Fibromyalgia & Lupus Symptoms
Fibromyalgia and lupus are two illnesses that many people have, yet few know much about either one. They are technically quite different, yet are similar in many ways. Their symptoms tend to overlap each other, and both are difficult to diagnose.
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Fibromyalgia Basics
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Fibromyalgia is a syndrome, not a disease. There are no blood tests that can be run to find out if a person has fibromyalgia. Any diagnosis is based on tests done to the outside of the body.
Lupus Basics
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Lupus, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disease that is tricky to diagnose, yet it is possible to test for it. Certain signs can show up in blood work to indicate lupus is the cause of a patient's symptoms.
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The Overlap
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Both of these sicknesses are progressive and will worsen over time without treatment. Many people with lupus will come to find out they have fibromyalgia as well. But the reverse situation is not as common.
Symptoms of Both
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Patients with these illnesses tend to complain of the same symptoms. The main ones are extreme fatigue, headaches, muscle pain and confusion. A person may also feel widespread, intense aches and pains, and wake up feeling stiff even after a good night's rest. Pain occurs in the same parts of the body with both sicknesses.
Treatment
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Some of the drugs, diets or exercise plans for patients with fibromyalgia and lupus are the same or similar, because the symptoms are similar. The only way to tell which one a person has, if either, is to see a family doctor, who may then refer the patient to a specialist.
Intensity
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The symptoms of these illnesses range from mild to severe. The patient doesn't know if and when these symptoms will occur. Some days may be fine, while at other times it might be difficult even to get out of bed. If these symptoms are present on a daily basis for weeks straight, it would be best to make an appointment with the family doctor to start the process of diagnosis.
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References
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