I have MS, Lupus, and Fibromyalgia. My doctors have explained that once you have an immune disorders, it is easier to get another immune disorder. The combinations are many. As for my Lupus and Fibromyalgia, I had Lupus-SLE first then Fibromyalgia.
Thank you Rejara for taking your time to reply to my question. I really pray that she doesn’t get LUPUS but she is a very strong young lady and God willing she will not get that at least. If you don’t mind me asking how ling have you had SLE?
I have had fibro for over 25 years. I began (in retrospect) to have lupus symptoms seriously a couple of years ago when I developed lichen planus in my mouth & all over my body. I began after that to have flu like symptoms and horrible sinus pain in my face. Then my doc tested for RA & lupus was instead discovered. The lupus symptoms are now more obvious than the fibro.
A fibro diagnosis is a lot like a lupus diagnosis - the are called “garbage can” diagnoses. I will say that joining a gym worked well for fibro & also now for lupus.
Short story is this. I was misdiagnosed for many years. Back in 1990, after the birth of my 2nd son, I began flaring and became symptomatic, my then Doctor told me I was too fat and to lose weight. I would be fine once I did so. I proceed to carry on; raise my kids, get a degree, struggle through chronic illness and etc until I became permanently disabled in Jan 2010. I have MS, Lupus, and Fibromyalgia. I was not correctly diagnosed until April 2010.
Back to the topic:
"The medical authorities say that although most people with Lupus also get fibro, people with fibro alone do not get lupus. Fibro isn't a disease that leads to lupus. If a person gets lupus after they got fibro, they always had lupus, not just fibro."
This is very interesting that you have brought up this issue. I was diagnosed with Lupus May 10 of 2013 (I just looked up the exact date today because I am filling out forms for short-term disability- recently had the worst flare-up of my life, LONG STORY and I am on 40 mg. Prednisone daily which is why I'm still awake at 5:00 AM) Anyway, after managing to get all my energy built-up to leave my house and drive down the road to my PCP's office (I am one of those people who never leaves the house without taking a shower and washing my hair, etc..I am really learning that's going to have to change), he told me that yes, it did appear that I was having a flare-up. Blood-work showed the normal stuff, elevated ANA, low white-blood cell count, chest x-ray normal (always is even though I have shortness of breath and have for at least 7 years). On a total off-note, my rheumy told me I have a "straight spine" but didn't really go into much detail about that, just wondering if anybody else here has been told that. But back to the original story, my PCP noticed my symptoms, I was VERY weak, lost 10 lbs. in 2 weeks due to total lack of appetite, had swollen lymph nodes in my neck and couldn't get off the couch for 3 days, had low-grade fevers every day during that time period as well. It was very hard to go to that appointment, I mean physically difficult. So, he put my on 40 mg. Prednisone which today is my last day of (thank goodness I think). That enabled me to drive to see my rheumatologist the next day who is about 25 minutes away from my house. I would never had been able to make it there if it weren't for the Prednisone. And I still had a temp of 100.1, (mine runs 98.6 ish normally) when I arrived. So, he draws blood, I have yet to hear back the results, refers me to a neurologist (soonest appointment is Oct. 20...) But the strange thing is that, when examining my dismissal slip, he added the diagnosis of fibromyalgia. I didn't bring up fibro, he didn't. We didn't talk about it at all. Yes, I have pain, I have Lupus. But it was weird that he just diagnosed me with fibro at that appointment and didn't tell me. Kind of strange. I know I am getting worse. I am getting weak. I tire very easily. I shower, lie down and take a break. Blow-dry my hair. Take a break and rest. Get dressed. Then I'm almost done, that's how it's been recently. Until the Prednisone. Now I can't sit still. Does anyone who is more familiar with fibro know if weakness is a large part of it? Because I have been experiencing lots of pain and weakness. I have worked a full-time job since I graduated college and am married with 2 boys. I had to take off work for (so far) 2 weeks. My kids need their mom and it breaks my heart. I'm sorry I got off-topic there. Anyway, in my case, I was diagnosed with fibro a little over a year after I was diagnosed with SLE.
