Just wondering how many of you have gotten diagnosed with anything because of lupus or after getting diagnosed with lupus. Since SLE I’ve been diagnosed with fybromialgia, pleurisy and of course depression. Migraines have always been there so those aren’t new. My Dr told me it’s common to get these illnesses but I wanted to check with the community here. I feel like every time I go in for a checkup they’ll find something else. 
It is common to get these illnesses. I have dealt with pleurisy, pericarditis and fibromyalgia during my 22 years of being diagnosed with SLE. I currently also have been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sjorgrens. I had migraines in the past but before SLE dx. Depression seems to come and go depending on how long the flare is and how bad I feel. I do try to stay positive and keep moving. You are not alone and this is way this site is so good. We understand the frustration of this disease and all the crazy things that happen to us. Great article that Jo4him posted.
I was diagnosed with my first autoimmune disease when I was a teenager: psoriasis. Then when I was 32 I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, another AI disease. But that was it for a long time. Until 2008, when the diagnoses started to rack up: autoimmune hepatitis, fibromyalgia, RA, celiac disease. In 2009 I was finally dx with lupus, then in 2010 with Lyme disease and 3 other tick-borne illnesses. The Lyme doctor told me that Lyme frequently triggers autoimmune disease and fibromyalgia, so maybe that's why I have SO MANY of them, I don't know.
I used to suffer from migraines almost daily until I was dx with celiac and stopped eating gluten. That helped a lot.
I do understand your feelings of depression about all of this, my heart goes out to you.
JoAnn
I’ve been battling various illnesses since I was 7. My original dx was Sjogren’s and it seemed like I kept adding new diseases at least once a year for about a decade after that until I was formally dx’d with Lupus in my 20’s. There are a bunch of illnesses that go hand in hand with Lupus. Now I’m in my 40’s and have been getting new dx’s but they are more age related issues or due to premature menopause. Most of the time I can’t differentiate between diseases and I don’t bother trying anymore since the treatment is pretty much the same. So you are not alone in having multiple diseases.
yep. Hypothyroidism and myasthenia gravis
I sent my reply by accident! First Hashimotosi in my 20s. Then TMJ in my 30s and also Reynauds. Then IC in my mid 30s.Then Sjogrens in my 40s. Then Lupus and Fibromyalgia at age 60.
I forgot about the depression- got that in my 20s.
Sjogrens hashimotos aps fibromyalgia
Lupus ,hypothyroidism ,pcos…
I think sence lupus is autoimmune disease it’s opening doors to all other autoimmune conditions
Oh yes. Before they knew it was lupus, I was told it was a dozen other things. After the diagnosis,, Lupus is called the great imitator. So every time I have new symptoms, they check for other illnesses or call it something else, such as pancreatitis or pleurisy or costochondritis or fibromyalgia or heart inflammation (pericarditis) but it still just boils down to inflammation from lupus in those various organs, which gets diagnosed with another name. Due to all these "other illnesses", I tended to study about each one, and so I got a lot of medical knowledge in the process. I was curious to know if I knew as much as a nurse yet, so I decided to pay a fee and take the LPN exam, and I PASSED! They sent me my LPN badge but of course they couldn't certify me since I didn't do the practical work. I am too sick to work anyway so I'm just tickled that all this illness got me as much knowledge as a nurse.
yup. been diagnosed with hashimotos, fibromyalgia, autonomic nervous dysfunction etc
Once I got the diagnosis of lupus, everything else always seems to be blamed on lupus. I have lots of issues and problems "due to lupus" my family still thinks I'm just plain crazy, not that I blame them when you think about it how can anyone have this much wrong with them and still be walking around?? I've been this way for over 20 years and it just seems to get worse, its the nature of the beast I geuss. I'm just really thankful for this site and to know I'm not plain crazy this is real and I am not alone.
you are so right!!! you're not crazy. we just have crazy things happen to us and keep on going!
hopeful said:
Once I got the diagnosis of lupus, everything else always seems to be blamed on lupus. I have lots of issues and problems "due to lupus" my family still thinks I'm just plain crazy, not that I blame them when you think about it how can anyone have this much wrong with them and still be walking around?? I've been this way for over 20 years and it just seems to get worse, its the nature of the beast I geuss. I'm just really thankful for this site and to know I'm not plain crazy this is real and I am not alone.
Yes…its always something new with me…and new specialists to go along with it. 
The demon known as lupus gave me lymphoma marginal B cell lung cancer and, not content with that, later gave me interstitial lung disease, which has reduced me to 30 percent of my lung capacity. To say the least, lupus has been cruel to me.
Thomas Franklin
I'm sorry to hear it, Thomas. That sounds really rough.
Thanks everyone. It helps to hear where everyone is at. SLE affects everyone so differently. I guess we don’t know what it will bring us. I’m sending up prayers for everyone and lots of positive energy.
yep. i got the news i had lupus...then when i went to the RA dr...she found scleraderma, which gives me more problems than the lupus.
I've not seen many of your posts lately, given your circumstance I truly understand and am sorry to hear its so bad. I was wondering in earlier posts you mentioned starting benlysta for the interstitial lung disease I was curious if it helped or not? I know this disease all to well and it is a demon and incredibly cruel to all of us in one way or another. take care of yourself.
Thomas Franklin said:
The demon known as lupus gave me lymphoma marginal B cell lung cancer and, not content with that, later gave me interstitial lung disease, which has reduced me to 30 percent of my lung capacity. To say the least, lupus has been cruel to me.
Thomas Franklin
I was fairly healthy before lupus. Now I also have migraines, IBS, UCTD and fibromyalgia. It’s frustrating!