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Originally posted by stymielymie:

main annoying symptoms are very very dry mouth,

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I'm afraid I do not know about a lyme-lupus connection. However, I wanted to mention that for years I've gotten the dry mouth too, and for me it's connected with a slow down in the gut.

Laxatives, or herbal colon cleaners, or anything that promotes gut motility reduces the dry mouth for me. No doctor has been able to explain why.
 

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Posted by lymednva (Member # 9098) on :
 
The answer is yes, you can have Lyme masquerading as Lupus.

I tried to persuade a friend to look into this and I thought she would never speak to me again. Fortunately we are on friendly terms again, but she's adamant about having Lupus, won't consider looking at Lyme.

I'm not the only one who had the same thought about her and Lyme, maybe just the only one to bring it up.
 

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Posted by tdtid (Member # 10276) on :
 
This so called "butterfly rash" has been with me for many years before my Lyme diagnosis. Infact, it was so very present, that I was tested for Lupus more times than I could count.

I was seeing a Rheumotologist on a regular basis and he would consistently tell me that I do NOT have lupus but then what was causing the rash aspect of all my odd symptoms?

I would go to another specialist and they wouldn't believe I said I tested negative for lupus and would retest me. I never did get a positive test for lupus.

I was also suffering from dry mouth and dry eyes and nasal passages all year round so was doing all the saline solutions and then assumed the dry mouth must be a side effect of some med they gave me.

Since this time, I have been diagnosed with Lyme and NOW I hear that this "lupus butterfly rash" is actually another symptom of lyme but not once did a doctor tell me there was any other possibility.

I know when I first came to the boards (I've only been in treatment just short of two months, so it wasn't that long ago), but there was a topic about this unknown red looking butterfly rash that many of us have.

This is not to say you shouldn't go through the usual testing for lupus, etc, but that I can say first hand I was plagued off and on with this rash for five years before getting all the pieces to fit together with a positive lyme test.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Cathy
 

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Posted by Jellybelly (Member # 7142) on :
 
With all the Lyme in my family, we suspect that my dad who had what they "thought" was Lupus, actually had Lyme. They were never sure he had Lupus, but it looked similar, but then so does Lyme.

I think that Lupus is one of those things that they will eventually find also has an infectious ause, and Lyme will be one of the possibilities.
 

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Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
 
I've had the butterfly rash and been tested for lupus many times with negative results. I still have the lupus rash and IgM and IgG IgeneX positive lyme tests.

The page is too big to paste into this message but read this page for info on lyme and lupus. Also, somewhere else on this website he talks about the cheek rash being caused by borrelia. I believe this is the doctor that wrote the recently published books on babesia.

http://www.personalconsult.com/articles/lymeorlupus.html

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However, I wanted to mention that for years I've gotten the dry mouth too, and for me it's connected with a slow down in the gut.

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I also have dry eyes (they were driving me crazy with itching), mouth etc... I have had a gut infection with p. mirabilis that was causing all kinds of digestive disturbances. I've had it treated and since then I haven't been bothered by dry eyes. Thanks for mentioning this because I think you could be right about there being a connection with the gut. Perhaps it is related to fat digestion??
Terry
 

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Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
 
The When To Suspect Lyme Disease essay

http://cassia.org/essay.htm
Very often, the pinna and ear lobes are varying shades of red. Less commonly, a similar erythema can be observed on the hands or malar (upper cheeks) areas. A malar rash is not pathognomonic of Lupus, if in fact SLE is distinct from LD (Abstract 55A, V LD Symposium). Fifth Disease (slapped face) is suspected of being due to LD.
 

