Many people have probably heard of Lupus and Fibromyalgia before or they know someone who suffers, but they don’t understand what they suffer from. 

Well, I hope by the time you finish reading this, you will have a better understanding of both of these horrific conditions that millions of people world-wide deal with daily. 

I am one of those millions and have been a sufferer of Fibromyalgia for over a decade and was diagnosed with Lupus 2 years later, with that disease being in remission for the past five years, but unfortunately, my Fibro stays with me 24/7.  

Both Lupus and Fibromyalgia share similar symptoms, with Lupus affecting the organs and Fibromyalgia affecting the joints and ligaments. Both cause intense joint pain with random flares, and cognitive disfunctions. 

Fibromyalgia causes wide-spread, whole-body-encompassing pain of the joints, causing sensitivity all over the body, with random muscle spasms, including spasms on the head, which feel like mini electrical shocks, cognitive disfunction (Fibro-fog), anxiety, depression and a feeling of being run-over as soon as you wake up in the morning. Fibromyalgia is diagnosed through a tender point assessment, physical examination, and patient’s history of pain.

Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic pain which is believed to be due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors which alter the brain in the way it processes pain. Basically, a Fibro sufferer’s pain is heightened and even a light touch (allodynia) feels like a cat scratch or that normal pain feels more intense (hyperalgesia) like a car wreck. This pain may be described as a burning, stabbing, or aching and is persistent and may fluctuate in intensity, sometimes for hours, sometimes for days (Flare). You may feel decent in the morning and catatonic in the afternoon, or vice versa. Fibro can make it difficult to get up from a seated position, walk or even move, let alone, exercise. 

However, Lupus is an autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues, leading to body inflammation, causing tissue and organ damage, joint swelling, skin rashes, nasal and mouth ulcers and random fevers. Lupus is diagnosed through specific blood tests and physical examination. It is characterized by inflammation and is called a disease. 

 

Both Lupus and Fibromyalgia share widespread pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances and cognitive issues as well as anxiety and depression and can cause IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). While Lupus affects the organs, Fibromyalgia does not. However, Fibromyagia can affect the heart, causing tachycardia and other issues, which are not life-threatening, but can feel like it, making it scary for the sufferer. (Be sure to have a Cardiologist run tests to be sure your heart is healthy, helping to further diagnose the tachycardia as Fibro related). 

Many times Fibromyalgia overlaps with other conditions, making it hard to diagnose. There are medication options out there that a sufferer may choose to explore. While others may choose to self-pace, opting to reduce stress and how they handle stress, keep a log of what they do and how they feel after to help them deal with their condition. Unfortunately, there is no “one answer” for all sufferers.  

To learn more about Fibromyalgia, click here to take you my page about this.

I hope this helps you have a better understanding and awareness of Fibromyalgia and Lupus. I hope you clicked the links provided to help you further your study of this conditions and help you in caring for someone who has been diagnosed. 

It is a daily battle we fight. 

May God Bless You!

~The Fibro-lupus Butterfly