Does anyone know if it's possible to have rheumatoid arthritis and lupus? Anyone been tested for both or suffer both simultaneously?
Hi Gemma
I'm only going on what I've read elsewhere, yes I think it's possible but the problem with lupus is that it's hard to diagnose a bit like fibro as the symptoms are a lot like those of other autoimmune diseases.
I have quite bad fatigue, muscle aches and spasms so I suspect that I have secondary fibro and my dentist thinks I also have Sjögren's. It's apparently common to have a main condition with one or more secondary ones too.
Anyway it's probably best to speak to your rheumy nurse or GP.
Not a great answer I know!
No prob, thanx for replying though. G.
Yes, I'm afraid it is.
I'm a long-term RA sufferer and was at one time tested by my rheumy for lupus alongside my RA. He did not at any point suggest the two were uncompatitible.
Actually the trouble with auto-immune diseases is that once you have one, you very often follow on with more. I have five!
Sorry for the bad news.
Yes, I've been diagnosed with both RA and lupus. I was told my symptoms are predominantly RA. The medication I was prescribed is Methotrexate and Hydroxychloroquine. I think a lot of autoimmune conditions overlap.
By the way, as far as I kow the treatment for both is just about the same. Two in one!
Thanks for this information light, there is a combination treatment for lupus and ra sufferers. How do you cope with five auto immune disorders. Take care. G.
Hi Nadine, now I know it is possible to have overlap symptoms. Are your symptoms much worse or different from having ra alone?
The truth is the first four are easily mangeable (vitiligo, pernicious anemia, peripheral neuropathy, hashimoto's hypothyroidism). I do the regular pill-popping and injections and can mostly forget about them, tho PN can still bother me at night.
But it was with RA, late in life, that all hell broke loose.
I wish you well with all your treatments!
It's hard to say. I have constant pain in my wrists. The pain in my knees and feet comes and goes. The Lupus symptoms I get are aches and pains in joints, dry eyes, poor blood circulation in the tips of my fingers, hair loss, fatigue and rashes from sunlight. I feel worse in cold weather and find that too many refined carbs, sugar and salt make my symptoms worse. I can't say whether the symptoms are worse or different than just having RA..