

Pat

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<sub>SLE, fibro, renauds, restless leg, hiatal hernia, double vision, migraines, costocondritis.

prednisone, plaquenil, leflunomide, neurontin, synthroid, triamterene, actonel, niaspan, tri-est, cymbalta, tricor, acifex</sub>

Wow! With that much blood, he should be able to totally describe your past AND predict the future...including who your children will marry! lol

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Lynnwood, Lupus & Sjogren's Moderator
Life is far too important to be taken seriously. - Oscar Wilde, 1882

I am so glad you found a decent rheumy. Hopefully with that much blood they can grow you a whole new body.

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Dx:fibromyalgia 2002, systematic lupus 2005- definate CNS involvement dxed late 2005, psoriasis 2006, rheumatoid arthritis 2006, PTSD 2007, multiple allergies 2005, migraine, compression fractures T11 & T12, Sjögren's, damaged periphrial nerves 2007, exema
Tx: plaquenil, Enbrel, Tramadol, Singulair, Skelaxin, Baby Asprin, Imuran, Prilosec, lasix, Evoxac, Celebrex, Darvocet when things get too bad, prednisone again, various vitamin/mineral supplements, cozar

Sounds like your new rheumy is good and thorough. It can make a huge difference when you find someone who will finally listen to you and cares about finding answers. Let us know what you find out from your labs.

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dx: UCTD (lupus), sjogrens, reynauds,

I wish they could grow me a new body! wouldn't that be wonderful! Thanks for all the replies. I know everyone around me gets tired of listening to me moan groan & it means alot to have someone listen that understands.