I wasn't going to really "put this out there" but it's weighing on my mind.

A few weeks ago I whined to my doctor that I was just not losing weight despite big effort. She sent me off for bloodwork - testing thyroid, blood sugar, Vit D/B, etc. Came back with high levels of inflammation markers, too much protein in urine, and ESR. (I've Googled so much lately, I've forgotten what that means now.)

So back I went for different blood tests, and an excersise stress test as the high CK levels can indicate recent heart attacks, and I have to worry about that in a first-degree relative. Stress test was fine, blood test was not. I had the test for AntiNuclear Antibodies, and it came out positive.

Basically what that means is my body is attacking itself rather than an invader like bacteria or viruses. I have the "speckled antibody pattern" which generally indicates Sjogrens' Syndrome (the dry thing), lupus, or rhuematoid arthritis. I get a referral to a rheumologist today, have no idea how long it'll be before I get in to see them. I hope it's not long!

Of course now I feel all symptomy and sorry for myself. My hands hurt, my knees feel swollen, I've had a headache for a month and a half, and about two months ago my hips felt ready to detach from the legs and wander off on their own. I still haven't fully regained flexibility from that frozen shoulder episode almost two years ago so it might all be connected.

The doctor feels that my body hasn't been willing to release weight because of the big fight going on inside. Now I'm worrying that even with treatment, it won't give up the fat. Sigh. I need to make this be about HEALTH and not vanity!

I derailed this weekend and ate a lot of wheat products. I guess it was rebellion. So of course I feel icky from that. Such a child! But today I yanked up the bootstraps and sternly told myself it was time to get back to doing what I need to do. That means weighing and measuring, eating healthy foods, and being as active as possible.

I would really welcome any insight or experience you might have with this issue! It's all so new and really scary.