lupus or what?

I have been dealing with alot of different symptoms mainly since I was assaulted in May. My lymph nodes in my face swelled up and are still swollen, that was the first indicator. Then I got really tired and really achy. I have been put through so many tests and doctors. I saw my regular doctor and then she refered me to ENT and they finally ended up doing a biopsy on the lymph node to check it out, cause a needle biopsy came back not right, so they removed the lymph node, which then got infected and was in hosptal for a few days. But since may I have been battling these times of extreme pain and tiredness and it has hit me yet again, there are times when it seems it gets better, but they have no clue what's going on. Went to infectious disease doctor, nothing. But now I will be seeing a rheumatologist eventually. I had some tests come back positive recently the ANA (antinuclear antibodies) test and the CRP (c-reactive protein) come back elevated. this all scares me, I did some research and those tests usually come back with lupus and I just wonder if the assault in May triggered all that. For those of you who don't know, I was severely sexually assaulted and almost died and had many problems from it, they had to do emergency surgery and it took 3 months of wound care everyday for my incision to get to a point I didn' have to go anymore because it got infected.

A whole bunch of things can cause a positive ANA. All it means is that there's some autoimmune problem going on. Mine is always elevated but I don't have lupus, RA or any of that, just an autoimmune clotting disorder. There are whole panels of coagulation tests just for that, but unless you have a history of blood clots (or an immediate family member with a history of them) you don't need it.

Hang in there and try not to worry till you have to.

Jennifer you have been through so much this last year! I hope that you have a good T, someone who is experienced working with PTSD/trauma, stress, and chronic pain etc....it will make a world of difference in understanding and handling, and healing.

I think the trauma may very well have set your system off with the stress chemicals... perhaps they never stopped firing from the trauma? PTSD makes the body run on fight or flight all the time, and that can truly upset the whole system.

Thanks for the update, good to see you back at PC, hope things begin to smooth for you soon.

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Yeah I think you are right sky. I know my doctor has told me before that I am still full of adrenaline from when I was assaulted. I rock all of the time now and things like that as well. I am always in fight or flight mode and I can feel that. I do wonder if that is the cause of all these problems. I really didn't have these problems before the assault. I had so many probelems withh all of that and well your right I have been through so much the last year. I did move out of the assisted living too in October. I now live on my own. I have moved a few times but I like where I am at now. I am afraid that it won't last though. I am starting to struggle and things too. I think my depression is getting worse the last few weeks and I have started switching more again, that really scares me. I have also been really impulsive and compulsive at the same time too, that's not a good combination. I don't know what to do. I am just trying to make it through. I will keep fighting until the end but it's going to be hard and I am going to get tired like I am. I have a long road ahead of me I think and well I think I am just working so hard that I get a little worn down sometimes. Well thank you so much for your comment, both of you. I feel so much better when people respond to my posts it helps me see that there are people out there who do care. So thank you.

(((((safe hug))))) Jennifer, ask your T for more sessions if he/she can and you can afford them. Honest, direct expert support like a few sessions a week, to get you through right now at least, will do a lot of good. If the sessions can't be increased, then maybe T can help you with daily short five minute phone calls? That will help you center yourself, at least once a day, and have contact with someone IRL who will assure you that what you are sensing isn't happening now.

PTSD is really tough...it messes with brain chemicals and disrupts how the brain files/categorizes normally simple issues to deal with... the longer you put off working on it, the worse it can get. It doesn't go away on it's own.

You won't have to face the assault until you are ready, but you do need help in minimizing these body memories and triggers. Right after my accident, well for a few years, I was not in a good place...I know exactly where you are, and I know the general path you need to take for healing. I'm sure your T knows too.

Believe in Him or not --- GOD LOVES YOU!

Want to share your Christian faith? Click HERE

Thanks sky, I guess I really can't increase appointments with T because well I see the main one twice a week already plus I see an art therapist once a week. So I really can't increase it anymore. I am really hoping that things will get better though. My pain has been getting a little better lately. I am still waiting to find out when my appointment with the rheumatologist will be. We are just trying to make it right now.

Jennifer