Difference between Fibromyalgia and Lupus?

Hi! I have some serious disease, but I don’t have diagnosis. My doctor can tell me right diagnosis; because he doesn’t do I have lupus or fibromyalgia. Can anyone tell me what difference between lupus and fibromyalgia is?

Hi! It is critical to distinguish whether an individual is suffering from fibromyalgia, lupus or both, as the treatment approaches are very different. Only a trained rheumatologist can properly differentiate the subtle differences between symptoms of the two conditions. Lupus rashes are persistent. Rashes experienced by fibromyalgia patients rapidly come and go. Protein in the urine, fluid lining the lungs and heart are other features of lupus not present in fibromyalgia. The intensity of pain is usually much greater in fibromyalgia. Sleeping through the night is much more difficult in fibromyalgia. Find some good rheumatologist. When is disease right diagnosed you will have proper treatment.

I was diagnosed with Ebstien Barr & Chronic Fatique in 94. Lost all short term memory, had insomnia at night/lathargic and drained during the day, along with Candida and sentsitivity to light and heat, lymph nodes in arm pits and neck were swollen. Overall feeling of major fatigue. Got better by 1995 and stayed ok until 2001 after a cycling crash, got sick again, but not all the same symptons... My Doc. took only one of the five tests for Lupus and it came back positive, but mild. He more less disregarded the past diagnoses, didn't believe that it was Ebstien Barr and sent me to the Rheumatologists where he believed it was the beginning stages of Fibromialgia. Yes, my joints, muscles and sometimes my skin hurt, but I didn't have any of the other symptoms this time. I also had a partial hystorechtomy in 1999, but completed it in March, 2004, so there has been no hormones in my body since then. The big question is, I never had any of the rashes Lupus is known for, but had 13 of the 15 symptoms over time. I still don't understand which one, if at all, I actually have and don't feel confident in what the doctors have said. How do we really know?

I was diagnosed with Lupus when I was 12. The symptoms I had most were joint pain, chronic fatigue and sensitivity to the sun. There are blood test that the doctors run in order to know if you have LUPUS. I'm now 27 years old and have never had the Lupus Rash. There is no single set of symptoms that are uniformly specific to lupus. They do check for (ANA) anti-nuclear antibody, and several different types of anemia. At 25, I was also diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. My Lupus had been in remission for years, but I was having pain, fatigue, and insomnia which lead to depression. The pain was different. It was more like muscle aches instead of joint pain and my blood work was fine which was confusing. After taking tons of steroids and medication that was having no affect because it wasn't the Lupus affecting me, I got the right diagnosis. The doctor prescribes the right medication and I am all better. I still get little flares here and there, but nothing that cripples me like before. It's really important to be treated for the right disease.

Hello. I was dx. With Fibromyalgia about six years ago. Then a year later dx. as to having Systemic Lupus. Was treated by three different Rheamatologist in the last five years. Today I went to see a different doctor who did not do any test and said that I did not have Lupus that it was Fibromyalgia. I was glad to hear that but , I am confused and not sure I can trust this doctor. I just want to know for sure.

wernet wrote:

Hi! I have some serious disease, but I don’t have diagnosis. My doctor can tell me right diagnosis; because he doesn’t do I have lupus or fibromyalgia. Can anyone tell me what difference between lupus and fibromyalgia is?

Im in the same situaion they done all these test sometims they show up positive then neg i hurt so bad endless doctor

Is there anyone that can help ??? I am awake all night and when I try and walk in the moreing me feet hurt so bad I just cry all my joints in my feet,hands,knees,and lower back hurt 24-7 no pain meds helps
I HAVE A PAIN PUMP implanted for six failed lower back surgeries
I have been in pain for that the last 9 yrs now this pops up about a year and a half ago, sometime I want to give up I live alone 20 miles in the country and have no reason to get up I go for weeks to mounta and
don"t see a living sole gust a few cows and hourses the fatiuge,
depression, and insomnia I feel I will die like this.what to do can anyone help. Deb.

Hello DSCOLE/Deb you sound very low I know how you feel, have you got anyone who can help you? where are you in the world, does your doctor know how you are feeling? Are you on any medication? you need someone to take care of you, please reply so I know you are ok!!!!
Hi everyone, i've never been on here before so please forgive my ramblings!
I have been i'll for year and a half now and after many many tests, pokes and prods in every orafice, I have been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, giberts syndrome and the last consultant i've seen a rhumatologist says I've got fibro or lupus(still waiting to be confirmed) When I went back to see my GP he says its fibro. I cannot believe that 18 months ago I was fine and then suddenly over a short period of time Ive got all these conditions. After reading many articles on lupus it mentions gilbert syndrome and cardiomyopathy, so if I put all my conditions together, plus all the usuall symptoms of lupus that I have it tells me Ive got lupus.WHY CANT THE DOCTORS SEE IT AND FINALLY CONFIRM I HAVE SOMETHING!!!! ANYTHING, I JUST NEED TO FINALLY KNOW SO i CAN DO WHAT i CAN TO CONTROL IT AND HOPEFULLY HAVE SOME SORT OF LIFE BACK!!!!!!!!! Does this make any sence to anyone out there? Has anyone else got similar conditions or can tell me anything I would be trully thankful Pen

Hello DSCOLE here is some advice.I also am seeing a rheumy. woke up one morning and could not even pick my comforter up to make the bed.I hurt so bad anyways had blood work done and was given a cortison injection which helped me so much. lasted 3 wks back to same condition was told it is either polymyalfia rheumatica or lupus. have had 2 more cortison injections told that was all I could have.and was given prednisone 15 mg for the 1st wk then go down to 2 next and then 1.Have not started prednisone but have read everything I can online about it.there are alot of bad side effects but it is the only thing that is going to help with swelling of joints pain and be able to live a normal life again.I had so many sleepless nights so I was given lunesta to get some sleep may want to check into that also.this is no laughing matter you hurt so much you feel like you are 100 yrs old.good luck I hope I helped alittle.

I've been dealing with weird symptoms of joint pain, fatigue, swollen joints, body aches and muscle pain for years. One day I have lupus and the next I have Fibro. I think it's just hard to diagnose. Whatever it is, it feels like I have had the flu for 3 years now and it's hard to keep going and keep smiling. Doctors are not infallible, if you aren't getting the answers from one then it's perfectly ok to go to another one. Life is too short to live in misery.