Here are seven conditions that are frequently confused with lupus.
- Fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a treatable chronic disorder characterized by extreme fatigue and muscle pain. …
- Rheumatoid Arthritis. …
- Hypothyroidism. …
- Skin Conditions. …
- Depression. …
- Unrecognized Viral and Bacterial Infections. …
- Multiple Sclerosis.
Moreover, are there different severities of lupus?
There are three types: Acute cutaneous lupus. Chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus, or discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus.
Beside this, can you have lupus with normal labs?
It is very rare for someone to have a diagnosis of lupus that has completely negative blood tests– not just one test but a whole panel of them. You can make a diagnosis of lupus on the basis of the skin rash or certain types of kidney disease even if blood tests are negative.
Does lupus show up in blood work?
No one test can diagnose lupus. The combination of blood and urine tests, signs and symptoms, and physical examination findings leads to the diagnosis.
How long can you have lupus without knowing?
Lupus symptoms can also be unclear, can come and go, and can change. On average, it takes nearly six years for people with lupus to be diagnosed, from the time they first notice their lupus symptoms.
What are the top 10 signs of lupus?
Top 10 Most Common Lupus Symptoms Include:
- Achy or swollen joints (arthralgia)
- Unexplained fever (more than 100° F)
- Swollen joints (arthritis)
- Prolonged or extreme fatigue.
- Skin rash, including a butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and nose.
- Pain in the chest when breathing deeply (pleurisy)
- Hair loss.
What are the top 5 signs of lupus?
Lupus facial rash
- Fatigue.
- Fever.
- Joint pain, stiffness and swelling.
- Butterfly-shaped rash on the face that covers the cheeks and bridge of the nose or rashes elsewhere on the body.
- Skin lesions that appear or worsen with sun exposure.
- Fingers and toes that turn white or blue when exposed to cold or during stressful periods.
What does a lupus flare feel like?
Living with Lupus
There are warning signs that the body will use to communicate that a lupus flare is coming, such as tiredness, pain, rash, stomachache, severe headache and dizziness.
What does untreated lupus feel like?
Initially, most people who have lupus complain of generalized fatigue and achiness, fever, poor appetite, and possibly weight loss. Often, they may have blurry vision and eye swelling, difficulty sleeping, and depression. Almost all people with lupus experience joint pain and swelling.
What is a rare form of lupus?
Rare cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is an autoimmune disease that denotes a heterogeneous spectrum of clinical manifestations affecting the skin and can be divided into 4 categories: acute CLE (ACLE); subacute CLE (SCLE); chronic CLE (CCLE; the most diverse form); and intermittent CLE (ICLE).
What is borderline lupus?
Borderline lupus, which can also be known as unspecified connective tissue disease, or probable lupus, or latent lupus, would define a patient who may have a positive ANA without a DNA or Smith antibody (blood tests used to diagnose lupus), who has arthralgias rather than arthritis, a brain fog or memory loss, and no …
What is the first stage of lupus?
Lupus Symptom: Joint Pain
Joint and muscle pain is often the first sign of lupus. This pain tends to occur on both sides of the body at the same time, particularly in the joints of the wrists, hands, fingers, and knees. The joints may look inflamed and feel warm to the touch.
What is the most serious form of lupus?
There are several different types of lupus: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common and most serious type of lupus. SLE affects all parts of the body.
What triggers lupus flare ups?
What can trigger a lupus flare? Emotional stress — such as a divorce, death in the family, or other life complications — and anything that causes physical stress to the body — such as surgery, physical harm, pregnancy, or giving birth — are examples of triggers that can set off lupus or bring about a lupus flare.