lupus...

I was reading something on lupus today and it said that mouth ulcers are very common in lupus.  This raised a red flag for me cause I've been getting mouth ulcers for awhile now along with the painful tongue and inflamed taste buds.  I guess it's a very characteristic symptom in lupus.  This kinda worried me.  I've seen a Rhuem who said I didn't have auto immune disorders and my blood work was normal. But I saw him in the beginning of my flare... i wasn't having all the full blown symptoms then.  

  Also what does the rashes look like with lupus?  I keep getting that itchy scaly rash on my belly.

Maybe I'm just reading too much into things...

thanks.

[wonko]

I have a lot of lupus symptoms, including mouth sores and "butterfly"/malar rash, but have never tested positive for it.  I think Lyme mimics a lot of lupus symptoms.  Both involve inflammation, but the underlying mechanism causing the inflammation is different.

If you are worried, consider checking in with your rheum every so often to redo the blood work.  Lupus can be difficult to diagnose and not show up on the tests initially.  There is a lupus forum on MedHelp, you may be able to get some advice from them about how often to consider re-testing, etc.

I often wonder how just an infection could cause me so much grief, I think it is normal to wonder and wise to keep other conditions ruled out.

[skarey]

I've been tested for it twice probably about a month apart and both times i've been negative.  

It's just weird cause I have symptoms that could suggest several different things from lyme, MS, Lupus... etc...

I think maybe I'll see the Rheum again for a re-evaluation just to be safe.

[margypops]

I must say I have all the other Lyme symptoms but not mouth ulcers nor a scaly rash, the rashes I get are more like raised ones appear for no reason, white on a red background ,  it may be a good idea to check out for Lupus.

[cindy903]

is this flush? are you on ABX by chance. Could be a yeast infection of the mouth...

[cindy903]

meant to say "THRUSH"...not FLUSH!!!

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/oral-thrush/DS00408/DSECTION=symptoms

for exact symptoms.

[patsy10]

I agree with wonko about lyme and lupus symptoms being similar.  I think it would have been caught on testing.  The ANA is the initial screening test for lupus.  Although a positive ANA does not mean you have it.  It is a non-specific test.  Many people have a positive ANA and do not have lupus or other autoimmune disorders.

I have the same rash you described but no mouth ulcers.

[skarey]

Hi,
  No my mouth problems isn't thrush.  I'm not on any medication right now.  

I am hoping lupus would've been caught from all the blood work.  I don't have the rash on my face, or sensitivity to sun or anything...it's just kinda scary.  

[gorbybelle]

mouth ulcers can be caused by B12 deficiency -

a friend of mine had leukemia - more than 10 years ago - but if she gets run down - ie;not eating properly/not sleeping/stressed - one of the first ways her body is affected is - mouth ulcers - it is like a warning sign to her.

[cindy903]

Not thrush. That's good.

If you've been tested for lupus twice, why do you think you have it? Is there a high rate of false negatives with lupus testing. Do you have to test when you're "flaring"?

Thanks for clarifying. I don't know a thing about lupus. Other then the butterfly rash on your nose.

[skarey]

It's not that I think I have lupus I was just curious about it.  A lot of the symptoms of lupus can be like lyme.  

I'm not sure about the lupus testing and how accurate it is.  Actually from what I've read I think that false positives are more common than false negatives.

I've also read that people with lupus are highly senstive to the sun.  I haven't noticed this at all.  I actually feel better in the sun.  I don't feel I'm heat sensitive at all.

I think the most common rash in lupus is the butterfly rash, but one can get other kinds of rashes too.

[margypops]

I sit in the sun but know I will pay I dont stay out too long now, but I break out in a rash when ever I sit out for ages thought I had allergies, does anyone get Dermographism ?

[PlateletGal]

I just thought I would pop in here and mention that mouth ulcers are also seen in many CFS symptoms. (sorry to add to the confusion).

[PlateletGal]

oops --- speaking of confusion, I meant to write "seen in many CFS patients".

I need another cup of Jo !