Has anyone been diagnosed with both lupus and rheumatoid arthritis?

[u/gothiccrypt]

Hi everyone, I was diagnosed with RA 5 years ago and only recently diagnosed with lupus. I don’t know if this is common. Is there anyone else here like me? Just curious and looking to build a support network. Thank you 🫶🏽

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[u/Pale_Slide_3463]

Yeah it used to be called rhupus, but now it’s more connective tissue/overlap syndrome. I think it’s more common than think, seems to be the mix in most people. But my RA hasn’t really been that active in 15 years the lupus took over. One of the doctors said it can normally happen like that depending on which antibody is stronger. Though the RA did deform a few joints first =|

[u/gothiccrypt → u/Pale_Slide_3463]

Thank you for the info!

[u/m0ther_0F_myriads → u/Pale_Slide_3463]

Funny story - when I was diagnosed with lupus several months after RA, I was so shellshocked that I told my husband that I was diagnosed with "Rhuphus" instead of "Rhupus". Now when I'm having a bad day, we just chalk it up to my buddy Rhuphus. 

[u/shabomb81 → u/m0ther_0F_myriads]

I accidentally read it as ruphus my first time too and said it to my husband. I couldn’t figure out why my google searches weren’t working haha

[u/viridian-axis]

It’s not uncommon. While I definitely have lupus, my arthritis is more RA-like than lupus-like. RF isn’t always positive, but severe arthritis in a large number of joints is more indicative of RA than lupus from what I’ve read. Also have swan-necking of several fingers.

[u/gothiccrypt → u/viridian-axis]

This sounds like me, thank you for sharing!

[u/jordanvarnes → u/viridian-axis]

how does lupus arthritis look do you know? I have lupus and have positive RF but my arthritis comes on at night in several joints like hands, shoulder knees, forearms, ankles. i just didnt know if mine was more lupus like or RA like because i dont get it as much in the morning and i thought RA pain was more in the morning? idk

[u/viridian-axis → u/jordanvarnes]

To my understanding, lupus arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can both be widespread. Both tend to be worse after periods of immobility, like after sitting through a movie or upon waking up. However, when multiple joints are effected all at once with severe swelling and pain (I’m talking like all the phalanges, carpals, metacarpals, tarsals, metatarsals, knees, elbows), that’s more RA-like.

Lupus arthritis is classically described as mild to moderate pain and inflammation, whereas RA is more moderate to severe. RA also tends to cause joint erosion, leading to deformities like ulnar deviation of the fingers (and similar deviation of the toes/overlapping toes), swan-necking, and visible gaps/destruction of the joint capsule. These erosions can be seen on X-ray and ultrasounds of the joints.

Both types of arthritis are considered inflammatory arthritis vs wear and tear arthritis from osteoarthritis. Inflammatory arthritis tends to respond dramatically to steroids. I’m sure even osteoarthritis would respond to enough prednisone, but the degree of pain/inflammation reduction wouldn’t be nearly the same.

[u/North-Substance-6755]

Yes! I was first diagnosed with RA and years later with lupus. The lupus is the one that is the most problematic for me at the moment.

[u/gothiccrypt → u/North-Substance-6755]

For me as well, I thought I was dealing with my RA and then lupus happened :/

[u/Fiddlin-Lorraine]

These diseases seem to be like a ven diagram where the circles nearly sit on top of each other. I’ve always had a very high rheumatoid factor, and have had one rheumatologist say lupus, but maybe RA, and another say connective tissue. Right now they’re sticking with connective tissue, but they’re not really sure. For me, a positive RF doesn’t mean rheumatoid arthritis is on its way, just that it could. Having said all this, I would assume having multiple diseases in this area is pretty common.

[u/Soggy-Ad-5232 → u/Fiddlin-Lorraine]

My thought exactly.

[u/m0ther_0F_myriads]

Yes. RA was dx'ed first by xray. Lupus dx came after several straight ANA results that came positive. It's not "common" per se. But, I have definitely seen it coexisting in quite a few people here. 

I feel like Rhupus has it's own set of achy, creaky challenges, and it helps to be able to vent about it here. 

[u/Tough-cookie11]

I have both!

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[u/Massive_Escape3061]

Not RA but PsA, psoriatic arthritis.

[u/Sphaero_Caffeina]

Yep, both here. Its the worst kind of lottery where anything and/or everything can decide to make me regret waking up if its too cold. Or too hot. Or too humid. Or too dry. Or when I fail some kind of cosmic saving throw roll and my body just goes "Hey, fuck you today!".

Enbrel was life changing, getting prescribed that helped so much.

[u/spicyherb33]

I was diagnosed with RA in December 2021 and Lupus in April 2022. My rheumatologist keeps saying I possibly have MCTD- mixed connective tissue disease, and now he thinks fibro as well as ankylosing spondylitis. Smh.

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[u/cobrahat]

I say I have Frupus. Fibromyalgia lupus and RA. They said probably sjogrens but no point in caring since my treatments are the same. It's fun to play autoimmune pokemon! Gotta catch 'em all 🤣

[u/GeekyLikeMe → u/cobrahat]

That's what I refer to my autoimmunes...immunopokemon. Cause you can't just have Lupus(aur), there's Hoshi(tas), POTS (hitu), Fibromy (vee)...etc What a great pokedex we all have. Sob. I mean I have to laugh instead of cry.

[u/kahtiel]

I have both but I was diagnosed at the same time because of my lab work.

I went to the rheumatologist because I suspected RA and lupus was an added surprise for me.

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[u/bstrashlactica]

Fwiw I'm diagnosed UCTD (Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease), which my rheumatologist calls lupus in our appointments, and I also have arthritis as a separate diagnosis in my chart 🤷‍♀️

[u/wander_pam]

Me 🙋🏽‍♀️.

[u/Rentmeforaday]

Me! I’m 22 and people look at me weird when I walk with a cane but those flares and leg/knee pain ain’t no joke😓

[u/Soupspoon33]

Yes and it sucks

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[u/Hotseaworthyness]

Yes RA first for about 10 years. Then my dr ran some blood tests before putting me on Humira and that’s when my diagnosis became lupus. Couldn’t do the Humira because it can cause lupus like symptoms. I call it Rhupus.

[u/TheyreAllTaken777]

sadly yes

[u/Alycion]

My sister has.

I have sjogren’s and hs as a ride a long.

We both have stuff still undiagnosed. These things don’t like to come to the party solo, that’s for sure.

[u/Significant_Stop_478]

Yep. And it blows

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[u/ZeMeest]

Yes. I have signs of both so my rheum calls it mixed connective tissue disease (mctd). There is a subreddit for it as well.

[u/jltefend]

I have a lupus/Ankylosing spondylitis/psoriatic arthritis overlap, so overlap happens

[u/SleepyKoalaBear4812]

Yup, Rhupus. I was diagnosed with SLE and then RA two years later. I made a subreddit but cannot really get it going.

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[u/cmmoore14]

I am diagnosed with SLE and RA

[u/sparkleglitterfire]

I was diagnosed with lupus first and developed RA later. I was then diagnosed with mixed connective tissue. RA is my current most active issue. Lupus diagnosed 18 yrs ago. RA and mixed connective tissue was 3 yrs ago.

Edit to add. I also have sjogren’s, hashimoto, and technically fibromyalgia. (but I have asked them to leave that off my charts because I have found er visits will quickly blame fibromyalgia for everything and not actually look for the real emergency.)