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Ra and lupus

Posted , 4 users are following.

gemma83759
gemma83759

Does anyone know if it's possible to have rheumatoid arthritis and lupus? Anyone been tested for both or suffer both simultaneously?

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • lrevenden
    lrevenden gemma83759

    Posted

    Hi Gemma

    I'm only going on what I've read elsewhere, yes I think it's possible but the problem with lupus is that it's hard to diagnose a bit like fibro as the symptoms are a lot like those of other autoimmune diseases.

    I have quite bad fatigue, muscle aches and spasms so I suspect that I have secondary fibro and my dentist thinks I also have Sjögren's. It's apparently common to have a main condition with one or more secondary ones too.

    Anyway it's probably best to speak to your rheumy nurse or GP.

    Not a great answer I know!

  • Light
    Light gemma83759

    Posted

    Yes, I'm afraid it is.

    I'm a long-term RA sufferer and was at one time tested by my rheumy for lupus alongside my RA. He did not at any point suggest the two were uncompatitible.

    Actually the trouble with auto-immune diseases is that once you have one, you very often follow on with more. I have five!

    Sorry for the bad news.

  • nadine33
    nadine33 gemma83759

    Posted

    Yes, I've been diagnosed with both RA and lupus. I was told my symptoms are predominantly RA. The medication I was prescribed is Methotrexate and Hydroxychloroquine. I think a lot of autoimmune conditions overlap.
    • gemma83759
      gemma83759 nadine33

      Posted

      Hi Nadine, now I know it is possible to have overlap symptoms. Are your symptoms much worse or different from having ra alone?
    • nadine33
      nadine33 gemma83759

      Posted

      It's hard to say. I have constant pain in my wrists. The pain in my knees and feet comes and goes. The Lupus symptoms I get are aches and pains in joints, dry eyes, poor blood circulation in the tips of my fingers, hair loss, fatigue and rashes from sunlight. I feel worse in cold weather and find that too many refined carbs, sugar and salt make my symptoms worse. I can't say whether the symptoms are worse or different than just having RA..
  • Light
    Light gemma83759

    Posted

    By the way, as far as I kow the treatment for both is just about the same. Two in one!
    • gemma83759
      gemma83759 Light

      Posted

      Thanks for this information light, there is a combination treatment for lupus and ra sufferers. How do you cope with five auto immune disorders. Take care. G.
    • Light
      Light gemma83759

      Posted

      The truth is the first four are easily mangeable (vitiligo, pernicious anemia, peripheral neuropathy, hashimoto's hypothyroidism).  I do the regular pill-popping and injections and can mostly forget about them, tho PN can still bother me at night.

      But it was with RA, late in life, that all hell broke loose.

      I wish you well with all your treatments!

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