Angie10
07-27-2007, 02:05 PM
Hi everyone!
It has been some time since I posted but I started a new job and life has been a bit hectic. After not working for 6 months, suddenly taking a train into work and then a subway (over 4 hrs. a day!) has wreaked havoc on my joints(especially the knees and ankles). My fingers also ache from the middle joint to the joint closest to the palm. I started the Plaquenil in May, so it is too soon to see if it is working. At this point it really isn't. I have a hardly noticeable redness on both cheeks and my nose, but my mother has roseacea so I thought it could be that. My hair has thinned but hasn't gotten any worse and my family has a history of very fine, thinning of the hair. I have not internal organ symptoms except for my gallbladder being removed a week before the Lupus dx in May due to the bile duct shutting down and no longer working.
After the Lupus diagnosis in May, I and some other family members have concerns that rheumatoid arthritis was not really considered. Is it true that both diseases can often be similar in much of the lab tests and symptoms? I know I had a high ANA, positive for the Rheumatoid factor, positive for both the anti-SSA and anti-SSB. My mother says she knows of a couple of people that were incorrectly diagnosed with one or the other initially.
Since my job is in a major city now, I decided to change my PCP(who is also my rheumatologist) and am going to a major teaching hospital's Lupus Center next month to see a Rheumatologist that specializes in the disease. I have also requested a copy of all lab and office visit materials since the diagnosis. Until then I wait and wonder and try to take each day as it comes. Any information you have would be truly appreciated!
It has been some time since I posted but I started a new job and life has been a bit hectic. After not working for 6 months, suddenly taking a train into work and then a subway (over 4 hrs. a day!) has wreaked havoc on my joints(especially the knees and ankles). My fingers also ache from the middle joint to the joint closest to the palm. I started the Plaquenil in May, so it is too soon to see if it is working. At this point it really isn't. I have a hardly noticeable redness on both cheeks and my nose, but my mother has roseacea so I thought it could be that. My hair has thinned but hasn't gotten any worse and my family has a history of very fine, thinning of the hair. I have not internal organ symptoms except for my gallbladder being removed a week before the Lupus dx in May due to the bile duct shutting down and no longer working.
After the Lupus diagnosis in May, I and some other family members have concerns that rheumatoid arthritis was not really considered. Is it true that both diseases can often be similar in much of the lab tests and symptoms? I know I had a high ANA, positive for the Rheumatoid factor, positive for both the anti-SSA and anti-SSB. My mother says she knows of a couple of people that were incorrectly diagnosed with one or the other initially.
Since my job is in a major city now, I decided to change my PCP(who is also my rheumatologist) and am going to a major teaching hospital's Lupus Center next month to see a Rheumatologist that specializes in the disease. I have also requested a copy of all lab and office visit materials since the diagnosis. Until then I wait and wonder and try to take each day as it comes. Any information you have would be truly appreciated!