Lupus Support Group

Lupus is an auto-immune disease in which the immune system cannot distinguish between threats (like viruses and bacteria), and healthy cells and tissue. As a result, the body produces antibodies that inflict cell damage, most commonly targeting joints, skin, kidneys and the nervous system. Join the group and find support for coping with lupus.

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diagnosis

kimlyon6
kimlyon6
My doctor and his PAc think I have Lupus SLE and sent me to a rheumatologist. The rheumatologist does not think I have Lupus thinks its the fibromyalgia. My hair is falling out, I have extreme fatigue, pain in my joints and the speckle test showed mixed connective disease, sle lupus, polymyositis? They had me get labs and he wants me to come back in 2 weeks. I do not want to go back and pay $30.00 if it is just fibro. I am so confused.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Did they take further blood tests. Go back and see what dr has to say. Its hard to get the proper diagnosi sometimes it takes a while. There is a board for MCTD also' Some of us are on both boards. Mctd is treated the same as Lupus and many of same symptons. hugs and good luck. Marilyn
deleted_user
deleted_user
There can be a great deal of frustration in getting an accurate diagnosis. By the time they told me I had Lupus, I didn't even care what it was. Sounds like you could have fibro and something else going on. Symptoms can wax and wane for months, even years. Sometimes certain symptoms intensify and will lead to an accurate diagnosis. Maybe it's just too soon to tell. I'm sure others will chime in with advice, and you will be able to plan your next move.Take Care
kimlyon6
kimlyon6
Thank You Marilyn and annesse=)
deleted_user
deleted_user
As others have noted, it takes time for a diagnosis to develop. It sounds like you have some of the criteria, but maybe not enough. The speckle test is a positive ANA. And to clarify, it doesn't "show" those other diseases, it points to a propensity toward those diseases. Probably the rheumy ran a complement series (which is low in lupus patients, high in other things) along with other antibody tests like anti-DSdna and anti-Sm, etc. Alopecia can be caused by lupus but it can also be caused by stress or genetics.

Please go back to your doc so he can give you the rest of your results and possibly a full diagnosis. And if you "merely" have fibro, there are things that can be done for that too. There are several anti-depressants that can improve your fibro substantially (one is Cymbalta). Also, if the doc is on the fence about lupus,he may still prescribe an antimalarial like Plaquenil because it has few side effects and works on many patients.

One other note: you would not be diagnosed with MCTD off the bat. That disease by definition means that you have TWO diagnoses of AI diseases such as Lupus AND Sjogrens or RA AND Polymyalgia. Probably the doc said UCTD--Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease which is when you don't have quite enough symptoms to get a diagnosis of any of the AI diseases. Probably that's the category you're in now UNTIL more tests come back.

Good luck with this.