Here are a couple of links to help you.
http://www.lupusil.org/whats-the-difference-between-lupus-and-fibromyalgia.html
http://www.healthline.com/search?q1=Fibromyalgia
Fibro sites:
There is livingwithfibro.org and fibrohugs.com both are wonderful sites.
"You can borrow one of my spoons if you'd like."
Some info:
50 Signs of Fibromyalgia:
1. pain
2. fatigue
3. sleep disorder
4. morning stiffness
5. cognitive or memory impairment
6. irritable bowel
7. chronic headaches
8. TMJ syndrome
9. numbness and tingling sensation
10. muscle twitching
11. skin sensitivities
12. dry eyes and mouth
13. dizziness
14. allergic symptoms
15. mitral valve prolapse
16. heel or arch pain
17. brain fatigue
18. painful periods
19. chest pains, noncardiac
20. depression
21. panic attacks
22. irritable bladder
23. multiple chemical sensitivities
24. joint hypermobility
25. suicidal
26. personality changes
27. lightheadedness
28. disequilibrium
29. severe muscle weakness
30. intolerance of bright lights
31. alteration of taste, smell, hearing
32. low frequency, sensorineural hearing loss
33. decreased painful sound threshold
34. ringing in the ears
35. exaggerated involuntary rapid eye movement
36. changes in visual acuity
37. intolerance of alcohol
38. enhancement of medication side effects
39. intolerance of previously tolerated medications
40. severe nasal and other allergies possible sinus infections
41. weight change (gain)
42. muscle and joint aches
43. night sweats
44. heart palpitations
45. muscle spasms
46. Reynaud’s-like symptoms
47. carpal tunnel syndrome
48. heartburn
49. difficulty swallowing
50. interstitial cystitis
=========================
AGGRAVATING FACTORS:
overexertion
stress
hormonal changes
premenstrual
anxiety
changes in weather
cold or drafty environment
anger
depression
alcohol
=========================
POSSIBLE CAUSES FOR FMS:
genetic
neurochemical dysfunction
hormonal imbalance
virus
infection
accident or trauma
nutritional deficiency
Fibromyalgia in a Nutshell
http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/whatisfibromyalgia/a/understandfibro.htm
A lot of illnesses involve one part of the body, or one system. Fibromyalgia, however, involves the entire body and throws all kinds of things out of whack. As bizarre and confusing as the varied symptoms may be, they're tied every real physical causes.
Fibromyalgia can take someone who is educated, ambitious, hardworking and tireless, and rob them of their ability to work, clean house, exercise, think clearly and ever feel awake or healthy.
- It's NOT psychological "burn out" or depression.
- It's NOT laziness.
- It's NOT whining or malingering.
- It IS the result of widespread dysfunction in the body and the brain that's hard to understand, difficult to treat, and, so far, impossible to cure.
The hardest thing for patients, however, is having to live with it. Having the support and understanding of people in their lives can make it a lot easier.
I think it’s in the group of lupus or connected with lupus… I’ve been dx with lupus for a year now but, in July I was admitted into the hospital and dr said; I had a nervous system lyrics, Fibo and arthritis in my knees.
Dewing3569 said:
Hi Deenie,Hope all is well. God Bless JulieI was Dx with fibro first. I was told that I would most likely have lupus but didn't test positive with my blood work at the time. Four years later I received the dx of cutaneous tumid lupus with three positive skin biopsies. Then two years later received the diagnosis of systemic lupus.
In my opinion, it is a diagnosis used way to often when they can't find out what is really wrong, specially with younger people! However, there are many connective tissue disorders with lupus that are overlapping. There are a lot of us that have both.
But the Mystery of both still remains.
