Maybe Lupus maybe Not Lupus? Maybe RA?

[Jcabrera521]

I went to my PCP to see whats going on w/ me, for over 2 years I've been breaking out in chronic hives, sometimes i will go weeks without a single reaction, then suddenly its everywhere, just recently these past couple months i have been having sever joint pain. The doctor ran some tests, ANA was postive and speckled, and CRP positive. He thinks maybe Lupus, Im still waiting to go to my Rheumatologist appt. I have a grandmother w/ RA, not sure if that plays a role in me getting a diagnosis.

[Hidden]

Take heart. Both treatable. Sounds scary but a diagnosis helps. Hoping for a good one for you

[Chanpreet_Walia LUPUS UK]

Hi Jcabrera521,

Hives commonly occurs when a person is exposed to something to which he/she is allergic to.

According to The Lupus Encyclopedia, “urticaria (hives) can occur in people who have SLE due to inflammation caused by lupus itself. The hives often get worse with sun exposure, just like other forms of cutaneous lupus”. We published an article on our blog about coping with light sensitivity which you can read here: lupusuk.org.uk/coping-with-...

An ANA test gives an indication on whether a person may or may not have an autoimmune condition. It does not provide sufficient evidence to confirm a diagnosis of lupus. Further testing would be required to accurately identify the cause of your symptoms. We published an article on our blog called ‘getting a diagnosis of lupus’ which you may like to read here: lupusuk.org.uk/getting-diag...

90% to 95% of people with lupus will experience muscle and/or joint pain. We published an article on our blog about pain management which contains helpful tips and information - lupusuk.org.uk/pain-managem...

Before attending your appointment with the rheumatologist, you may want to read our blog article on ‘getting the most from your medical appointments’ here: lupusuk.org.uk/getting-the-...

Please let us know how you get on, wishing you all the best.