Does anyone know what kind specialist you would see for Lupus or Fibromyalgia?

Question

I am 19 and have been dealing with very hard and odd symtoms for about three years now. I have extreme fatigue, constant entire body pain, headaches that occasionally progress to migraines, sores that do not heal and are there for no apparent reason (I counted the sores on one of my legs yesterday, not including my foot which also has many sores, and counted 38)the sores are also on my arms and back and inside my nose, also large and very horrible looking bruises all over my legs for absolutly no reason I am not clumsy I do not bump into things nor do I drop this on myself or do anything to cause a bruise, they are all over my legs there is hardly one spot on my legs that is not covered in brown purple or yellow bruises. Also if I do happen to have an itch if I scratch it it breaks the skin instantly and I bleed profusly and have another sore that does not heal. I also am dealing with anxiety, restlessness. I cannot sleep at night either because i am in too much pain to fall asleep.

Answer 1

Try a Neurologist first.He will help with the with the true diagnosis.He may prescribe you some pain medication for the pain.Fibromyalgia is a very very painful and debilitating disease.He may recommend you start with a pain specialist,who will also perform tests such as a MRI or CT scan and some blood work.Either one will probably refer you to a Rheumatologist,where you may get more tests.It seems like a lot of work and doctors,but it is best to find out every thing so you can be properly treated.Fibromyalgia does not get better it becomes more debilitating as you get older.Please you owe it to yourself to get the"royal" treatment and find out all you can about the problems you are having.Also after you have a diagnosis,and you are unable to be employed or have problems with employment b/c of your illness,file for disability or SSI.Again I say Fibromyalgia itself is debilitating,add Lupus to it and you probably are truly suffering.

JRL-LPN

Answer 2

Honey, I don't think that you are dealing with Lupus or fybromyalgia alone. Yes, you could be suffering from one or maybe even both of those diseases but there is more than that going on. You really need to see your family Dr. and have him run some blood test and maybe even a skin test, then have him refer you to a specialist. You are too young to have skin thin enough to break just when you scratch it. First of all, to help you sleep, get some cortisone anti-itch cream, and benydryl. Then, first thing in the morning, call your Dr. I'm sure he has an answering service if he isn't in. If that doesn't work, go to the E.R. How long have you had these symptoms? Do a search on the computer and try to identify your symptoms with some diseases/illnesses you find on the web. A good one is Web MD. However, be careful. Sometimes if you are just suffering from a headache, you'll read something on the Internet and think you have something as serious as a brain tumor. Just use it as a guide so you know exactly what to tell your DR. Write down all of your problems exactly, don't add or take away anything.If you do you may throw him off and it would be harder to diagnose your problem.

Answer 3

Well, I agree about the discrimination you mention because some people (and old doctor too) don’t offer equal treatment because of some juvenile path (piercing, tattoo, hair, etc.)
I’m sorry to hear of your problems and the apparent uncertainty over the diagnosis behind your real symptoms, despite the Systemic Lupus Erythematosis (SLE) tends to occur in the twenties and thirties and women are nine times more likely to be affected then men. Anyway, how can I help you? Listen.
There is a simple blood test that can be used to detect over ninety per cent of people suffering with SLE and that is the test for antinuclear antibodies. Although not specific for SLE, combined with other more complex tests looking at the body's immune system and particular signs and symptoms of SLE, a diagnosis can usually be made.

Then we could think about more simple diseases working at the same time!
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) for skin sores. Or, a poor diet will promote easy bruising. As well as a severe Vitamin C deficiency. Somebody refers to the capillary fragility also.

Some Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) causes of CFS include anemia (low iron in the blood); hypoglycemia (low blood sugar); environmental allergies; and candidiasis (yeast infection) in the entire body. Sometimes CFS develops on its own, for no reason. But, most persons with CFS say that it started after having a cold, bronchitis, hepatitis, or an intestinal virus. It can also follow a bout of infectious mononucleosis (mono), the "kissing disease" that drains the energy of many teenagers and young adults. Some persons with CFS say their illness began after a time of extreme stress, such as the loss of a loved one or undergoing major surgery.
CFS symptoms either stay with a person or come and go for more than 6 months. Initial symptoms can feel like you have the flu, besides extreme fatigue and weakness. CFS symptoms include: Headaches of a new type, pattern, or intensity, Tender lymph nodes, Sore throat, Muscle pain or aches, Pain or aches in several joints without swelling or redness, Not being able to concentrate, focus, or remember, Feeling tired even if sleeping, Feeling discomfort or "out-of-sorts" after physical exertion.

Sorry, I stop here, but my last question is, what your parents say about your situation?
We just are leaving together and so they can see and share your problem daily. They only can give you a concrete help.

Answer 4

YES, SEE A LISCENCED ENDOCRINOLOGIST. LUPUS IS An autoimmune disease. For the anxiety, you can start with your family doctor or an MD. Xanax is a good medicine for anxiety. To reduce the sores, don't sit in bed on that area. lie on your side and then switch the other side often so the blood doesn't pool to those areas. Don't take aspirin as it'll cause more bleeding. Tylenol might be okay for you if it doesn't interfere with other meds you are taking.

Answer 5

Theere are so many diseases that could be causing these symptoms, you really do need to start by going to your family doctor--a specialist in family medicine or internal medicine. He/she can do some tests and then refer you to the appropriate specialist. For lupus or fibromyalgia it would be a rheumatologist, but there are other possible diseases that would call for different specialists.

You've got some serious symptoms! Get moving on it right away.

Answer 6

Could be HCV as well, not Lupus or Fibro. Fibro would be viral based. Have them check you for HCV, HBV, Mono.

Many other possibles...MS, HBV or food allergies. Could be any issue regarding organs such as kidneys, liver ect.

If your 19 and its been going on for three years now, was there anything you did back then different?

Any surgery's? Dental visits? Ear Peircings? Tatoo? Unprotected Sex? Share a razor or tooth brush?

When did you have your HEP B vaccine or flu vaccine?

There are soooo many possibilities, I wish I had a clear answer for you....See an internest.

Answer 7

I suggest you see a Rheumatologist and maybe a hematologist.

I also suggest that they test you for APS as you have some of the key symptoms of that also..which runs with Lupus.

Answer 8

Start with someone in internal medicine. If you have lupus or fm (and I hope you don't) you'll wind up with an oncologist. Best of luck.

Answer 9

Rhuematologist.

Answer 10

It sounds to me as if you don't know yet what you have. See your primary care physician first and if you get referred to a specialist, you'll be told by what specialty you'll be seen.