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Posted by stymielymie (Member # 10044) on :
 
terry
i had never read that bottom article in all the years i've been reading.
i tried the palpation test down the bottom ten minutes ago and my tibia still hurts.

yes i know all these disease are very closely related, and secondary sjorgren's is maybe a cop out for more intense lyme symptoms, since bb and babs both cause all these symptoms.

the problem is the literature mentions drug induced lupus.
since i am on many drugs,
i don't know which ones are doing it or is it the lyme.

the thing that put me into remission for 4 weeks was 5 weeks of vfend.
my stomach didn't feel right so i started vfend for 5 weeks.
it cleared everything, no symtoms
the stress of my wife leaving kicked the
lyme back on full force.

don't know whether to reduce the drying drugs,
zoloft,trileptal, trazadone,vfend.
or reduce the uv sensitive drugs..
biaxin, zoloft, plaquenil, vfend

or maybe i should get a nice young girl to make me happy again!!!!

its half your age plus 7 correct.
any 33 year olds looking for a boring time?????
i look like santa in the sun and can't see what you look like.
but my hearing is good, taste na,
but the most important thing still works good.

any more help except from cavey, toney, doney
will be appreciated
yes ia am a dr., dave
 

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Posted by trueblue (Member # 7348) on :
 
I just wanted to add, that I have the dry eyes/mouth all the time whether on drying or any medications at all for as long as I remember.

I never heard it could be connected to digestive issues. Hmmmm...
Wonder how to fix that?


(I'm waaaay to old for you DD, hahahahaha. I'd need a 31 1/2 old.
Nah, not unless he cooks and cleans.)
 

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Posted by von (Member # 8333) on :
 
Doc Dave,
I had a positive Elisa and a positive ANA at the same time.

And I am convinced I don't have lupus.

I have no butterfly rash.

Next week I will get my lab work back with a new ANA.

I am anxious to see if all the antibiotics 'cured' my lupus.....

Von
 

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Posted by ArtistDi (Member # 2297) on :
 
Many people will disagree with me, but I think
one can have both infection and an inflammatory
condition that brings on autoimmune symptoms.

My group of doctors, including a llmd, neuro,
pcp, and now immunologist have concluded that I
have two illnesses going on at once--Lyme and
autoimmune.

I have chronic pancreatitis, which is quite rare
with lyme, but not autoimmune, along with dry
mouth and Raynaud's symptoms. I have had to
address both the infective and autoimmune qualities of my health.

Doc, look into a good immunologist, because maybe
IV gamma globulin or plasma exchange, which is
used with MS patients could be an option. In
the most simple terms, IV gamma replenishes the
blood and body, and plasma exchange takes out
the antibodies in the blood that stir up autoimmunity.
 

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Posted by stymielymie (Member # 10044) on :
 
your the one that changed the lock on me!!!!!

nom i have to go get a locksmith to come and
open the lock!!!!!!lol

daveeey
 

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Posted by Foggy (Member # 1584) on :
 
Doc, did you mention to your LLMD that you're using Restasis? It's Cyclosporine based, which is an immunosuppresant.

My LLMD told me not to use it.
 

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Posted by stymielymie (Member # 10044) on :
 
yes he knows and theophtamalogist was trained in philly and is very lyme literate.
he was the one that sent me for tests for sjorgren's and lupus.

very impressive eye doc.

docdave.

cavey: i have the mostest you just waiting for the best last,try all the others but you'll come back to me.

daveey
 

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Posted by stymielymie (Member # 10044) on :
 
caveey,
i give up .
i got more casseroles when my wife left than
you could posibly imagine.
the only single guy in a country club community
with many single widowed and rich woman.

so, the rest can now have you.
i'll take my chances here.
it may be a tough job, but somebody has to take care of all these women.lol

daveey
 

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Posted by stymielymie (Member # 10044) on :
 
men need three things in this order
remote control and beer
casseroles and food naked women.

see your not number one either.

daveey
 

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Posted by HEATHERKISS (Member # 6789) on :
 
I was dx w/ Lupus. But magically the Lupus which is an incurable desease disappeared w/ my antibiotic treatment of lyme.

It must be a miracle.

Be diligent w/ your meds, vitamins & probiotics.

I was sick for 7 years before being dx. I've now been on antibiotics for over 2 years.

I'm working full time and exersizing regularly. It truely is a miracle.

MIRACLE = ANTIBIOTICS
 

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