lupus question?
First off I want to say that I know that there are no doctors on here. I am looking for people with similar experiences.
My wife has been having problems for about eight years, with what doctors think is an auto immune problem. I have been researching the heck out of this and I think that she has lupus. Her main complaints are bouts of severe dizzyness, dry mouth hard to talk, chew, and swallow, and severe muscle pain. The muscle pain around her neck is so bad that she cannot wear a tshirt. She can only wear tank tops with ultra thin straps that do not put pressure on her muscles. She was diagnosed with RA when she was a teen. I have read that doctors can confuse RA with lupus.
She has a aunt with lupus and RA is on both sides of the family.
To those who have Lupus do any of these symptoms sound familiar?
I also want to add that she has potassium problems which led to a heart problem ( a-fib), and she has anxiety, Her old doc only wanted to treat the anxiety.
Filed under: Potassium Diet
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Does she have any joint pain? You mention pain around the muscles in the neck but didn’t make mention of other joint pain. Another major symptom of Lupus is fatigue which also wasn’t mentioned.
Why couldn’t it be RA causing the pain? If she has a diagnosis of RA is there a reason why you’re looking for another diagnosis? I’m only trying to understand because you didn’t make mention if these were new symptoms or not. All of the symptoms you mention could be chalked up to RA.
While Lupus can be difficult to diagnose there are some telltale signs, two of which I mentioned above, neither that you say she has. Additionally, signs of Lupus would be a malar rash (butterfly rash) on the face, kidney issues, sensitivity to light.
Has she had an ANA blood test? I would get a list of Lupus symptoms and check off the ones she has and bring it to the doctor. Lupus is diagnosed with patient history, symptoms and bloodwork in combination with each other. None alone can give a definative diagnosis of Lupus.
What medications is she currently taking for RA? Is it possible that the medications that she is taking are causing the new symptoms…
Just some things to think about…I wish you all the best.
my sympathies go out to you both, I would find a new Dr.
Sadly Lupus is very hard to diagnose. There is no blood test to give a definitive diagnosis.
http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_aboutintroduction.aspx?articleid=75&zoneid=9
I havea number of these and no diagnosis of Lupus. I have Antiphospholipid Syndrome, though about 70% of Lupus patients have this too. I do have muscle pain and nerve damage, though my shoulders are fine. It’s the tops of my feet that I have the most problems with.. I agree that she needs to find a more sympathetic doctor. Good for you for being understanding for her.
Best wishes
With having both RA and Lupus on each side is a chance that she could possibly have a bit of both.
I have severe dizziness, dry mouth where it is hard to talk, to the point where my family that doesn’t understand thinks that I am slurring. I have to keep water with me where ever I go.
I also have Fibromyalgiaand they say that is why I have muscle pain around my neck soo back that it gives me headaches as well as in my legs. back and where ever else it decides to pop up- I take muscle relaxers for these as well as Lyrica, it seems to help but never takes it completely away. I also suffer from anxiety. It is one of those things that I go round and round about with them blaming Fibromyalgia for everything. Its an easy call for a Dr. to make as well. Have they tested her ANA? I have been battling this since I was18 - I am 35 now. It never gets any easier, now I just made a move and have to start all over with Dr.’s As we all know - that is hell all on its own to explain why you are NOT to young to have all of this pain and NO energy!
good luck with the both of you. I feel her pain!