Question:
Hi everyone. My mother who has had arthritis in her hands for several years has been recently having an itchy rash on her hands as well. She went to the doctor who did some blood testing and said her lupus count was high and has referred her to a bone specialist. If it is indeed lupus, what sort of problems can we expect to go through? I have read some info on the web that makes lupus sound absolutely horrifying, and others that make it seem much more manageable. And while we don’t know for certain that she has lupus (and I am praying she doesn’t), I would just like to know what we are in for if that is indeed the case. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Jeremy
Response:
Jeremy wrote: > Hi everyone. My mother who has had arthritis in her hands for several years > has been recently having an itchy rash on her hands as well. She went to the > doctor who did some blood testing and said her lupus count was high and has > referred her to a bone specialist. If it is indeed lupus, what sort of > problems can we expect to go through? I have read some info on the web that > makes lupus sound absolutely horrifying, and others that make it seem much > more manageable. And while we don’t know for certain that she has lupus (and > I am praying she doesn’t), I would just like to know what we are in for if > that is indeed the case. > Any help would be appreciated. > Thanks, > Jeremy
Hi Jeremy, Welcome to alt.support.lupus It’s hard to know what’s going on there. As far as I know a bone doctor is an orthopedic doctor. The type of doctor who (usually) screens and diagnoses Lupus is a rheumatologist. I think they also treat people with arthritis. People with Lupus can manifest arthritis changes, but I forget the specifics. Certainly joint pain is one of the symptoms of both. There are much newer medications that can control the disease process. Sometimes they also have to take steroids to get the inflammation under control. It is not an easy disease, but as you said it’s usually a management issue. My uncle had it but died of other causes. SLE is a very personal disease, as it can take many forms and therefore is called the disease with a thousand faces. Diagnosis is difficult, the cause is unknown, and the symptoms vary widely from one patient to another and from day to day for the same patient. While some people are severely affected by Lupus, many others can live virtually normal lives. There’s more information here (including what’s involved for a diagnosis) well worth reading and bookmarking… http://www.ghg.net/schwerpt/ASLFAQ/whatis.htm which includes testing for the ANA levels. That’s the first step in a bunch of bloodwork. I assume that’s what you mean by "her lupus count"? Diagnosis of SLE is often delayed in the elderly. This delay may be related to the nonspecific or atypical presenting symptoms (eg, cognitive dysfunction, failure to thrive, fever of unknown origin) and the time and extensive testing needed to exclude other potential causes of these symptoms, such as infection, malignancy, or endocrine abnormality. Drug-induced SLE must also be considered in this population, and medication lists should be reviewed for potential offending agents (eg, hydralazine hydrochloride [Apresoline], procainamide hydrochloride [Procanbid, Pronestyl]). Drug induced Lupus (DLE or DILE) is explained also in the FAQ. I think it’s some (if not all) of heart/BP medications. I hang out here because I have autoimmune thyroid and my brother might have Lupus and I have friends here. I’m not an expert.so watch for other (probably better) replies. Meantime, hang in there, until she’s seen the doctor. J – Canada
Response:
In article <ZSUJc.19806582$Id.3278…@news.easynews.com>, Jeremy <no…@home.com> wrote >Hi everyone. My mother who has had arthritis in her hands for several years >has been recently having an itchy rash on her hands as well. She went to the >doctor who did some blood testing and said her lupus count was high
You can’t count lupus – he must have meant one of the numerous blood counts that are possible. >and has >referred her to a bone specialist. If it is indeed lupus, what sort of >problems can we expect to go through? I have read some info on the web that >makes lupus sound absolutely horrifying, and others that make it seem much >more manageable. And while we don’t know for certain that she has lupus (and >I am praying she doesn’t), I would just like to know what we are in for if >that is indeed the case. >Any help would be appreciated.
See http://www.northeastlupus.org.uk for more! — Andy Taylor [Chair, N E Lupus Group] See http://www.northeastlupus.org.uk for more!
Response:
Jeremy – I know it’s been a while and hope you are reading. Any news on your mom? I’ve been off and on reading the group. an itchy rash on the hands could also be psoriatic arthritis I believe. though don’t quote me on that. I will say that yes, Lupus can be horrifying. But for the majority of patients it’s more of a pain in the arse than horrifying. Certainly worse than just a little ache here and there. But the statistics are in her favor that she will live a normal or near-normal lifespan. Is the arthritis in her hands rheumatoid or osteo? Rhuematoid arthritis can present with symptoms similar to Lupus symptoms. So there are a number of things that could be going on that aren’t nearly as frightening as organ-threatening lupus. best, kcat "Jeremy" <no…@home.com> wrote in message
news:ZSUJc.19806582$Id.3278024@news.easynews.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi everyone. My mother who has had arthritis in her hands for several years > has been recently having an itchy rash on her hands as well. She went to the > doctor who did some blood testing and said her lupus count was high and has > referred her to a bone specialist. If it is indeed lupus, what sort of > problems can we expect to go through? I have read some info on the web that > makes lupus sound absolutely horrifying, and others that make it seem much > more manageable. And while we don’t know for certain that she has lupus (and > I am praying she doesn’t), I would just like to know what we are in for if > that is indeed the case. > Any help would be appreciated. > Thanks, > Jeremy
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