RA & LUPUS

saggyoldbagpuss

Hi

Is it possible to have both RA and LUPUS - Confirmed with RA yesterday by GP but she was also saying that my bloods showed LUPUS present - Does that mean I have both? am Confused.

Regards
Saggy

elnafinn

Hi Saggy

I am sorry that I cannot answer your question but why not leave a message for your gp to call you so that you can ask her if you do in fact have lupus or not.

As you have been diagnosed with RA, no doubt you will referred to a rheumatologist. He/she may be the best person to ask about Lupus at your first appointment.

Luv
Elna x

woodbon

Hi, I don't know either, sorry, but I agree that you should talk to a doctor. Does your gP do phone consultaions for peopel who need information like this? Mine does, you ring in the early morning and ask to book a phone call and the doctor phones back after surgery.

It must be very frustrating for you, I can understand that you feel you'd like to know immediatly. I'm like that too!!! :shock:. Plus you are still shocked from the diagnosis of RA, but do either talk on the phone or go back and see your doctor. Take care, love Suexxx

carola

Hello Saggy
Initially I was diagnosed with RA but then rediagnosed with PolyArthritis and SLE (a form of Lupus) this year.
PolyArthritis is the swellings & pain in 4 or more joints (mine are everywhere!).
As I understand it the Rheumatoid Factor test is positive in 80% of RA sufferers and 20-30% positive in SLE sufferers.
If you google Lupus PLEASE DO NOT PANIC as I did when I looked a the first article I thought I was going to pop my clogs in 5 years! Science has advanced so far now prognosis is usually a normal active life once you find the right meds.
There are different types of Lupus. I am glad I have what I have instead of RA as once I have found the right pill it will be much more manageable. Lupus mimics many illnesses however there are tests to take.
If you have any questions, want to know about my symptoms and meds etc feel free to private message me. And remember that I am prefering my diagnosis to RA

Keep smiling, Carol

ironic

Hi, Bagpuss,

Of course it’s a shock suspecting it and actually hearing the words spoken out loud is something else. It is completely normal to want to sit down and cry. It will take time to come to terms with the diagnoses. The meds do take time to work so pace yourself but once they do you will start to feel better in yourself. The steroids will help. Please do not get ahead of yourself and start trawling through the internet sites; it can be very scary on there. Kept to the official sites as only your rheumy can give you the right diagnoses. I really do appreciate that you don’t like taking tables it is natural that you are wary of taking a new set of drugs.

Hang on in there, keep a note pad and jot down your question for your appointment.
Lv, Ix

tillytop

Hi Saggy

I think that the other peeps have given you some really sound advice and there is nothing nothing really I can add except to say that GPs really aren't the experts on these kind of things - you may be the only person on his books with RA and his experience may well be limited to what he studied at medical school! So, in the same way as having a positive rheumatoid factor alone doesn't confirm RA, the same may well be true of Lupus so the GP may well have worried you unneccessarily.

Hopefully you will have a chance to discuss all this with a rheumatologist soon so that you will know exactly what you are dealing with.

Thinking of you.

Love Tilly xxx

tillytop

Hi Saggy

Just popped in to say "hello" and that I am thinking of you.

Love Tillyxxx

saggyoldbagpuss

tillytop wrote:

Hi Saggy

Just popped in to say "hello" and that I am thinking of you.

Love Tillyxxx

Thankyou Tillytop