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Autoimmune Disorders Community
This is an un-mediated Patient-to-Patient Forum only. This forum is for questions and support regarding Autoimmune topics such as: Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), Addison's disease, Ankylosing spondylitis, Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), Aplastic anemia, Autoimmune hepatitis, Autoimmune Oophoritis, Celiac disease, Crohn's disease, Diabetes mellitus type 1, Gestational pemphigoid, Goodpasture's syndrome, Graves' disease, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), Hashimoto's disease, Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, Kawasaki's Disease,
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Fibromyalgia or Lupus or something else?
by Elmo2201, Apr 29, 2008 02:00PM
I have been seeing a doctor now for over 3 years concerning my symptoms. I have a flare of something about every 6 months that lasts for at lease 3 months. I am always tired (fatigued), weak, muscle/joint pain all over, memory problems, intolerant to cold, trouble sleeping (staying asleep), abdominal pain (sphincter of Oddi dysfunction), depression, severe irritability, mood swings, and very low Vitamin D levels (this is all I can think of right now). I have had the ANA test for years and it has now come back positive since February. My primary doctor doesn't know what it is. He did not order a break down of the ANA. My rheumotologist was more worried about my Vitamin D levels and didn't even discuss my positive ANA results. He diagnosed me with fibromyalgia about 2 years ago, but that too was because my ANA had never come out positive. I do not see my rheum. again until the end of May. I am so tired of being looked at like I am faking my illness. My husband and kids suffer when I have a flare. I can't get any straight answers from the doctors, so it is putting a strain on my marriage. Is there anyone out there that has the same situation going on or something similar and can tell me that I am not crazy and that there is really something wrong with me.
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It sounds more like you have symptoms of CFS (vs. fibro). Joint, muscle pain and especially the weakness are more common in CFS. I can tell you that 25% of CFS patients have a positive ANA titer and 29 % of fibro patients also have a positive ANA titer.
It is also common for fibro & CFS patients to have a low vitamin D level; probably due to vitamin D dysregulation.