Lupus questions?

For the past five or six years i've constantly been sick and fatigued. Its been to an all time high lately so i started to look farther into it since my doctor was saying it was always the flu or a cold. I see a new doctor tomorrow. My research has pointed me in the direction of lupus, which i was tested for when iwas 14...about 8 years ago. I had several symptoms and no positive blood work. In fact, I had all but two symptoms. Does the disorder have to come up on bloodwork in order for a lupus diagnosis to occur? There are 17 symptoms on the list i'm looking at and i have 15 of them. Yet, idk if my blood work is going to show anything....anyway can i still be diagnosed and treated with out the blood work coming back with lupus?

No, you do not have to have what is called a Positive ANA
(anti-nuclear antibody) test. and still be diagnosed with lupus,
but will probably be Discoid Lupus, wich is where your aimune system has turn on your tissue's, mostly skin,and usually will affect face, neck, and head, flares will occur to exposure to direct sunlight or any type of fleourensent, UV rays, which will usually cause, lesions, rashes, and what is called the butterfly rash, across the brigde of the nose and can be very painful, like burns,,,, try googleing lupus,,, hope I helped, u did't reallly tell me your symptoms,,,so I was just letting you know what happen to me, I have had severe discoid for 10yrs, and as just diagnosed a yr ago with SLE.
this is the one that scares me a little,,,,good luck to you...Tish

I am in the process of getting diagnosed to and now if you have over half of the symptoms (from my understanding) then they treat you. But yes I think you have to get a certain result on one of the tests back as positive. This is all recent to, they have came a long way with everything for lupas.
Good luck

A diagnosis of lupus is very subjective. 4 of the 11 criteria of the American College of Rheumatology are often considered enough for diagnosis, but some carry more weight than others.

There are many diseases that have symptoms similar to lupus. That is why lupus is called the great imitator.

Diagnosis is based on history, symptoms, a variety of labs AND after other possible disorders have been eliminated. You might find yourself diagnosed with undifferentiated mixed connective tissue disorder. That means, they agree something is wrong but can't pin it down.

Concentrate on relief of your symptoms and worry less about the name of what you have. The majority of lupus patients take several years and quite a few different doctors before they are diagnosed.