Misdiagnosis of Lupus

[KingGeno]

Hey Dr. Steve,

My question is on behalf of my 63 year old father.

A little background: My father has had a rough past five years. He's had Diverticulitis, resulting in him almost dying and have 3 feet of his colon/intestine removed. He's had a pulmonary embolism, which he almost died from. He has never damage in his feet and hands from his use of Kumadin (blood thinner). My question relates to the Lupus he was just diagnosed with. What are the symptoms, mortality rate, and are there any medicines that you recommend checking out, or know work well?

I am just trying to help him. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[KingGeno]

Hey Dr. Steve,

My question is on behalf of my 63 year old father.

A little background: My father has had a rough past five years. He's had Diverticulitis, resulting in him almost dying and have 3 feet of his colon/intestine removed. He's had a pulmonary embolism, which he almost died from. He has never damage in his feet and hands from his use of Kumadin (blood thinner). My question relates to the Lupus he was just diagnosed with. What are the symptoms, mortality rate, and are there any medicines that you recommend checking out, or know work well?

I am just trying to help him. Any help would be greatly appreciated.


Holy crap, how things can change over a few days.


SO....my father just found out that he was mis-diagnosed with having Lupus. He has been taking the medicine for no reason whatsoever. He has very bad Neuropathy though.

So I ask this. How can this be screwed up like that? Can Neuropathy throw off finding Lupus?

[Dr Steve]

Hey Dr. Steve,

My question is on behalf of my 63 year old father.

A little background: My father has had a rough past five years. He's had Diverticulitis, resulting in him almost dying and have 3 feet of his colon/intestine removed. He's had a pulmonary embolism, which he almost died from. He has never damage in his feet and hands from his use of Kumadin (blood thinner). My question relates to the Lupus he was just diagnosed with. What are the symptoms, mortality rate, and are there any medicines that you recommend checking out, or know work well?

I am just trying to help him. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Yeah, Lupus is often misdiagnosed. People will have a positive "Antinuclear Antibody" test and doctors will jump to the diagnosis too quickly. It happens. The good news is that they figured it out (which they almost always will) and took him off the medicine. The question is what's causing his neuropathy, and are they treating it effectively?

your pal,


steve