Lupus Symptoms
Overheating, Thyroid Disease, and Lupus
The summer months bring the heat -- and plenty of sweating and hot flashes....
T Cells, the Immune System, and Lupus
T cells are important components of the immune system, but also of autoimmune disease....
Brain Symptoms, Brain Fog, and Lupus
Brain symptoms are the least acknowledged and most misunderstood symptoms of lupus. But over 50% of patients experience some sort of brain symptom in the course of their disease. Neuropsychiatric symptoms happen when lupus affects the brain, spinal cord, or any of the other...
Depression, Loneliness, Isolation, & Lupus
Feelings of loneliness and isolation are common. And upwards of 25% of Lupus Warriors are also battling major depression. A blog by Barbara Leech describes it thus: "If it were not for the connections I have...
Hearing Loss, Ear Health, and Lupus
What's that? Hearing loss and other aural phenomenon may impact around 30% of people living with lupus. “Autoimmune inner-ear disease” (AIED) was first described by Brian McCabe in his landmark 1979 paper. McCabe reported on 18 patients whose lupus symptoms included...
Gout, Uric Acid, and Lupus Nephritis
Sharp pains in the joints that seem to come and go at random. It sounds like lupus, but it could be a sign of gout. The pain associated with gout has been documented for millennia. Galen, the celebrated Greco-Roman physician, described the condition in his medical writings and...
Leaky Gut, Increased Intestinal Permeability, & Lupus
Known colloquially as "leaky gut," increased intestinal permeability may be a risk factor for autoimmune diseases, including lupus. The lining of your intestines acts as a 4000 square foot barrier that walls the gut off from the bloodstream. It only lets small...
Butterfly Rash (Malar): Telltale Lupus Symptom?
The butterfly rash is a reddish purple facial rash that appears on the faces of many Lupus Warriors. 31% - 65% of people with lupus experience the skin symptom. Many associations, funds, bloggers, and lupus advocates include a butterfly in their logos. This symbol is common as a reference to the...
Anxiety, Chronic Stress, and Lupus Symptoms
About 37% of people with lupus have also been diagnosed with anxiety. Feelings of chronic stress can permeate your life and these feelings shouldn't be ignored. Anxiety is a sense of fear or panic that intrudes into your thoughts, keeps you awake...
Lower Back Pain, Chronic Inflammation, & Lupus
Many Lupus Warriors, particularly people with nephritis, struggle with constant aches & lower back pain. A number of tests can help identify the cause. From constant, dull pains to sharp pangs, back pain is the worst. It can immobilize you and have you stuck on the couch or the floor. It’s...
Oral Ulcers, Mouth Sores: Battling Lupus Symptoms
Mouth ulcers and oral sores are a common symptom of lupus, affecting around 50% of Lupus Warriors. These symptoms aren't just painful. They may indicate increases in disease activity or even a coming flare. A mouth ulcer or canker sore is a shallow injury in the cheeks, tongue, or...