Does anyone have lupus in addition to RA? I think I'm going through this period of slight denial...thinking something else must be going on in addition to the RA. Mainly because I'm in the middle of this bad flare-up and nothing is helping the pain..including an increase in my prednisone. I do get the butterfly rash occasionally on my face so am just curious if it's possible I could have both. I'm going to my rheumatologist this week and will discuss it with her. But I was just curious if anyone here has it and if so, what are your main symptoms.
I've been wondering the same thing, and wondering if you can have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with RA. I think alot of Autoimmune diseses can run together.
My last labs came back with an elevated ANA. My Rheumy. said that the labs along with my overwhelming constant fatigue may be an indication of lupus. All I know for sure is that whatever it is we have stinks!
I've argued with my doc about the Lupus because I was sure that was what I first had. Plaquenil is one of the medicines that they use for both RA and Lupus.
The doctor and I have never settled the issue because my ANA always comes back ok. However, I dose myself with 50 proof sunscreen and stay covered with long sleeves and skirts or pants. Just this one thing seems to help a lot. Otherwise, all my symptoms worsen quickly.
You might want to look up the web site for the Lupus Foundation. I haven't been in a long time, but it has a wealth of info on the subject.
Deanna, was your ANA ever positive? Mine was when I was first diagnosed with RA. Not sure what it is at the moment though.The doctor said it wasn't. They never tell me the results of the test any more unless something is wrong. I'm guessing that it has never shown as positive. But some of my symptoms, especially with my heart and my lungs still worry me.
But I have enough with the RA. I also have FM and know that by itself it is disabling, especially since I have several friends with it. But I rarely consider the FM as the RA seems to overpower everything else. Mostly, it just seems like one connected mess.
But finding out can be so helpful because Lupus is treated with other medications and doctors know to watch for certain complications. My doctor wanted a dermatologist to do a biopsy of one of my skin blisters. But the man was such a jerk to me after waiting for four months to see him that I never went back. I'm stubborn that way.
So, maybe I'm living in denial too. I just can't handle any more. I've been told I have RA, FM, Restless Leg Syndrome, Sjogren's, Glaucoma (thank you prednisone), Mitral Prolaspe Valve, my heart is thickening, I take Nitroglycerine and Toprol, high blood pressure, diuretics, asthma.....oh, I forget what else. I don't want to know if I have Lupus. I just know the sun makes me sick, even short exposures. That's usually more associated with Lupus than RA. Although several here have mentioned it as a problem.
My doctor thought I had a crossover at first..she called it Rupus.. When all of this started, I had a positive ANA, borderline, and a positive RA factor.Thanks to everyone for your responses...they are very helpful.
LindaK..do they think because of where the cancer was located? or because it was cancer itself? I had malignant melanoma in 1996 but it was on my knee. It was completely removed with surgery and I have not had a reoccurance except for a few pre-cancerous things removed and a pre-cancerous polyp from my colon last summer. Well...it just sounds like we are falling apart here!..lol. Don't mean to laugh...but sometimes I have to so I don't cry.
Traininggirl. The doctors don't talk about the RA cancer connection, It's just my own observation. I have read that there are studies about a higher incidence in cancer with RA, especially lympoma. I had a stage 8 basel cell carcinoma and two other stage 1s. I also had a pre-melanoma removed. Every time I go back to the dermatologist they find more pre cancers. I'm not a sun lover so I can't figure out why I have all this skin cancer.