Lupus, medically referred to as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is an autoimmune disease that comes with a vast range of symptoms. This means no two cases of lupus will follow the same sort of progression or be exactly alike.
Symptoms can develop slowly … or … symptoms can come on quickly.
Symptoms can be mild … or … symptoms can be severe.
Symptoms can be temporary … or … symptoms can be long lasting.
Symptoms can include the classic signs of lupus … or … symptoms can mimic those associated with other autoimmune diseases.
Lupus varies greatly from person to person, making lupus an autoimmune disease with widespread effects and outcomes.
What is Lupus?
Lupus is a chronic condition. As with all autoimmune diseases, lupus is the result of the body’s immune system attacking itself. Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system cannot distinguish between healthy cells and foreign invaders like bacteria, which leads the body to attack its own healthy tissues by mistake.
Flares and Remission
Lupus is like other autoimmune diseases in that symptoms can come and go, commonly known as flares and remissions.
At times, symptoms will be at their worst during a flare-up episode. Other times, symptoms will lessen and you can even have periods of remission where symptoms disappear entirely.
Signs and Symptoms of Lupus
Depending on how your body reacts to the inflammatory process brought on by lupus, you could experience a few symptoms that primarily affect a single area of the body or you could have multiple symptoms that impact the entire body and create extensive health issues. Lupus can even cause organ damage, leading to kidney, heart, or lung disease.
One of the telltale signs of lupus is a butterfly-shaped rash that appears on the face. It goes from the bridge of the nose and extends across both cheeks, resembling butterfly wings. Other symptoms include:
Sun sensitivity
Skin lesions, especially after sun exposure
Skin discoloration, specifically on the fingers and toes
Scaly and round skin rashes elsewhere on the body
Mouth sores, particularly on the lips, gums, and cheeks
Fatigue and exhaustion
Muscle pain
Fever
Dizziness
Hair loss
Bald spots
Arthritis
Painful joints
Stiff joints
Swollen joints
Swollen glands
Swollen eyes
Swollen legs
Swollen ankles
Headaches
Confusion
Memory loss
Mood swings
Behavior changes
Seizures
Dry eyes
Eyelid rashes
Eye inflammation
Shortness of breath
Pain when taking deep breaths
Chest pain
Abdominal pain
Recurrent infections
Furthermore, the progressive nature of lupus coupled with the inflammatory process of an autoimmune disease can lead to serious and life-threatening health conditions, such as:
Blood clots, which can cause strokes and heart attacks
Low blood counts of red and/or white blood cells
Low platelet counts
Anemia
Heart valve damage
Cardiovascular disease
Vasculitis - inflammation of the blood vessels
Myocarditis - inflammation of the heart muscle
Pericarditis - inflammation of the lining that surrounds the heart muscle
Pleurisy - inflammation of the tissues that surround the lungs
Atherosclerosis - plaque formation in blood vessels
Pneumonia
Changes in the central nervous system
Kidney failure
High blood pressure
Bone breakage
Bone tissue death
Miscarriages in women and other pregnancy complications
Increased cancer risk
To say the least, lupus can have far-reaching consequences to a person’s health and wellbeing, especially if it goes uncontrolled.
How Paducah Rheumatology Can Help
Here at Paducah Rheumatology, we have the knowledge, skills, and expertise to help you manage your lupus symptoms and decrease disease progression.
If you have lupus or suspect you might have lupus, we want to help you receive the best care possible. Lupus can be a frustrating and exhausting disease, not to mention a medically-complex disease, and our team at Paducah Rheumatology is ready to walk that journey with you.
We formulate personalized treatment plans that address the specific diagnosis of each one of our patients. But we know the basis of a treatment plan must also look beyond a diagnosis, and rather, every treatment plan should address the individual needs and symptoms of a patient.
Lupus looks different for every patient, so that’s why we are committed to taking the time to get to know our patients.
We want to learn about your particular list of symptoms, and from there, we want to come up with a plan of action that is designed just for you.
Give us a call today at 270-408-6100 to schedule an appointment and send in a physician’s referral if you will be a new patient.