I just found out a few weeks ago that my body is not telling me I'm fat. It's more like telling me "you have a problem going on here, you should go have it checked."
After almost a month of having a rashes on my face, I finally got fed up of the none working hydro cortisone cream that I have been using. And my carpal tunnel syndrome that never got better no matter how many splints i wear it still not getting better. So, I had the courage and money to actually see a doctor and know what it is.
The first doctor I went to is actually kinda of a d*ck. He just looked at me and said I can't do anything about you, I think you have Lupus but I have to make tests. He called his laboratory and asked how much its gonna be for the test he will need me to put through. Costs will be $500!!! I mean what??? What kind of tests do I have to take?? But he was kind enough to give his consultation fee back and told me to try the County Hospital, they maybe could give me insurance, since I have none.
So, after some research, I was able to find a clinic a few blocks away from our house. They have really bad reviews but I have no choice. All I want is to be able to see a doctor who will try to treat me and get me laboratory test in a much cheaper price. Their consultation fee is only $40 flat so might as well. With $300 in my pocket and my boyfriend in my arm I went.
I went to
Allied Medical Clinic. I already expect the worst, since they have bad reviews but actually they are not as bad as what people write. The only downside is there is only 1 doctor a day and so as you can imagine the waiting time is a but lengthy. After almost an hour and a half I was able to see a doctor. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to catch the doctor's name. They do not have those name plates in front of their tables, since he only is a Saturday doctor. And, my god! He was wearing a Hawaiian Shirt! I mean, he lost all his credibility after all the name plate and shirt thing. So he opened this big book of his comparing what I have with all the pictures and stuff. He did that for at least 15 minutes going back and forth to Psoriasis and Lupus. He can't seem to see the difference, hence, the lab exams. I had a complete blood count, an ANA
1 and SED
2 test. With already 2 common symptoms present, Malar rash and Arthritis, a blood confirmation is used. From a $500 laboratory and $50 consultation fee from the first doctor, the day's total for seeing the doctor and get 3 test is... tada!!! $125. Very cheap. So what if I waited for almost 2 hours right?
I got my results 4 business days after. It was positive for ANA. Which is usually the main test they give to patients if the doctors think of a possible Lupus Patient. I had my period during the time I went for the result, so I wasn't able to get a Urinalysis. During this time, the rashes on my face seems it is healing up. He took note of this rapid change considering I am on my period and my face rash looks like it's going away. This is the 3rd doctor I have seen so far and 2nd from the clinic. After 2 weeks, on a Saturday, I went again and saw a 4th doctor and the 3rd from the clinic. I told her that my face rashes looks like it's coming back after my period ended. She looked at my charts and said I definitely have Lupus, and she would like to give me steroids so that the inflammation would stop. I had steroid and pain shots on my lower back side, where the "hips" are. Hurts like crazy! I still had a few pains when I woke up the next day but more or less functioning. I started the steroid pills that day, Sunday. And Monday morning was a miracle. I could not feel the shoulder pain that used to wake me up at night. My fingers do not hurt a lot, although I still can't close it tight. Independence!!! How I miss you...
So here I am, writing, drinking steroids almost every 4 hours. Almost back to my independent self. The steroids for sure stopped the inflammation of my joints (arthritis) and soon, I hope, I will not have to drink it ever again. As soon as I got my face rash cleared out. I am quitting that stuff.. :)
References/Additional Information:
- http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_empty.aspx?a=402&z=76&page=1
- http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003638.htm
