lupus or not?

hi. i have been reading up on lupus and the symptoms. my father had told me that my mother had lupus, but never was treated for it? she passed away at 37 and i dont know much else about the lupus part.  i have severe "body aches" for 10 years, but they have been getting worse. i know feel glands in differnet parts of my body all on the left side that i havent felt before. Even if my mother had lupus or not, is it genetic? what if she didnt? i have a dr.s appt next week but i feel sooo tired and in soo much pain that i need help else where right now.

[Joni686]

Hi, first of all if your mother had lupus it does not mean you are going to get it so try to relax.  Did your father say what killed her?  The reason I ask is lupus doesn't kill you but it can attack certain parts of your body if you have SLE like your heart or lungs etc.  DLE is completely different and only attacks the skin.  Can you ask your father a few more wuestions so you have the knowledge for your appointment as well?  Are your pains only on your left side?  Do you have any other symptoms besides joint pain?  Just trying to get some more information to help answer your questions>
Joni

[TrudieC]

Yes, having a parent with Lupus does not mean you have it.  There can be a tendency for it to run and whenever there is an auto-immune disease in your family it does make you more susceptible to auto-immune diseases, not necessarily the same one.  I hope you can easily get a diagnosis and on to some treatment.  That is so sad about your Mother.  We are so fortunate to have more treatments and a better outlook these days.