I have an appt with a new rheumy tomorrow woohoo. I was diagnosed with fibro 3 years ago. I just started researching lupus and the two diseases have very similar symptoms. I started researching this because some of my blood work has been coming back weird and my rheumy can't explain it. She also has me on Plaquinil and I found out that that is a drug drs use to treat lupus. Here are my symptoms...I need your opinions:

Hair Loss
Anti-Phospholid Antibodies present
Low Red and White Blood cell count
Positive ANA
Muscle, joint, and ligament pain
Extremely sensitive to the sun...break out in rashes sometimes
Psoriasis on scalp
Memory problems and overall confusion
Lots of pain
Very fatigued most of the time
Sore throat
Headaches
Extremely sensitive to light, noise, temperature (hot and cold)
Itchy skin
Tingling, crawling, twisting feeling in extremities

Maybe I have fibro and lupus...or maybe my blood work is just weird?? I'm not sure. Any thoughts?

SherryRenee - It is entirely possible to have both Lupus and FM. As you probably know, typically, FM is treated as a non-inflammatory disease. And, it is very common among the Arthritis-type diseases and syndromes for treatment to start before the disease has "declared itself".
I have FM, been diagnosed for 23 years. However, along the way I have been labelled "sero-negative arthritis" by my doc and rheumie and treated with some biologics, Nsaids, and in fact have been treated with 3 prednisone courses when in major flares. And yet -- go figer -- I have never been diagnosed with anything "inflammatory". I say yet, because I recently had a consult with a new (for me) rheumie who has suggested I "be watched for Lupus" for the next while, that my history has indicated more blood tests are in order. I have always been positive on my ANA, but have not had more specific tests, at least for 10 years or so.
So it looks like you and I are in the same boat regarding our diagnosis. Except that you are fairly newly diagnosed with FM.

These are the symptoms I have or had that are supposedly "not necessarily" FM:
sun makes me sick with headache and nausea/dizziness
skins rashes on torso and face
Mouth and nasal sores
low body temp, low blood pressure, slow heartbeat, murmur
eye dryness, eye pain, some visual disturbances
repeated tendonitis and/or pain in wrists, ankles, & fingers requiring physiotherapy and steroid shots
carpal tunnel surgery both hands
TMJ inflammation
migraines
bouts of "go to bed" fatigue
chest pain
irritating cough, off and on sore throat
sinusitis, constantly drippy nose
hot burning pain in my neck
trouble swallowing, feels like something caught in my throat
hot, burning, "painful to touch" skin

As you can see, we have some the same, some not. And at this point, I don't even know if these are all linked to Lupus or not.

Well, SherryRenee, I hope your rheumie appointment goes really well tomorrow and you can get some answers. There are some very positive things in your case -- your rheumie seems to be on the ball, and she went ahead with Plaquenil without waiting for more tests etc. And knowing she is pursuing more clarification of blood results is great - she seems to be representing your interests very well. Your symptoms sure seem to lean toward Lupus - obviously we can't diagnose here - but the literature lists them clearly and much of yours are bang on. Or, it could be something else, totally different! :rolleyes:It's still possible that your treatment (meds) won't change, since you are already on Plaquenil. But you may get your diagnosis finalized, one way or the other. Hope so!

It will be a good idea to bring your written list of symptoms for your rheumie appointment that will save time for other discussion, and in case you forget anything.

I would really like to hear how things went.

Wishing you peace and comfort,
Paddy