Difference between Fibromyalgia and Lupus?

wernet · Newbie Joined: 11 Jun 2005 Posts: 20

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?

geri · Silver Member Joined: 26 Oct 2002 Posts: 233

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.

azsk8right · Newbie Joined: 12 Nov 2006 Posts: 2

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?

SueKang · Newbie Joined: 13 Nov 2006 Posts: 1

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.

smileatme · Newbie Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 1

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.

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Difference between Fibromyalgia and Lupus?

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