Re: Huh?!? What is this sh**?!?

[Guest guest]

Hi ,....Sorry to hear all that your going through, it is a

lengthy process. It took so long for me a final diagnosis. I come

out with RA and Lupus. My family doctor told me I had Lupus, but not

sure of RA. The rheumatologist told me I had RA, but not Lupus. The

rheumy I have now, diagnosed me with RA and Lupus, so here we go. It

is hard to determine I guess, the symptoms are so similar. I also

have Fibromyalgia, OP, and sjogren's syndrome. I know it's hard to

deal with, but just hang in there. Were all here for you, Tawny

--- In , " D. " <edalfrey@a...>

wrote:

> I am sooo confused! 1 Internist, 1 Rheumatologist, 1 Family

> Practioner= RA diagnosis. Really do not like Rheumy Dr. Internist

> and Family MD say I must see a Rheumy. Ok, drive 1 1/2 hours to

> next nearest Rheumy. Like her, BUT.... she looked at all the files

> I had brought with me and did a very thourough examination and

tells

> me that she thinks that I have Lupus (causing inflamatory

arthritis)

> and Fibromyalgia and NOT RA. She had them take 10 vials of blood

> for more labs and had x-rays of my feet. I go back in 2 weeks.

>

> She was very surprised that all 3 other Dr.'s had diagnosed as RA.

> What's going on here? Has anyone else had stuff like this happen?

> Is this all so closely intertwined that it is hard to

> differentiate?

>

> Freaking out! D.

[Guest guest]

Don't freak out, .

Diagnostic confusion between RA and lupus is extremely common. Another

important point is that coexistence of the two (outside of an overlap

syndrome) is rare. It is essential to figure out which one it is because

the treatment strategies, especially in light of the anti-TNF therapies

available now, and monitoring related to RA and lupus have important

differences.

The labs usually aren't as telling as the clinical evidence. But there

are some antibodies very specific to lupus that RA patients don't often

have; I'm assuming that this new rheumatologist ordered those tests.

Erosions can occur in SLE, but they aren't as common in SLE as they are

in RA. Erosions often show up in the feet before the hands, so that's

probably why she ordered the x-rays. Did you have prior x-rays of your

hands? Did they show anything?

What symptoms do you have that can be explained by lupus but NOT by RA

or any meds you are taking used to treat it?

Why did the new rheumatologist discount RA?

Why did the other three physicians make the RA diagnosis?

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] Huh?!? What is this sh**?!?

> I am sooo confused! 1 Internist, 1 Rheumatologist, 1 Family

> Practioner= RA diagnosis. Really do not like Rheumy Dr. Internist

> and Family MD say I must see a Rheumy. Ok, drive 1 1/2 hours to

> next nearest Rheumy. Like her, BUT.... she looked at all the files

> I had brought with me and did a very thourough examination and tells

> me that she thinks that I have Lupus (causing inflamatory arthritis)

> and Fibromyalgia and NOT RA. She had them take 10 vials of blood

> for more labs and had x-rays of my feet. I go back in 2 weeks.

>

> She was very surprised that all 3 other Dr.'s had diagnosed as RA.

> What's going on here? Has anyone else had stuff like this happen?

> Is this all so closely intertwined that it is hard to

> differentiate?

>

> Freaking out! D.