Keua: Possibly Scleroderma

I am a twenty-nine year old female who is in the midst of a diagnosis. First off, my mother has an overlap of Sjogren's and scleroderma. Last year I developed Raynaud's.

I was fine until this summer when I began waking up with sore and swollen hands. I self-diagnosed myself with having rheumatoid arthritis. I finally decided to see my doctor when I could not even straighten my fingers without pain and discomfort and was feeling extremely lethargic.

The doctor ran tests. My ANA was positive with a speckled pattern, my ESR was elevated, and my rheumatoid factor was elevated. Also my hemoglobin and white blood counts were low. She referred me to a rheumatologist, but I do not see him until April, which is five months from now since we only have one in the city.

Since then I have begun swelling in my pelvic area and my lower legs, ankles and feet. Everyone tells me my eyes are always puffy. I am going back to my doctor tomorrow as I am concerned with possible fluid build up in and around my lungs or heart. My blood pressure was more elevated than usual and I am still so extremely tired.

I just want to say thank you for this invaluable site. I plan to learn as much as I can and come out on top of it all.