Deenie
good ? I too wonder the same thing.Have had Myasthemia for years and now told SLE -Srogrens and wonder now if I have
fybro too. My reason for wondering is I have a constant travelling pain most of day that pretty well florrs me at times. Have been a hrd working full tim 33 yrs RPN and hate being laid low.It makes me weep to see someone have to do for me what I have always done for others.Sorry about whining but just wondered if I may have a full house of all these auto-immune diseases. tks fot listening carol
Looking at your list no wonder there's so much confusion. A lot of the symptoms on your list are also lupus symptoms too, I have both lupus and fibro, for years I didn't take the fibro very seriously as I have substantial organ damage from the lupus, now I see why its so intimidating, and confusing.
Rejara said:
Here are a couple of links to help you.
http://www.lupusil.org/whats-the-difference-between-lupus-and-fibro...
http://www.healthline.com/search?q1=Fibromyalgia
Fibro sites:
There is livingwithfibro.org and fibrohugs.com both are wonderful sites.
"You can borrow one of my spoons if you'd like."
Some info:
50 Signs of Fibromyalgia:
1. pain
2. fatigue
3. sleep disorder
4. morning stiffness
5. cognitive or memory impairment
6. irritable bowel
7. chronic headaches
8. TMJ syndrome
9. numbness and tingling sensation
10. muscle twitching
11. skin sensitivities
12. dry eyes and mouth
13. dizziness
14. allergic symptoms
15. mitral valve prolapse
16. heel or arch pain
17. brain fatigue
18. painful periods
19. chest pains, noncardiac
20. depression
21. panic attacks
22. irritable bladder
23. multiple chemical sensitivities
24. joint hypermobility
25. suicidal
26. personality changes
27. lightheadedness
28. disequilibrium
29. severe muscle weakness
30. intolerance of bright lights
31. alteration of taste, smell, hearing
32. low frequency, sensorineural hearing loss
33. decreased painful sound threshold
34. ringing in the ears
35. exaggerated involuntary rapid eye movement
36. changes in visual acuity
37. intolerance of alcohol
38. enhancement of medication side effects
39. intolerance of previously tolerated medications
40. severe nasal and other allergies possible sinus infections41. weight change (gain)
42. muscle and joint aches
43. night sweats
44. heart palpitations45. muscle spasms
46. Reynaud’s-like symptoms
47. carpal tunnel syndrome
48. heartburn
49. difficulty swallowing
50. interstitial cystitis
=========================
AGGRAVATING FACTORS:
overexertion
stress
hormonal changes
premenstrual
anxiety
changes in weather
cold or drafty environment
anger
depression
alcohol
=========================
POSSIBLE CAUSES FOR FMS:
genetic
neurochemical dysfunction
hormonal imbalance
virus
infection
accident or trauma
nutritional deficiency
Fibromyalgia in a Nutshell
http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/whatisfibromyalgia/a/understandf...
A lot of illnesses involve one part of the body, or one system. Fibromyalgia, however, involves the entire body and throws all kinds of things out of whack. As bizarre and confusing as the varied symptoms may be, they're tied every real physical causes.
Fibromyalgia can take someone who is educated, ambitious, hardworking and tireless, and rob them of their ability to work, clean house, exercise, think clearly and ever feel awake or healthy.
- It's NOT psychological "burn out" or depression.
- It's NOT laziness.
- It's NOT whining or malingering.
- It IS the result of widespread dysfunction in the body and the brain that's hard to understand, difficult to treat, and, so far, impossible to cure.
The hardest thing for patients, however, is having to live with it. Having the support and understanding of people in their lives can make it a lot easier.
I'm not sure how they are connected or which comes first the lupus or the fibro. My rheumatologist said it's not uncommon to have both but I don't think one causes the other. You could test positive for an autoimmune disease such as lupus up to 7 years before even having symptoms or in my case I had symptoms and a positive ANA but not enough of a "smoking gun" from the blood work to call it lupus right away and so I was told I had fibro first. I think it's very likely we all suffer from a combo. of the two
I know this is a little late to reply to, but I just came across it. I was diagnosed with lupus in 1999 and severe fibro in 2008. My doctor also said this is pretty much par for lupus patients to have have fibro with lupus.