Medical Mystery...Help me?

[Sopralto37]

Hello!
So, now that I've found you guys (I've been diagnosed for 12 years, but out of the loop on everything), I've discovered this thing called Cellulitus. I think this might be what I have, but I would be interested in some advice. You see, I don't have medical insurance because my family can't afford it so the next time I go to the doctor, I want to have the right things to say and the right questions to ask. Let me fill you in on what's been happening.

It all started in August 2010. I started feeling freezing cold and super tired on a super hot day out. Then I felt like my lower abdomen was in so much pain I might die. Turns out I had a super fever and my LE leg started to be a bit painful when I put pressure on it. This episode lasted for almost 3 weeks during which we thought I might have had Lymphoma so I went through a surgical biopsy. Then my symptoms went away for about 2 weeks, until it happened again-but this time it only lasted 2 days. Now every 10 days-ish I have another one of those episodes. Sometimes I throw up from the nausea, other times I faint from the weakness. It's now April, and I've been through skads of tests and a diagnostic laproscopy (for when we thought I had endometriosis) as well with still no answer to why I keep getting sick! I'm in college, and so every time this happens I'm in so much pain that I cannot get out of bed for 1-2 days. This means that I'm missing classes and having to reschedule exams all the time. I'm getting pretty emotionally drained and hoping for some advice? I recently found a doctor here that knows about LE (did you know that they hide in Vascular departments? Who'da thunk?!) My question is this: is the red blotchy business on the limb always present with Cellulitis? Because I don't always get that, but sometimes I do. I'm just really really hoping that this is what's going on so that I can have an answer and hopefully a cure.
Thanks so much for your help!!
-Sarah

[Sopralto37]

Well, I went to the doctor anyways and got myself the antibiotics for Cellulitus, I figured it couldn't hurt, right?

It has now been over 3 weeks since my last episode, the longest I've ever gone!!!!! I cannot wait to see how long I can last his time, maybe we found the cure? After getting myself into over $21,000 in medical bill debt, I may have gotten the cure to my mystery for ironically $4.00 worth of antibiotics at Target. I don't know how many of you are religious, but Praise God is all I have to say, and I'm hoping and praying to never have another episode in my life.

-Sarah

[patoco]

This is really wonderful and we share your hopes and prayers that you never have another episode either.

Boy, I sure don't miss the ones I used to have.

Pat

[Sopralto37]

Well, it came back again today, though my doc said that since it was going on for son long that it might take 2 rounds of antibiotic. So I started the 2nd round today, lets just hope this one sticks. Otherwise, it's not Cellulitis and I've got more tests to do...