Guest guest Posted May 15, 2004 Report Share Posted May 15, 2004 At my last visit to my physician I was told that I have Lupus as well as Psoriatic Arthritis ... is this part of the disease? Or is this something totally different? I am having labs done again this week ... before they start me on Enbrel. I know I should have asked my physician but I was a bit overwhelmed by it all and I had a list of things to go over just about PA. The Lupus addition caught me off guard. ~ Jenn ~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 15, 2004 Report Share Posted May 15, 2004 My daughter is sixteen and was diagnosed with PA at twelve. Her labs would appear that she has Lupus but her Rhuematologist believes that it is the PA causing the results and not actually Lupus. He is very cautious about medications that can cause drug induced Lupus because the Lupus my not go away in someone like her after stopping the drug. He did start her on Enbrel exactly one year ago and she has done great. [Editor's Note: While there are no tests that will diagnose PA, there are tests to determine a diagnosis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): First, an anitnuclear antibody test will suggest likelihood of autoimmune disease (but not specifically SLE). A positive result could warrant further tests: A positive test for autoantibodies to double-strand DNA and to antigen will reveal SLE (or DLE--Discoid Lupus); a biopsy of non-SLE rash, sun-exposed skin showing immune complex deposition will powerfully if not definitively suggest SLE. Why is the Rheumatologist in this case going with " belief " rather than the testing, perhaps you know--I can't guess. You mention labs; were the above tests done? What medication(s) that might " cause " SLE is the doc concerned with? Lastly: If she is doing well, and the doc is being cautious, it sounds like things are going well; my questions are more academic than clinical--except that, as Fran and others point out, SLE can be very serious, and it may well be useful to know whether your daughter has SLE, or " just " (Hah!) PA. D.] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 15, 2004 Report Share Posted May 15, 2004 Dear Jenn, I'm not a doctor, but I know Lupus is a very different disease. One form is very mild and most people do quite well, some even without medication and they simply avoid the sun to do skin rashes. One of my friends has a mild form and you and I would never in a million years think she was even sick. Yet I know other people who have the serious form, so it 's important that your doctor give you more information on which type you have and how to treat it. It might also help explain your sense of fatigue you have been experiencing, if I remember your previous emails. It's never good news to hear we have something else wrong, but try and look at it if it is something they can fix, you might feel better. That's how I' ve tried to look at all my new diagnoses that have popped up over the years. I'm really surprised, actually I'm not but we all should be, that your doctor didn't go over Lupus with you and tell you what all this means. Boy doctors can sure be annoying at times. Good luck and let me know how you are doing. Take care, Fran in Florida riginal Message----- From: JENN13577@... [mailto:JENN13577@...] Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2004 9:57 AM Subject: [ ] Question ~ Lupus At my last visit to my physician I was told that I have Lupus as well as Psoriatic Arthritis ... is this part of the disease? Or is this something totally different? I am having labs done again this week ... before they start me on Enbrel. I know I should have asked my physician but I was a bit overwhelmed by it all and I had a list of things to go over just about PA. The Lupus addition caught me off guard. ~ Jenn ~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 15, 2004 Report Share Posted May 15, 2004 Hi Jenn, I don't have lupus, and hope to never have it. There is a lady that lives in New York who has lupus and she has done a lot for lupus awareness. You might be interested in looking at her site. She speaks of the Spoon theory, which can help our families and friends understand what it is to be chronically ill, not just with lupus but any other chronic illness out there. Ex. PA. Her website is: www.butyoudontlooksick.com It was very informative to me, after having pa for years and my family and friends not understanding why i felt so tired all the time and never felt up to " going out " . Just wanted to give you some info on that site. Good luck in your journey. Keli > At my last visit to my physician I was told that I have Lupus as well as > Psoriatic Arthritis ... is this part of the disease? Or is this something totally > different? I am having labs done again this week ... before they start me on > Enbrel. I know I should have asked my physician but I was a bit overwhelmed by > it all and I had a list of things to go over just about PA. The Lupus addition > caught me off guard. > > ~ Jenn ~ > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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