Q: My family doctor, suspecting I might have lupus, referred me to a rheumatologist, who diagnosed fibromyalgia. Is it possible to have symptoms of lupus, but actually have fibromyalgia?
A: Figuring out whether a patient has lupus, fibromyalgia or both – which is entirely possible – requires a thorough medical history, physical examination and laboratory tests. Diagnosing lupus and fibromyalgia can be difficult because the conditions share some symptoms.
During the medical history, fibromyalgia patients usually describe fatigue and a generalized muscle pain or soreness of the muscles that often is made worse by lack of quality sleep. Lupus patients may also have fatigue and muscle soreness, but initial symptoms may include a rash across the cheeks and nose that gets worse in sunlight, kidney problems, difficulty breathing or a blood clot, stroke or heart attack.
Physical examination of a person with fibromyalgia shows joints that move normally and are not swollen. However, people with fibromyalgia usually have tender areas over muscles, and pressing those areas causes discomfort. The examination of a person with lupus may reveal joint pain, stiffness, swelling or abnormal movement.
In most cases, a patient's history and physical examination lead to a diagnosis; lab tests usually confirm the diagnosis. A blood test that measures the level of antinuclear antibody (ANA) usually is positive in people who have lupus, but it also can be positive in those with mixed connective tissue disease, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), scleroderma and Sjögren's syndrome. Therefore, a rheumatologist will run several other special tests to confirm lupus. In people with fibromyalgia, all blood tests usually are normal.
A proper diagnosis is important because the treatments for lupus and fibromyalgia are different. When a person has both fibromyalgia and lupus, corticosteroids or disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), such as methotrexate, should be prescribed to prevent lupus-related damage to the internal organs. Physical therapy, counseling and antidepressant medications can help improve muscle aches, sleep and mood changes associated with fibromyalgia
Robert Shaw, MD, Rheumatologist
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I saw a pyschiatrist because of brain fog and depression. (You should know that they are the docs that prescribe medications and not the ones who you lay on the couch to talk to. ha!) Anyway psychiatrists are experts at knowing mediciene and combinations
of medicienes. He prescribes all of my fibromyalgia meds. "ADDERALL" time-released keeps me going. It is a miracle drug that lifts me daily. Best part is that it gives me my good brain back. Thinking skills return as well as a higher level of vocabulary. Depression lifts cause you can see light at the end of the tunnel. Even though fibro symptoms still return when adderrall wears off; I have my life back along with energy for part of the day. I have other fibro-friends who have been given
adderrall through fiobro-doctor. You have to
have a license to write a script for adderall so your regular doctor may not recommend it. Go beyond that to a doctor who can prescribe it. You won't believe the difference it makes!
On my neck and back x-rays there is significant joint damage, as well as arthritis in my wrist and hips. Fibromayalgia from what I've heard does not cause joint damage.
I believe this is a symptom of a more serious disease that physician's have not yet fully figured out, or understood and when they do, they can develop a treatment and possible cure. That is my un-educated theory.
If what I have is Lupus, or RA they are not treating me for it. So, I guess my concern is, what if the doctors are too quick to give the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia, to avoid sending their patients to get more expensive test (since there are few diagnostic test needed to diagnose this new disorder). Lupus can kill, and RA can permanently debilitate an individual, it's not just pain, not that any chronic pain is anything to shrug about.
Why is making a diagnosis of an autoimmune disease so baffling to physicians? Why don't they go further in their investigations to find out the unanswered questions.
Please forgiver all my questions, I'm just confused, in pain, and very concerned that I'm going to wake up and not be able to get out of bed before the age of 40, and the doctors will shrug it off as simply: a flare of fibromyalgia. Take an aspirin and take it easy for a day.
God bless you all.
Casey.
It sounds like you have Glaucoma. Check the drops you're using, may be the cause of other problems. I had to stop mine and considering laser surgery instead.
Good luck - I share you're feeling in finding any Doctor that gives a hoot.
sle
to those that are curious if you can have more than one thing, im afraid that its true!!
Its(my disease) has turned into the nightmare!! of chasing my tail...I go from dr to dr. all of whom have been helpful and understanding. I feel like a hypocondric, unfortunatly im not.
I find that the best thing to do is what works for you, unfortunatly this is a disease that is different for all of us..Yet we can all understand.
1. Rest when you can, listen to your body.
2. take your medication as prescribed, you are the only one that knows what works for you! Do not listen to friends, family members if they don't understand. your dr. knows best!
3. You will always have bad days, I don't know what a good day is. Always in pain, always tired, confused, swollen hands feet, unbearable back pain, leg pain, shoulder pain. What would I do without my meds? I'm afaid to find out!sometimes id like to just climb under a rock...
4. I have children I was diagnosed 18yrs ago with fybro, and 13 yrs ago with lupus. My children were babies and then teenagers. I have no idea how i got through it. But, you just have to be strong and move forward... Even when you want to just say the "hell with it all. I can't go on anymore." How many times have I said that? More than I can count.
5. There are many people like us out there, you just need to talk to others and trust me you will find them.
your family's need you, and they will find a cure, hopefully in our lifetime!!
Happy Holidays to all of my fellow sufferer's.
My God bless you, and help you get through one day at a time!!
I'm still to continue with the Cymbalta also.
Finally getting custom knee brace fitted for a second time; then hopefully get issued same day.
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