Rheumatoid Arthritis

I'm hoping that maybe some of the experts here can give me their opinion on my symptoms. Please forgive me if this post is a bit lengthy.

I know that when it comes to diagnosing autoimmune disorders it can take years, but having recently moved and aquired a new Rheumatologist (wh

I'm not an expert. Fairly new at this whole thing. I have recently been pre-diagnosed with either lupus, RA, or some other auto-immune disorder. I can tell you though that the symptoms sound very similar to mine. I've always had very frequent infections mostly kidney. I seem to catch everything! Your extreme fatigue is VERY familiar. I've basically been sick since January and I could sleep for weeks too. Exercise right now is out of the question because I just get so far run down I can't get out of bed for days. I've missed more work this year than I've been there and I only work part-time. I went to the grocery store for the first time in over a month yesterday and got so bad off in the store people were staring. I just couldn't move and I'm only 33. The pain I have is a severe bee-sting like pain in what feels like thousands of places all over my body. It's that initial severe sting then a hard throbbing, burning pain over and over everywhere not just hands or feet. It's in my spine, hands, feet, fingers, toes, hips, back, neck, knees, ankles, wrists...you name it it hurts like that. I can't sleep when I'm like that, I can't even hardly sit still it hurts so bad and this is coming from someone who has had over 20 kidney stones, had two kids, been hospitalized numerous times for kidney infections, had gall-bladder removed, and various other surgeries. Is this specific type of pain familiar to you? My doctor is leaning more toward Lupus than RA due to 2 rounds of initial testing. We will see what the rheumatologist says after their tests. I just would like to know what it is so I know how to better deal with it. Hope you find out something soon and this helps you to at least know someone else is having very similar symptoms.

I'm no expert, but I definately understand where you are coming from.... After the first six months of trying to answer.."Why is a 20yr old otherwise healthy young woman swelling up and in nauseating pain? Why does she get these cysts at her joints? What convoluded suggestion can we come up with next?" The patient begins to feel like lab rat.=<'.'>= and even when you get answers it is a maybe it could possibly nder certain circumstances be.... But no definate answers. I have found that the best diagnoses is a not so rare condition amongst us called HLIIGTTTSBSTCTAD-ITIS. HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO STOP BEING SCARED AND COMMIT TOA DIAGNOSES-ITIS. Try not to get frusterated, I was finally after 6 years diagnosed as having both FMA and RA. The symptoms are so similar and are often hard to pin down being that our pains tap dance from head to toe(s)... The throbbing and aches of FMA and the searing melting and stinging of RA. I got the most educated information from Dr John B Winfield of UNC-Chapel Hill The North Carolina State research hospital where 4 other Drs did experiments on me until my hour appt that answered all of my questions with Dr Winfield...
Good Luck