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Real members of MyLupusTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

Good morning!

A MyLupusTeam Member asked a question 💭
Houston, TX

I received the diagnosis in January 2024, but due to my rheumatologist moving to a different location, I had to change doctors. My appointment was yesterday, and it went really well. She asked me lots of questions and ordered a few blood tests. From the very beginning in 2024, my results were positive for SCL-70 and ANA, but now she mentioned it might not even be lupus, but fibromyalgia. My symptoms include lots of pain, fatigue, hair loss, and mouth sores. Has anybody else been in the same… read more

March 24
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A MyLupusTeam Member

I started with a melasma butterfly rash with my first pregnancy and didn’t get the standard red malar rash until after my second pregnancy. Symptoms come over time you may end up with it later. That’s what happened to me. Do you know your ANA patterns & do you have low complement C4 and C3?

March 24
A MyLupusTeam Member

I do not get the rash—only all the other symptoms. I do have the same shape in my face, but not as a rash. When I first mentioned it to my doctor years ago, before they gave me the lupus diagnosis, I was told it was melasma. But it is the typical butterfly shape.

March 24
A MyLupusTeam Member

They are constantly re evaluating me for new ones. What you have sounds more like Lupus. Fibromyalgia is not an autoimmune and typically not tied to ANA patterns. Do you get the Malar rash?

March 24
MyLupusTeam

Is it possible to be reconsidering a lupus diagnosis after initially testing positive for ANA?

Yes, you're definitely not alone in this situation. Diagnosing lupus can be complex, and it's not uncommon for doctors to reconsider or refine diagnoses as they gather more information about your specific case.

Lupus and Show Full Answer

Is it possible to be reconsidering a lupus diagnosis after initially testing positive for ANA?

Yes, you're definitely not alone in this situation. Diagnosing lupus can be complex, and it's not uncommon for doctors to reconsider or refine diagnoses as they gather more information about your specific case.

Lupus and fibromyalgia can look very similar, which makes diagnosis challenging. The symptoms you're experiencing—pain, fatigue, hair loss, and mouth sores—can occur with both conditions. However, hair loss and mouth sores are more commonly associated with lupus specifically.

A MyLupusTeam member shared: "I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia first, but after I had my son, the lupus symptoms were more pronounced, even though I had rashes and joint pain."

Another member recalled: "I had fibromyalgia for 20 years; they now think it may have been lupus."

Your new rheumatologist is taking the right approach by asking detailed questions and ordering additional blood tests. These tests will likely look for:

* Specific lupus antibodies (like anti-dsDNA)
* Inflammation markers
* Kidney and liver function
* Blood cell counts
* Complement levels

The key difference is that lupus involves an overactive immune system that can cause organ damage, while fibromyalgia doesn't. Your doctor will be looking for signs of immune system activity and any organ involvement.

It's important to stay in open communication with your healthcare team throughout this process. Even if the diagnosis changes, the goal remains finding the right treatment to help you feel better.

March 24

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