Could this be lupus?

[Anonymous]

Here are my symptoms: I have a butterfly rash on face (it looks like I have been out in the sun) on nose and cheeks looks mildly red, some knee pain. however, have had Rheumatoid blood work and lupus bloodwork all come back negative? What could this be? I have not been out in the sun. The recent medication I have taken was Augmentin and Diflucan.

[Anonymous]

There's no definitive blood test for lupus as far as I know. The doctor needs to look at the results in conjunction with other symptoms, and the bloodwork can change over time. So it's possibly lupus. But it also could be simple acne rosacea on your face, and knee pain caused by something else.

If I were you, I'd either get bloodwork done again, and/or go see a naturopath. My family's had a lot of luck dealing with a naturopath for various inflammatory disease issues.

[Anonymous]

How long has this gone on? It seems to me that any number of viruses can cause joint pain, and any number can cause a rash. Probably there are a number that do both. Fifths comes to mind.

Also, did they do autoimmune tests?

[Anonymous]

You may have had a reaction to the augmentin. Google it and you will see rash and joint pain as possible side effects.

Also, rash and joint pain may be a sign of lyme disease, although there aren't many ticks around in the winter.

[Anonymous]

Yes, you'll want to look specifically at your ANA count (Anti Nuclear Antibody) count when having blood work for lupus. Also there are many other factors that must also be positive in addition to the blood work before they'll diagnose it - the top lupus Dr in the US is in Baltimore at Hopkins - Dr Petri.

[Anonymous]

As a person who has Lupus and other autoimmune diseases I would also ask you how long this has been going on. Isn't Augmentin an anti-biotic? I think there can be drug induced Lupus.

Also, do you have extreme fatigue? Most people, although not all, with Lupus have extreme fatigue. I mean the kind of fatigue where you feel like you could take a 3 hour nap and then when you get up you do not feel rested.

I second the Hopkins recommendation. I go to another doctor up there but am pretty sure if I had not gone up to Hopkins I would not have been diagnosed so quickly.

Do your symptoms get worse when you go out in the sun?