Rachael
Ever been checked for lupus? Even if the answer is "yes", it may take years to develop the antigen specific antibodies to show a truely postive profile, and the mean average for true diagnosis is about 4 years. It hits women of childbearing years/young adults in the prime of their lives, robs them of quality of life and, can do some pretty mean organ damage left untreated. And, of course most primary care physician's (and some rheumatologist's) though competent in other areas, are dumber than a sack of wet rocks when the symptoms, lab values, and patient's history all point to lupus. Lupus is a very difficult disease to diagnose, however a competent rheumatologist who specializes in lupus can figure it out. Not all rheumatologists are created equal ... Good luck, what ever the cause of your discomfort!