what is the difference between lupus and fibromyalgia?
I have previously been diagnosed with fibromyalgia based on the tender points that one doctor poked about 10 years ago. She didn't ask me any questions about the fatigue, which was actually worse for me than the pain. I accepted for many years that I had FM. Now, however, after years of worsening fatigue (and pain), plus increasing kidney problems, I have begun to wonder if it hasn't been Lupus all along. How can I find out?
I would recommend that you see a rheumatologist (specialist in arthritic and auto-immune diseases). Lupus is an auto-immune disease which means the body attacks itself. A series of blood tests can help to diagnose Lupus. A rheumotologist can help you sort this out. Additionally, don't forget to get the hormone levels checked.
Dr. Christina Lasich, MD
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SylviaMzz
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at 04:52 PM
JoshuaY
Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 03:20 PM
You have not answered my question at all, and I'm very unhappy about it.
Anyone on this questions fourm is just trying to help you. I think it was nice enough of her to respond to a simple question you could've googled.
Thanks for the advice. I saw a rhematologist years ago, when I first got the terse diagnosis of FMS. This doctor never met with me personally, but had his nurses interview me and chant his praises of being able to "cure" FMS. They ran some expensive, bizarre and confusing tests on me, then decided that based on something the doctor called "rheumatoid factors," that I couldn't have Fibromyalgia. When I tried to find out what he thought I did have, he wouldn't give me any answers. He then turned a cold shoulder to me for reasons I don't understand and kept cancelling every appointment I made with him after that. In the meantime, he insisted I do some more bizarre and even more expensive tests, including having my feces analyzed for parasites. My insurance wouldn't cover tests done through the lab they used, probably wouldn't cover the feces test, either, and they refused to find a lab that my company worked with. Thus, I am soured on the concept of rheumatology, since it seems that rhematology completely missed the point of my problem.
I have since learned that even with signs of R.A., which the doctor might have been referring to, I could still have FMS.
So I have a hard time trusting doctors, period. If I do have Lupus, then I've had signs of it for a very long time: extreme fatigue, kidney problems, unexplainable pain in my muscles and joints, reduced thyroid function, unexplained fevers followed by, at other times, slightly lower than normal temperature. No one put it together. No one.
Before I go hunting for either Lupus or RA, I want to know what to ask for. I want to know what the difference is so that I don't get screwed by another doctor. You have not answered my question at all, and I'm very unhappy about it.