Hi,
I have had a lot of the same symptoms for the last 20 years. The pain in my ribs and chest is what hurts me the most. I have had pericardial effusion and Pericarditis with it.My knee swelled up pretty bad in February and the orthopedic Surgeon Is the one who tested me This time and it was positive for the first time ever.
He said there wasn’t anything wrong with my knee but, I should not have fluid on my knee like this and said I think that you either have lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. I’ve had a lot of swelling in my legs off and on for the past 20 years with chest and rib pain. I also get hot and feel like I have a fever with severe exhaustion.

I try to just take Advil and work out almost every single day. I drink green drinks and take Lysine with acidophilus in hopes Of keeping flares away. I wish you luck and pray that you get well soon and find a good doctor

You can be positive, then the next time negetive. I would follow your gut instinct & if you tested positive once that's all you need. I wish these Ruemotoligist would get that & stop trying to rule lupus out all the time. I don't think enough is known about lupus for them to understand blood work is not always correct. I would talk to your Dr & express your concerns & symptoms. Wishing you good luck on recieving a diagnosis one way or the other, it can be frustrating that's for sure!