lupus rash??

[jen74]

Hello. I was diagnosed with Fibro. just a few weeks ago. I have positive ana and anti-cardiolipin antibodies. I have chronic headaches, joint pain, fatigue, and mind fogs. I also have been getting weird rashes. Do people with Fibro. also get rashes. Just wondering what some of your rashes look like, are mine like anyone elses?
1. Bump on lip, red and puffy-never blisters, have had this many times in the same spot
2. Sun Bumps-on arms & chest, red-never blister, itchy sometimes
3. circular spot on arm- red, raised & bumpy ( almost like a dry skin patch) itchy sometimes
4. Bump on finger (from sun I think) never blisters, always in the same spot
5. Red/purple splotches on elbow area- Used to think were bug bites, but keep comming back in same place for the last 2 years.

The weirdest rash I get is one I've been getting since I was in the 5th grade. My ear gets red and itchy and then blisters. It lasts for a few weeks. I get this mabey 3 times a year. Doctors never know what to think. They just give me some kind of ointment and antibotic witch I don't think really does any thing. Never thought to go to a dermatoligist to have biopsy done. I'm waiting for it to come back again so I can.

I'm thinking of seeing another Rheumy for a second opinion. I feel like my symptoms really match Lupus and not Fibro. I just want to feel like I'm getting the right treatment. My aunt also has Discoid Lupus. I just found this out so I didn't get to tell Rheumy. I am taking Cymbalta, I think it is helping me to sleep a bit better and helping depression, but not the joint pain.

Thanks for listening, need advice, Jen style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/aww.gif

[dragonfly70]

Hi Jen,

I get number 1 and number 4. I've also had the ear rashes. To me, they do kinda sound like lupus rashes. You can get all kinds of rashes...itchy, non-itchy, blister, no-blister, etc. They also show up just about anywhere.

The fact that you had a positive ANA and cardiolipin test should edge the doc to do further testing for lupus. I was at first diagnosed with fibro also, until I got more symptoms of lupus and a higher positive ANA.

Have you mentioned your concerns to him? If he doesn't want to pursue it, then maybe you should get a second opinion.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out for you...and keep posting! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif


Gayle

[halfpintfl]

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wavey.gif Hi Jen, I agree with what Gayle says. I had fibro for 13yrs b/4 lupus.
I had the blisters all inbetween my fingers. I would scratch them open and they were full of
water. My dermy. called them worry bumps. Then I got not really a rash, but something on each
elbow, and I could not stop scratching them, I scratched them until they bled. I finally
got it under control, how? my hubby would say "stop" each time I began to scratch. You do
need to get a Dermy that you trust and like. And, yes, I would also get a second opinion from
a different Rheumy, especially since discoid lupus is already in your family. Let us know.



Be well and keep posting. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif