VeeJ

Dear irishgirl, Welcome. Here are some thoughts---but, obviously, I'm no professional, just a patient.

Has your daughter been evaluated by a rheumatologist? Had bloodwork done for lupus & related autoimmunes (e.g., ANA *plus* specific autoantibody tests such as anti-Dna, anti-Sm, anto-Ro, anti-La, anti-RNP, etc.)? There are actually 16 things seen in bloodwork of lupus patients, I've read, so this list is not complete.

Has she discussed with her gastroenterologist the incidence of such symptoms in Crohn's? Or possible side effects from her Crohn's meds (I'm thinking of the facial skin problems you described)? I ask because Dr. Wallace [see next paragrapgh] does discuss the incidence of GI problems in lupus. His opinion is that 1% to 4% of lupus patients have *ulcerative colitis*, but that *Crohn's* and lupus hardly ever co-exist. For what that's worth... Obviously, that would mean, if true, that IBD & lupus are entirely possible, but that Crohn's & lupus aren't very likely. (But that info is from a book & I don't think it should ever outweigh evaluation by a trusted doctor.)

Further, "functional" GI problems (meaning not the inflammatory kind) are VERY common in lupus. I think I've read stats of upwards of 40% to 45% of lupus pateints having some episodes of this type.

Have you read up on lupus? There are several "sticky posts" with the diagnostic criteria at the front of the Board. These criteria are tricky. One has to have 4 of the 11, but not at the same time (meaning over a lifetime). Plus the criteria apply to *systemic* lupus, not to it's subsets (discoid, subacute cutaneous, drug-induced & neonatal). There are some very good lupus hardcovers to be found in most libraries & bookstores: look for a book by Dr. Daniel Wallace & several by Dr. Robert Lahita.

I myself had monstrous, disgusting GI problems for 25+ years, but despite repeated GI tests, IBD was never found. I was finally Dx'ed with the subacute cutanous "subset" of lupus (was ANA-negative but positive for anti-Ro) when I was almost 48 years old. Whether due to age or to the antimalarial I take, my GI problems improved a whole lot. But I reaize that inflammatory bowel disease is of a different order than the "functional" problem I had, bad as it felt to me...

I hope you post back with more thoughts. I think several others here have also had chronic GI problems, so maybe they'll chip in soon. Anyway, good luck & best wishes! Sincerely, Vee