I can't remember exactly when this journey started, but I think it was March maybe. I had a really bad cold and after it was gone I got a rash on my face. I went to a local doctor who was working that Saturday after we had gotten back into town from a basketball tournament. He said that it was an allergy to the protein from the cold. He gave me an antihistamine and an antibiotic. The antibiotic cleared most of it up, but not completely. Back to the doctor I went again. This time I was given a different antihistamine and prednisone pills. Still, the rash didn't go away. Then the doctor decided to do a biopsy on my face. I was scared. I've never had a biopsy done before, let alone on my face! I already have plenty of scars on my face, so I wasn't worried about one more. In the meantime of waiting for the results, someone at one of my jobs mentioned that her mom once had yeast infection on her face. So, I decided to try an anti-fungal cream that I had on hand. This worked. The rash on my face finally was gone! When the biopsy of my face rash did come back, it only showed eczema and psoriasis tissues. I thought this was the end of this ordeal.
Then, a new one started. I went to my son's district track meet on a Thursday. I was out in very sunny 80 degree weather for a few hours. I didn't think anything of it. I was wearing a t-shirt and jeans. Two days later I was covered in another rash. This time it was on my left hand and all over both arms. Off to a dermatologist I went this time. He said that I had an allergic reaction to the sun. An Iowa farm girl having an allergic reaction to the sun? Hmmm. I told him what I used on my face, so he gave me some ointment of the same. Well, I used this ointment for 2 weeks and this rash was finally almost gone. I just had some spots that looked like scars left. I went back for a check up and he said it cleared up nicely and not to worry because he didn't think I would have any scars. He told me to use a moisturizer for a week and then back on the ointment. After a week, the rash came back. Back to the dermatologist I went. This time he was going to do a biopsy. While there I asked him if he thought it could be an autoimmune disease because being a self-diagnoser on the internet, I had researched it. He questioned that we had already done the lupus blood test. I said no, we didn't. He went through my online records to make sure because he didn't want to repeat any tests since insurance wouldn't pay for it. Finally, he knew that he hadn't done the test.
I waited a week for both of these results to come back, after calling on them for 2 days after the day he said they would be done only to hear every time I called that the nurse was in a room or that the doctor hadn't reviewed them yet. The biopsy again showed eczema and psoriasis, and the blood test, a ANA antibody testing came back positive which is an indicator of an autoimmune disease called lupus.
After reading up on lupus, I realized that I have had a lot of the symptoms of the disease. I have had TMJ for almost 2 years. I have had body aches off and on for a while. Lately I have had awful back pain in the morning. I have always taken a lot of ibuprofen, almost daily. I've noticed weight gain and abdominal bloating. I also have red spots on my chest that are actually blood vessels that have come to the surface, which is another sign of the disease. The dermatologist's office made me an appointment to see a rheumatologist. I can't get in for a month though. This doctor is the same one my mom goes to for rheumatoid arthritis. Another clue, that it runs in the family. At this appointment I will have to answer a lot of questions regarding symptoms and have a lot more blood tests ordered.
I am very scared for this specialist to actually say the words to confirm that I have this. There are a lot of other bad symptoms that can occur including hair loss and kidney failure. Whatever the future holds regarding it, I will just have to work through it and not give up. With the right drugs it is very manageable, but not curable. I will keep an update going on this journey.
