Lupus headache vs migraine

Ok friends, I swear I already posted this but it must have been in a migraine fog and got lost in space.

Do you have an autoimmune disease diagnosis, and if so, do your doctors treat your headaches any differently due to it?

I'm looking specifically at Lupus but from what I can tell, the autoimmune diseases often overlap.

Hmmmm....somehow I assumed there would be a few of us.

I have had 2 positive ANA test but no one has ever nailed down why. So I can't say for certain. I have read recently that 50% of people diagnosed with MS are afflicted with Migraines.

I imagine you could Google Lupus to see if there is a correlation with Migraine and from there, find out if the migraines are treated differently.

Trinity

I did get an increase in headache days/migraine with Lyme disease, but its not an autoimmune problem. We just treat them as to the type of headache that appears, migraine, tension, trigeminal neuropathy, etc. Sorry I cant be more help!
Cindy

I have this secret hope that if I have a disease with a more respected name then "status migraines" that the healthcare profession will treat me with a bit more respect, a bit less like a drug seeker and a little more like what we all are.....legitimately in need of proper care!

I also hold the hope that with a new diagnosis comes new treatment options. We shall see.

I agree, Milo. I hate calling my condition a "headache", even to myself.

I too seem to have symptoms in the auto immune realm, but haven't got a specific diagnosis. One doctor said currently she would call it unspecified connective tissue disease, but a diagnosis would likely develop over time (ie. she thinks I'll continue to develop more symptoms). Another doctor basically agreed.

And the suspected auto immune issues are on top of fibro. Thank goodness it isn't as bad as a lot of folks have it. Likely as I've been on daily pain meds (for the headache) since before the fibro started, so I've never had the full pain. My doctors have suspected Lupus for me but I haven't had a positive ANA and wouldn't meet the criteria too closely.

Sorry I don't have anything too specific, but here is what's on my mind. I don't think they treat too many types of headaches different than others. Exceptions of course are those with are actually treatable, such as MOH (stopping analgesics) or HC (taking Indomethacin).

If you have certain conditions they may avoid certain treatments. Any with certain types of headache or co-existing conditions they may tend towards certain treatments. Sorry you are struggling. Best wishes.

Another two weeks and I see the specialist. I feel defeated already. That sounds so pessimistic! I just feel like it will be a repeat of every other time I see a specialist.