lupus and ra

kezzo1

do they test for lupus same time as ra??? and whats the diff between the 2?

and how would u know if u def did have ra or maybe u have lupus instead?? :?

thanks peeps

jordan7j

Hi, interesting!!!! I am waitimng to finmd out about lupus too, I have RA (on MXT) but have the butterfly rash. Many of the other symptoms are similar, and I believe are treated in a similar way. My next appt. is not until 22 January, so wont hear until then. I expect that you will get alot of help regarding this from everyone, and I will be checking answers too!!! My rheumy clinic nurses are not very helpful, just been for steroid injection, but dont feel they oisten to what you say. Tried to phone first, but they dont answer the phones, you get a msg to leave number etc and they will call back within 3 days, very helpful!!! Good luck Jay

debatat

Hi I have lupus and RA. In lupus the joints swell but do not erode or deform. In RA the joints erode and deform.

You get more fevers and temperature spikes with lupus. Platelets are low, ANA positive, ESR raised, etc

RA, platelets high, can have neg ANA and positive RF. There are some overlaps between the two but the diagnostic criteria is different for both. My explanation is a very simplistic one as actually they can be hard to differentiaite as bloods are not always clear cut. Lupus affects organs as well.

You can get Rhupus, which is both at the same time!!!

Hope this helps, Deb

lindalegs

My sister has Lupus and gets the butterfly rash - hers is across her face and is like a permanent brown 'tea' stain. Sitting in the sunshine aggravates the rash and it becomes very itchy - she gets it on other parts of her body too. She gets sun cream on prescription. You also have to have your eyesight checked regularly as the drugs they give you can affect your eyes. I think Lupus people have alot of probs with their feet being painful too.

Hope this helps.

Luv Legs

jordan7j

Hi Linda, thanks for info. Its really strange, but my feet are permanantly painful, painkillers dont work and MXT doing nothing. Have the rash on my face,been there for about 2 years, but just thought it was nothing until it was mentioned at clinic. Does your sister get any meds, and do they work? My daughter has a friend with lupus too, she is on various meds, but is always in pain. I would rather just know what I am dealing with rather than keep saying "it might be". At rheumy clinic they cant understand why i am still in pain as i am on tramadol and ibuprofen. Thanks for replying to us Jay

lindalegs

Hi Jay,

My sister takes just one drug for her Lupus and I think it's a drug usually used as anti-malarial normally but they've found benefits for Lupus people. She doesn't take pain killers but I know she gets alot of pain in her feet, at the moment it's just one foot that troubling her.

It's a side effect of the drug that effects her eyes not the Lupus itself, from what I understand.

She sees a Rheumatologist on a regular basis because it is a form of arthritis. Debs' post is spot on about the non-erosion etc so there are no outward deformities of the disease.

The butterfly stain is permanent and as I said before sunbathing is a no-no, you're supposed to wear a hat if you go out in the sun and highest factor sun block. I think you can also get make-up to disguise the rash if it's on your face on prescription.

For those who have the most aggressive strain it can affect the major organs - but that is worst case scenario - and I'm just giving you the facts as I know it and don't want to alarm you at all, sorry if I have

If there's anything else you want to know - just ask and I'll give her a ring if I can't answer you.

Luv Legs