I never had the rash and I have multiple auto immune disease's....If I remember correctly my dermatologist dx'd me with thyroid disease just by looking at me..(I new I had that years ago) but he could tell from my eyebrows...and he is the one that had me have Lupus blood tests....so like they say you should go to a dermatologist every year I believe it....One of the other dx's I had before I went to him was APS..a blood clotting disorder and I had multiple DVT's and my legs are terrible looking..that it why I went to a dermatologist....

Hi NIcole,
You don't have to get the rash, or all the other symptoms. It depends on the stage of your immune system. For me, it was scalp lesions, extreme fatigue, hair loss, joint pain, and stiffness. The list can go on. But, we are all very different, so don't categorize your wonderful self w/ anyone else. You are a unique individual. God bless u thru this journey. I have added u to my team!!

I don't remember all the symptoms that I had were related to the Lupus because I had the DVT's and PE's from my Antiphosolipid Anti-Body dx....my legs are almost blackish looking from the dvt's and it is very dry and sometimes I get weeping edema ....I tried prescription creams and they didn't really do to much...I've been using Luberderm now and that works pretty good..I had been in a bad car accident in 1979 so I had so many aches and pains from then on it's hard to tell what is causing what...I also had a complete hysterectomy in 1976 which I think was due to the APS..even though I hadn't been dx'd with it yet..I have multiple autoimmune dx's (APS,Lupus,Sjogren's, Fibromyalgia plus many more dx's I think my list is up to 40.....everytime I turn around it seems like something new pops up that I've never had before...In Jan I was in the hosp for pneumonia (which is a common thing for me since I had the PE's and now have COPD..but now the dr said I have a heart murmur...last year I had a benign lesion on my lower eye brow that I had to have surgically removed, now I have a Chalzion on my eyelid which is just about gone or else they wanted to do surgery on that....it just never ends....I did have pain in my feet and hair loss, and was always tired...I hope I didn't make you worry more but I think anyone new to Lupus or any other dx should know what they could be up against...I am constantly learning new things on this site...I also go on a facebook Fibromyalgia site and a Sjogren's site...I learn alot from them also...Also you should sign up for Lupus News Today...

I agree with Paula. We are are different. I have never had the butterfly rash. I was diagnosed when I was in ICU with pleurisy. They thought it was a heart attack. I had been in the sun a lot and that probably triggered it. My rhuematologist figured I have had it for years. I would get so angry with myself for getting sick everytime we traveled. Anyway, we all present differently and none of it is pleasant. Most people have no idea what lupus is and does.

I have learned that a lupus person may not have the same symptoms other lupus people have. Dont let someone's lack of knowlege question why you dont show a symptom. I get that alot. It used to bother me. Not now. Im glad I dont have that one.