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difference between fibromyalgia and lupus

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Posted 9/19/2008 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
I have read some of your posts where some of you talked about a fibro flare as opposed to lupus flare.  How do you know the difference between the two?  Is there also a difference between a Sjogren's flare and a lupus flare?  Is there differences between these three things, and those differences are recognised by different symptoms?

Thank you

Hester

Posted 9/19/2008 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Hester!

 

What an excellent question you have asked about! 

 

With tremendous disappointment, the three diseases mimick each other very well, which makes it "almost" impossible to know which one is flaring.  I have a horrible time - especially lately - knowing which one is being the bad guy.  I have all three.

 

Here's how I figure out what's going on....

 

1) I increase my Prednisone.   If I feel better, it is lupus or sjogrens.  If I feel worse, it is fibro. ( fibro is NOT inflammatory, so any prednisone or anti-inflammatory medication doesn't work.  It actually makes the symptoms worse). 

 

2) Go get blood work/urine tests done.  IF everything comes back normal, it is a fibro flare.  There are NO blood tests to determine fibro activity. Everything will look normal.  CBC, ESR, liver enzymes, urine.  Will all be normal.   If there is an increase in my ESR, it's lupus or sjogrens.

 

3) Check my lymph nodes.  If I have swollen glands at the base of my skull at the back of my neck, swollen glands in my armpits, along jaw line, groin area, I have a sjogren's flare.  Although, it can indicate a lupus flare too.  But for me, I don't usually get swollen glands with my lupus.  It's different for everyone.

 

 

Most of the time, just by increasing or decreasing my prednisone, I can get a very fast indicator of what's going on.  It's much harder to determine the difference between a sjogren's and lupus flare.  If you notice your mouth, eyes, nose, vagina being much more dry then usual, then it's the sjogren's acting up. 

 

I'm sure there will be others with more information for you too.  this is a great thread you posted Hester.  So many of us, even us veterans of the diseases have a lot of trouble knowing what to do and what not to do!  It's really hard!  Getting to know our bodies well will help in the long run.

 

Have a good day!

Ginny

Posted 9/19/2008 7:47 PM (GMT 0)

 

  If you notice your mouth, eyes, nose, vagina being much more dry then usual, then it's the sjogren's acting up. 

I'm sure there will be others with more information for you too.  this is a great thread you posted Hester.  So many of us, even us veterans of the diseases have a lot of trouble knowing what to do and what not to do!  It's really hard!  Getting to know our bodies well will help in the long run.

 

Have a good day!

Ginny

I have enlarged lymph nodes around my esophagus.  the cancer doctor thought is was a sign of the breast cancer  coming back.  and it may not have anything to do with what you said, but I also have dry eyes which are a headache sometimes, because I can't see as well I could, if I didn't have dry eyes.

I also have very dry skin.  My skin has never looked this dry before and lotions do not seem to help much.  And I keep something to drink in my hands all the time hoping my skin will hydrate and take away the scales. yeah

Thank you so much for providing me this information.  it is good to know that if you take prednisone, and the flare gets worse, than it is fibro.  This helps me very much. i don't take prednisone yet.  do not want to have to take it at all if I can help it. I turn into a b--ch.  grouchy with the kids, etc.. when I am taking it.  But if the flare has not stopped when I go back he may put me on prednisone again.

Hester

Posted 9/20/2008 2:00 AM (GMT 0)
You're welcome Hester!  It's nice to know there are ways of figuring these things out!  Something should be easier for us, right!

 

Ginny

Posted 10/17/2008 8:05 PM (GMT 0)
HI. I too have a mysterious seizure disorder story and was wondering if you would like to share our experiences? Thanks so much! I also may have Lupus. Hope all is well as can be. :) *hugs* -Brit
Posted 10/20/2008 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
ginny i am glad that you posted the things about telling the lupus and fibro apart. I know that i should get some blood work and maybe inccrease my prenisone im only taking 4 mg a day now .i know that i dont know but this is tiring being tiredall thetime and not wanting to doanything you know what i mean. I know that i dont see the kindey dr till next month or any dr till next month i really not sure what to do i have been suffering with the pain that tyenol doesnt touch and having headaches and now my stomch has been botheingme too so i dont know  well thanks Dawn

ginny said...
Hi Hester!

 

What an excellent question you have asked about! 

 

With tremendous disappointment, the three diseases mimick each other very well, which makes it "almost" impossible to know which one is flaring.  I have a horrible time - especially lately - knowing which one is being the bad guy.  I have all three.

 

Here's how I figure out what's going on....

 

1) I increase my Prednisone.   If I feel better, it is lupus or sjogrens.  If I feel worse, it is fibro. ( fibro is NOT inflammatory, so any prednisone or anti-inflammatory medication doesn't work.  It actually makes the symptoms worse). 

 

2) Go get blood work/urine tests done.  IF everything comes back normal, it is a fibro flare.  There are NO blood tests to determine fibro activity. Everything will look normal.  CBC, ESR, liver enzymes, urine.  Will all be normal.   If there is an increase in my ESR, it's lupus or sjogrens.

 

3) Check my lymph nodes.  If I have swollen glands at the base of my skull at the back of my neck, swollen glands in my armpits, along jaw line, groin area, I have a sjogren's flare.  Although, it can indicate a lupus flare too.  But for me, I don't usually get swollen glands with my lupus.  It's different for everyone.

 

 

Most of the time, just by increasing or decreasing my prednisone, I can get a very fast indicator of what's going on.  It's much harder to determine the difference between a sjogren's and lupus flare.  If you notice your mouth, eyes, nose, vagina being much more dry then usual, then it's the sjogren's acting up. 

 

I'm sure there will be others with more information for you too.  this is a great thread you posted Hester.  So many of us, even us veterans of the diseases have a lot of trouble knowing what to do and what not to do!  It's really hard!  Getting to know our bodies well will help in the long run.

 

Have a good day!

Ginny

Posted 10/21/2008 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Dawn,

 

I'm sorry you're feeling so crumby.... When I'm fatigued I have trouble getting motivated to anything too.  Have you been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia?  Are you seeing your rheumatologist in the near future?

 

I find that the pain associated with Fibromyalgia won't be helped with Tylenol.  It's totally useless for me too.  I'm going to save my liver and pocket book and stop taking the stuff!!  I was just at my rheumy's this afternoon talking about better pain med control.  She really likes Tramacet.  I can't take it.  Makes me super drowsy and I get nauseated. I throw up! The other alternatives are meds with codein in it. That of course will make you constipated..... Can't win.  You can get into the narcotics, but that will ultimately lead you down a road of addiction and being "spaced out".  For me, I don't have a lot of options.

 

I sure hope you can figure out if this is your lupus or not.  Those tips really work for me.  I hope they work for you too.

 

All the best,

Ginny

 

 

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