Lupus or not Lupus?

Thank you. Funny how stress is such a big trigger but this process is more stress than anyone should ever have. I'm have been there..no more tests. Couldn't handle another diagnosis another bill another doctor saying it's stress or lupus or fibro or cancer or any number of other things. Some have been mean, others just toss their hands up. But I am still trying. Maybe too little too late. I will ask the doc about that test. Who knows..might narrow things down.

I struggled with a diagnosis, too, until I was told (and it makes sense to me now) that it doesn't matter which auto-immune disease I have....all they can do is treat the symptoms. I was told Lupus, then Sjogren's, polymyalgia rheumatica, myocarditis, fibromyalgia...on and on. Putting a name to it doesn't change it. No matter which auto-immune you have, the solution is the same....treat the symptoms. My symptoms have varied from alopecia, joint pain, muscle pain, psoriasis, terrible rashes, heart attacks, on and on. Each time I get symptoms, I get treated for the symptoms (it is usually prednisone, but I've also tried things like Humira and Embrol). We're all different, and what works for one person doesn't work for the masses. Good luck on your journey!

Hi everyone, I'm so glad I found this group specifically with lupus. I'd like to know if any of you have been treated with Rituxin for lupus and if you have, did it help and did you have any side effects from Rituxin etc.? Thanks, everyone!
Rose

@geegie, I'm tagging fellow members @janett18 @joanelle77 and @odockbarbie who have mentioned being treated with Rituxan for lupus. Hopefully they will return to share their experiences. @becsbuddy may also have something to add.

Geegie, have you started Rituxan?

Hello @geegie I don’t have lupus but I do get rituxan infusions for another type of autoimmune disease. I had an infusion reaction but no some effects. I call it the wonder drug 🤗. I get 2 infusions twice a year. How often will you get it?

Becsbuddy -. Thanks so very, very much for responding. I have been diagnosed with lupus. Haven't started treatment will very shortly. The doctor
told me he will be following the manufacturer's protocol exactly. I really don't know what that will be. But I certainly will find out when the treatment starts.
I was so happy for you that the treatment worked for you so well. I went online and saw a very very long list of side effects the drug could have. I have to say it really scares me but nonetheless I definitely am going to have the treatment. Again I want to thank you for responding and I hope the rituxan continues to work well for you. Rose

Hi Colleen, thank you so much for acknowledging my email. Yes I have been diagnosed with lupus. No I haven't started the rituxan treatments yet but we'll very shortly. I also appreciate your sending out word to the others who have had rituxan. That was very thoughtful of you. It's the side effects and or the reactions of the drug that concern me very much. Again thank you. Rose

So if you have a positive ANA that automatically says you have lupus? Im so confused.

I had some testing done. And I cant get a call back from my doctors office at all. Ive googled everything every result but I don't understand medical terms like the huge words sometimea. My ANA was postive. My ANA Titer is 1:160. My ANA Pattern was abnormal. Nuclear and speckled. I have no idea what this means. Can someone please help me understabd.

Hi @melissaeckert2018 A positive ANA doesn’t mean you have lupus. It means you may have a autoimmune disease. There are many. I think your titer is very low/possible a negative ANA. I think positive is a little higher. I could be wrong. Can you call your doctor and ask for an explanation of results. What are your symptoms? There are many factors in diagnosing a autoimmune disease. Don’t stress:)

My nurse said it was a positive ANA with what my titer is. I just didnt grt any more info bc doc didnt tell me any. But thank you so much for replying