my mum as lupus and i have been told i have the lupus anticoagulant

my doc informed me about 6 months ago that i have the lupus anticoagulant but not lupus unless i have any symptoms but the problem is i have had thrombotic cytypenia purpura which is where the platelet levels are very low mine were that low they told me at the time i might not make it and that i should have been in a coma, i was only 21) which can be secondary to lupus, two premature births which can be another affect of lupus as it was early rupture of membranes that caused this and pneumonia in bothe lungs which the docs said was very rare in someone my age..i had all these befor the doc said i had the anticoagulant and now im confused as to whether i have lupus or not

[TrudieC]

Go back to your rheumatologist and ensure they know about this.  

[karajo]

Welcome to the MedHelp lupus forum.

I know you can have thrombotic purpura and not have lupus.  In order to get dx w/ lupus you must have 4 out of the 11 symptoms related to lupus  The anticoagulate is one of the 11.  Most people w/ lupus also have joint pain and skin involvement.  

I agree w/ Trudie...please be seen by a rheumatologist and let him/her know about the pneumonia and the anticoagulant issue.  

[mummyto6]

thats the problem i have not even seen a rheumatologist, my doc just said u have this as they done the test in the hospital when i had pneumonia..as for skin i have a red blotchy raised rash over my back and am always suffering with itchy lumps on my legs i dont know if this as anything to do with it, if i cut myself it takes weeks and weeks to heal..i also have red patches on my cheeks that look like broken blood vessels again i dont know if this as anything to do with it.. and i am always tired and have problems with my knees some mornings when i get up from bed and they can be painful all day..

[mummyto6]

also i have terrible pins and needles in my hands for no obvious reason...

[TrudieC]

Those can all be symptoms of Lupus.  Insist on seeing a rheumatologist or find another doctor who will get you there.  Many family doctors don't know much about Lupus.

[karajo]

There are 11 criteria for a lupus dx.  You must have at least 4 of the 11 to recieve a dx.

They are:
1. malar rash over cheeks (butterfly rash)
2. discoid rash, red raised patches
3. photosensitivity - reaction to sunlight, resulting in skin rash
4. oral and nose ulcers
5. arthritis
6. serositis - inflamation (inflammation) of the lining of the lung or heart
7. reanl disorder - excessive protein in urine and/or cellular casts
8. neurologic disorder - seizures, or psychosis
9. anemia or low white blood countor lymphopenia or low platelet count
10. positive ANA
11. positive anti-DNA or anti-Sm, or antiphospholipid antibody or false pos. syphilis test

Other symptoms are:
fever
abdominal pain
chest pain
shortness of breath
blood in urine
hair falling out
fatigue
muscle pain and weakness
dizziness
poor memory
headaches
poor circulation in fingers and toes
tingling in extremities
diarrhea
bloating
nausea
weight loss
abdominal pain
blurred vision
depression
palpitations
raynauds (where fingers turn white when cold)
intollerance to cold
sore throat
...to name a few

Keep in mind that fibromyalgia, CFS, MS and lymes disease also have similar symptoms.