I am 15 years old (female), and without a doubt have Lupus. My doctor is slow in diagnosing, which is understandable, but he keeps telling me things are wrong with me other than Lupus, that really aren’t, he keeps giving medicine to treat my “illnesses,” and they don’t work because he’s obviously wrong. I have been on all kinds of medications for various things, except for Lupus! He is holding off on lab. tests (which is pissing me off!) and is starting to have attitude with me…I think he thinks its all in my head even though I have all symptoms, genetic history of Lupus, and even his resident is trying to speed things up because she knows I should be tested and diagnosed (I am sick and do not want to live like this any longer). I told him I am missing school because the teachers are sending me home for being too sickly to be in school, and I’m in college level courses, and the school is demanding I get a tutor. I am not going to go over all my symptoms, I do want to know 2 things…
How can I get my doctor to speed things up and to make him understand I am seriously sick and need immediate attention?
And more importantly…I was just outside in the sun (it’s about 75ยบ in New York) for only 8 or more minutes trying to get my puppy’s to come inside…When I came in, as usual during a flare, I got a rash over my chest and part of my neck. A little while later I got severe chest pain, which makes it hard to take deep breaths, and strikes pain when moving (bending)…I get this chest pain randomly, but is there a connection with this pain and the sun and/or the sun rash? If so, what and what does it mean!?
Hi, I have a friend with Lupus and it took her a long time for a diagnoses. She got pretty pissed at times until she saw another doctor that was more compassionate and explained that Lupus is a very difficult disease to diagnose. She also has the sun allergy that comes along with it. She wears long sleeves and her doctor gave her some cream to put on her blisters when she does go in the sun. That curbs the itching. All I can suggest is to try a doctor that specializes in internal medicine or rare diseases. Good luck. I know you must be miserable. I will pray for you to get the help you need.
Hi Christina
Here are some ideas to heal the issue. Also learning about detoxifying the blood by doing colon and liver cleanses will change your health forever.
Cause
Food allergies (there is a 100 percent correlation between lupus and food allergies), rheumatoid arthritis, other connective tissue diseases, parasites, candidiasis, bowel problems, and digestive enzyme deficiencies can create symptoms that mimic or exacerbate SLE. Migraines, epilepsy, and psychoses must also be ruled out before a proper course of treatment can be decided upon.
Both forms of lupus primarily strike young women (90% of cases) and young children.
The drugs hydralazine, procainamide, and beta blockers can cause false-positive readings of SLE, and can also produce a lupus-like condition that disappears when the drugs are no longer taken. Birth control pills and environmental stresses can also exacerbate lupus symptoms.
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Natural Cures
Diet: Eat an organic, whole foods diet. Also avoid overeating and limit your intake of dairy, beef products, and polyunsaturated oils. Also screen for food allergies and avoid all foods to which you are allergic or sensitive. Increase your intake of vegetables, especially green, yellow, and orange, and consume non-farm-raised fish several times a week.
Herbs: Supplementation with Swedish bitters with each meal can increase hydrochloric acid production. Also drink an infusion of nettle twice a day. Other useful herbs include echinacea, goldenseal, licorice, pau d`arco, and red clover
Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is the application of water, ice, steam and hot and cold temperatures to maintain and restore health. Treatments include full body immersion, steam baths, saunas, sitz baths, colonic irrigation and the application of hot and/or cold compresses. Hydrotherapy is effective for treating a wide range of conditions and can easily be used in the home as part of a self-care program. Many Naturopathic Physicians, Physical Therapists and Day Spas use Hydrotherapy as part of treatment.
Hyperthermia: Hyperthermia involves artificially creating fever in the body for the purpose of boosting immune function. Hyperthermia can be a highly effective method of eliminating toxins and heavy metals, as well as infectious bacteria and viruses that cannot survive in elevated body temperatures.
*Purified water is essential for any hydrotherapy or hyperthermia treatment. Remedies for Treating Chlorinated Bath Water offers clear instructions and recommendations.
Juice Therapy: Drink the juice of carrot, celery, flaxseed oil, black currant oil, and garlic.
Nutritional Supplementation: Hydrochloric acid (HCL) deficiency is common in people with lupus, therefore HCL supplements with each meal is advised. Other useful nutrients include vitamin A with beta carotene, vitamin C and bioflavonoids, vitamin B complex, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium, selenium, zinc, essential fatty acids, proteolytic enzymes taken away from meals, digestive enzymes taken with meals, and the amino acids L-cysteine, L-methionine, and L-cystine.
Topical Treatment: PABA cream applied topically can help ease symptoms.
Best of health to you
Many lupus patients are photosensitive. The sun can even make lupus kidney disease flare.
Talk to your parents and change doctors. You have a right to receive proper treatment. You are sick because you are sick and not because you are crazy or lazy.
Ask for a referral to an experienced rheumatologist. Most GP’s aren’t informed enough to make a good diagnosis for lupus. There is no definitive lab test to diagnose lupus.
First let me tell you I’m sorry you’re having so much trouble. It took 4 years for me to get the correct diagnosis because of the exact thing you are going through, doc’s don’t listen. I have had Lupus for 7 years. My advice is to first find another doctor, at a teaching or university hospital if possible. Second, yes it sounds like lupus. The chest pain is probably from something called costochondritis, which is a swelling or inflammation of the cartilage that connects the breastbone ( sternum) to the ribs. It is very common in lupus. Sometimes it can even seem like a heart attack it hurts so bad. The best treatment is to haet a wet wash cloth in the mircowave for 30 sec and then lay it on the breast bone. Repeat as needed. That and Tylenol often help it. For more info on Lupus contact the Lupus Society there in New York. Good Luck