The Other Diagnoses
The “other diagnoses” than lupus ranged from autoimmune hepatitis, drug-induced hepatitis, spondylomyelopathy, and synovitis. I saw a gastroenterologist for about 2 months that seemed to only collect a co-pay from me and ignored my complaints of joint pain and a referral to a rheumatologist until I finally explained I am going to college soon and need something to treat the pain before I go. (at the time I was working as a waitress as well and could barely work on the job—limping, etc.) I was referred to two different rheumatologists— one in my home town, one in near my college, and both could not tell me what was wrong. It was between lupus, autoimmune hepatitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. All tests came out nonspecific until I could barely walk and had to drop out of college for a semester. If doctors relied less on blood tests and more on symptoms—such as a greater dose on prednisone—I might’ve been able to have a freshman college experience like most other people. Instead, I was diagnosed with lupus and was late in it getting treated. I saw about five different doctors until it was finally diagnosed. I urge others to never give up. I played soccer for ten years beforehand, had enough energy to hold a job as a waitress during high school, and started feeling tired and joint pain and had no explanation why. Do NOT ever have a doctor write you off because you are young/complaining/a woman/hormonal/whatever excuse you can think of. Perseverance is the only way you have to a chance of a “normal” life again. No matter how many “other” diagnoses you go through.
