I was in the hospital a couple of weeks ago with Diabetic Ketoacidosis. My family doctor thought possibly I was in the beginning phases of a lupus flare and that might have brought on the DKA. So, they pumped me with fluids and insulin and got me under control. I returned to work half days and now to full days. I went back for my post hospital check up with my family doctor. The nurse was getting my vitals and she said, "Are you here for illness?" I explained that I was there for a post-hospital stay follow-up. She said, "Oh, did you realize you have a fever?" I said, "Well, I wasn't feeling well and knew something was wrong". So, the doc looked at my throat and said my tonsils were swollen and I had some fluid in my left ear. He sent me to the lab for tests. CBC wasn't too bad and SED rate was actually within normal range. Throat culture and strep test were also negative. Not that I want to be sick, but I feel really bad and my labs show nothing....what gives??? My doc just said, "Well, you do have lupus - maybe you are going to have a flare...do you usually run a fever when you are getting ready to flare?" I said, "Well, sometimes I just have random fevers". He said, "I think you better let your rheumy know about this..." Then he said, "If the fever continues into tomorrow, call me and I'll get you an antibiotic - we don't want you back in the hospital". Then he pats me on the shoulder and looks at me, like he feels really sorry for me (I'm certain he does) and sends me off to the lab. I'm just so confused. Not only do I not look sick, when I wear my make-up and a wig, but now my labs don't even indicate illness. I'm so tired....and so tired of feeling so bad (and feeling like no one believes me.)
Cultures are for bacterial infection Viruses won't show on a culture and yes a virus can make you feel dreadful The vast majority of URIs are viral in nature
Thank you!
poobie said:
Cultures are for bacterial infection Viruses won't show on a culture and yes a virus can make you feel dreadful The vast majority of URIs are viral in nature
Thank you Ann A. !
Ann A. said:
http://forum.lifewithlupus.org/forum/topics/new-to-group This discussion includes some great information form people living with lupus. Sorry I cannot get it at the bottom.
Welcome to the club of very ill people who do not look ill.
Welcome to the club of people who often burn a little higher than normal from inflammation rather than infection.
Welcome to the club where many general practitioners do not have a clue - they can believe we are sick without knowing what to do about.
Welcome to the club where those who are trained to treat our diseases are often better at responding to lab results than to human suffering.
Welcome to the world of feeling bad even when the test results look good.
Welcome to a world in which feeling bad and tired and achy are often normal but everyone would like for it to stop.
Welcome to life with lupus.
The lupus foundation is a great place start learning
Every issue you have raised has been discussed here. People will join in with in with you or you can use the search bar at the top right of the screen to join some ongoing conversations. Jump right in and make yourself at home among the sick people who look well.
http://forum.lifewithlupus.org/forum/topics/lupus-dx-all-s-s-labs-nor...
Wow! People are amazing! A nurse, who I work with said I didn't look like someone who just got out of the hospital and I just wanted to say, "What exactly should a person who just got out of the hospital look like?" I know she was trying to compliment me, but I am always so defensive about my illnesses.
Ann A. said:
I was grumpy at the dentist on Wednesday. When I was setting up my next appointment the scheduler said, "What is your doctor's name." My lupie brain said, "You want my PCP, my rheumatologist, pulmonalogist, endocrinologist, dermatologist, or hematologist, or hepatologist? Instead of just saying, "Your dentist." She had to stick her foot in it and say, "Do you have all of those." To which I replied yes, I do. Well you do not look as though you there is anything wrong with you. My response was, "Well for that I have a psychiatrist. The rest of them use imagining and laboratory tests to make their diagnosis. But my insurance company would your ability to dx by sight alone. You would save them a bunch of money."
I do not know why she was not given the memo that I was behaving badly that day. I think her coworkers set her up.