I finally am diagnosed but it took 35 years
I was pretty sure for 20 years I had an autoimmune disease, but my ANA was negative and my doctor refused to do follow up testing.
I have a long list of weird symptoms and I don't know how to figure out what the rheumatologist can help me with.
Do i tell the rheumatologist every weird symptom?
- Dizziness
- Decreased skin pain (i don't feel things that are quite serious: ear infections, diverticulitis, cellulitis). The lack of pain results in dangerous infections running wild.
- Exhaustion
- my legs and arms suddenly give out (have fallen down stairs)
- pain between my shoulder blades (told it was due to inflamed spleen)
- high fasting insulin levels on a very low carb diet
- high liver enzymes
- overweight on a 800-1200 calorie diet
Those are just the ones I'm experiencing this week.
,
Thanks for reaching out.
That surely is frustrating.
It's very easy to "discount" symptoms that we may deem weird or minor. However, each one may help put the diagnostic pieces together.
Many in this community have found that keeping a symptom journal and bringing it with you to your next rheumatologist visit can be helpful.
A good rheumatologist will take each symptom seriously and will help solve the puzzle.
~Doreen (Team Member)
