.......................

.........................

I started out with mild lupus. Had it from 14-24(there abouts). Joint swelling was my biggest symptom. Ive had fibromyalgia almost as long and alot of the symptoms r the same/similar. I remember alot of fatigue, some loss of hand function(nothing big but just noticeable), my face wouldnt get a rash but i would get flush or just a general hot feeling in my face, i started catxhing every cold or flu i came within a mile of. The butterfly rash didnt start really showing up until i was 26+ and even then not too bad. Im considered moderate lupus now and the rash is more prominate. It took almost 6yrs for my ana to come back positive though. Oh and i started healing slower, that was a huge thing for me. And infections became a prob, more and more over time.

...............................

I forgot about the weight gain/loss. About age 14 i started gaining weight and for no apparent reason whatsoever. The lymphnodes swelling r definitely a autoimmune disease sign and i get them bad under my arms, they stay slightly swollen all th time. I rarely get the mouth sores but my mouth is sensitive. Im on the other side of blood clotting disorders, in fact until this pregnancy i didnt even know the name of it(of course i cant remember it, its a 4 letter name) anyways i have sticky blood myself and have had 4 mini strokes to date. Some of the symptoms ur explaining sounds like fibromyalgia, but its a given if u have any kind of autoimmune issues it seems. Ive always bee photosensitive and its worse even now. My hair loss started in the last few years and uti/kidney infections r a norm for me.

Quoting Rebekah Hankinson Trimmer:" I forgot about the weight gain/loss. About age 14 i started gaining weight and for no apparent reason ... [snip!] ... photosensitive and its worse even now. My hair loss started in the last few years and uti/kidney infections r a norm for me."

.........................

<blockquote><b>Quoting A, E & W's mommy:</b>" So it's sounds like my symptoms aren't quite odd enough to write off the idea of lupus completely, but that it's still not necessarily a great fit."</blockquote>




Thats what im thinking. I think fibromyalgia is a fit for some symptoms and lupus could explain a few more but there r alot of autoimmune diseases that it could be. They all have very similar symptoms and r hard to differentiate between. There r alot of good treatments now that really help. Do u have any back pain, loss of cordination, memory issues(not necessarily severe just noticable).

<blockquote><b>Quoting Rebekah Hankinson Trimmer:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting A, E & W's mommy:</b>" So it's sounds like my symptoms aren't ... [snip!] ... now that really help. Do u have any back pain, loss of cordination, memory issues(not necessarily severe just noticable)."</blockquote>



..................................

<blockquote><b>Quoting A, E & W's mommy:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting Rebekah Hankinson Trimmer:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting ... [snip!] ... really bad memory now, I used to pay all our bills but my husband does it now because I can never seem to remember to pay them."</blockquote>




Lupus and fibromyalgia both effect memory. I use to remeber everything now i have to keep notes to keep track of everything. When im not pregnant and im on my meds it helps my memory alot. Psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing(not sure on the spelling) r two others that are other autoimmune diseases that r similar to lupus. Let me know when u get ur results. Im going to parent tank u if thats ok.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Rebekah Hankinson Trimmer:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting A, E & W's mommy:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting Rebekah ... [snip!] ... other autoimmune diseases that r similar to lupus. Let me know when u get ur results. Im going to parent tank u if thats ok."</blockquote>




..................................

<blockquote><b>Quoting A, E & W's mommy:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting Rebekah Hankinson Trimmer:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting ... [snip!] ... see me about the results until after my u/s for my spleen which doesn't happen until December 28th. But yes, I'll let you know"</blockquote>



Feel free to msg me any time! I love making new friends and ive found that having others to talk to who r dealing with similar things. Its great to have a support network.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Rebekah Hankinson Trimmer:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting A, E & W's mommy:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting Rebekah ... [snip!] ... new friends and ive found that having others to talk to who r dealing with similar things. Its great to have a support network."</blockquote>




..............

I don't have lupus, but I was testing for it (and a LOT of other things). The ANA is only a screening test really. If it's negative then the odds of you having lupus are REALLY low, and a positive doesn't mean they diagnose you with lupus. THey have more specific tests to use if the ANA is positive. I have a positive ANA, but negative on the other lupus tests.

I do have anti-thyroid antibodies however, but my thyroid still works well. So they diagnosed me with fibromyalgia. Also, I think (personally at least) that I have celiac despite never actually getting a real test for it, and I think THAT is the cause of the ANA and possible the really mild thryoid (since they run together a lot, celiac and other autoimmune).

It's a LONG time to go through testing.

<blockquote><b>Quoting she nan igans:</b>" I don't have lupus, but I was testing for it (and a LOT of other things). The ANA is only a screening ... [snip!] ... the really mild thryoid (since they run together a lot, celiac and other autoimmune). It's a LONG time to go through testing."</blockquote>




So true but most docs ive been to start with ana, which in my opinion is dumb but im not a doc. Ive been to several rheumatologists and everyone of them has said a neg on ana doesnt mean u dont have lupus it means it hasnt shown up on the ana. Not trying to argue just provide info ive been given.

Quoting Rebekah Hankinson Trimmer:" <blockquote><b>Quoting she nan igans:</b>" I don't have lupus, but I was testing for ... [snip!] ... ana doesnt mean u dont have lupus it means it hasnt shown up on the ana. Not trying to argue just provide info ive been given."

Okay. My point was that a positive ANA won't be a "false positive for lupus" because it doesn't test specifically for lupus. It's used as a screening test. As I said, the odds of having an autoimmune illness (such as lupus) with a negative ANA is very low, not that it can't happen. However, a positive doesn't mean you have lupus either. You can have positives for otehr autoimmune illnesses or for no reason at all. There are lots of totally healthy people with positive ANA's. So I don't want her to freak out about the ANA, it's really used for the negatives, because again, it helps to rule things out.

Quoting she nan igans:" Okay. My point was that a positive ANA won't be a "false positive for lupus" because it doesn't test ... [snip!] ... So I don't want her to freak out about the ANA, it's really used for the negatives, because again, it helps to rule things out."

...........................