Are you searching for a Houston TX lupus specialist near me? Then you have come to the right place because Advanced Rheumatology of Houston has everything you need. Dr. Brionez has over ten years of experience as a Rheumatologist and will know exactly how to help.

Lupus can be an unpredictable autoimmune disorder. This means you need doctors who are compassionate and who can give you the support you need. If you choose Dr. Brionez to be your Houston TX lupus specialist near me, then you will have someone who aims to help you live your healthiest life.

If you have been diagnosed with lupus, then you have probably heard it have many names. Lupus also goes by systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE. It primarily affects women, and twenty percent of patients are children and teens. In rarer forms of lupus, it develops in children under the age of five. This form of lupus is called childhood-onset SLE.

This autoimmune disease is known to attack the joints and healthy tissues of various organs. In its most severe forms, it affects tissues in the heart, lungs, brain, and kidneys. If lupus is left untreated, then it can disrupt a person’s life and cause permanent organ damage.

Being diagnosed with lupus can be a shock. Get the support group that you need. Give Advanced Rheumatology of Houston a call today to receive the care that you need. While life is uncomfortable now, with the treatment, you can get back to enjoying life. Continue reading to learn more about lupus, its symptoms, and some of the treatments available.

Symptoms and Signs of SLE or Lupus

Symptoms of lupus can vary from person to person, making the disease challenging to diagnose. This is mostly because the symptoms patients deal with aren’t specific to lupus. These symptoms include:

• poor circulation in fingers and toes
• stomach pain
• weight loss
• blood clots
• heartburn
• hair loss
• fatigue
• fever

These are some of the symptoms that a patient can face when dealing with lupus. However, some more symptoms and signs are used to diagnose lupus. So, The American College of Rheumatology came up with a list of signs that can be used as a guide in diagnosing lupus. Some of these symptoms include:

Rashes

Rashes from lupus can come in many forms. Some of the rashes you could experience are malar rashes, discoid rashes, and rashes from sun exposure. Malar rashes can be described as a butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks. A discoid rash is described as red raised round or oval patches. Rashes from sun exposure will appear on any exposed skin.

Mouth Sores

These sores aren’t just in the mouth. You can also find them in your nose. The sores will last anywhere from an entire month to a few days.

Arthritis

This is considered to be tenderness and swelling in two or more joints that last for a few weeks. While this is a part of lupus, you can also experience rheumatoid arthritis without lupus. If you or someone you know has rheumatoid arthritis, you can consult a Rheumatologist for medical advice about it.

Lung or Heart Inflammation

This can cause chest pain when you breathe deeply. Inflammation of the lungs is called pleurisy or pleuritis, while inflammation of the heart is called pericarditis.

Kidney Problems

The most common way to find kidney problems is through tests. A urine analysis will show kidney problems by telling if there is blood or protein in the urine. Other tests can show poor kidney function.

Neurologic Problems

These problems can be seizures, psychosis (a mental health problem), or strokes.

Abnormal Blood Tests

If in your blood tests, you have anemia, low platelets, or low white blood cells, then there is a chance that you could have lupus. However, the biggest giveaway is if you have positive antinuclear antibodies. It is a giveaway because nearly all patients with lupus have these antibodies. Antinuclear antibodies are what cause the immune system to attack itself. Other antibodies include antiphospholipid antibodies, anti-Smith, and anti-double-strand DNA.

With the large variety of symptoms, it is no wonder lupus can be a challenge to diagnose. Another struggle with diagnosing lupus is that the symptoms don’t appear all at once. They come on gradually. The disease will also have times of activity followed by moments where it will be quiet or in remission. While the disease is in remission, you will find that you are dealing with little to no symptoms.

A common way to catch lupus is to run blood tests. One of the most important blood tests to have to catch lupus is an ANA.

Treatment

Lupus is classified as a chronic illness, which means there is no cure for it at this time. While this may be unsettling, there are still treatments that allow those with lupus to live full, happy lives. The advancements in treatment for lupus have shown to increase lifespan and improve the quality of life. The goal of treatment is to keep lupus in remission and prevent permanent organ damage.

The most common way to treat lupus is through medication. Many medications can help with treating lupus. Some of the medications are:

• NSAIDs
• Plaquenil
• Corticosteroids and immune suppressants
• Benlysta

Your doctor will help you come up with a treatment plan that will keep lupus in remission, giving you a normal life. There are many risks and benefits of taking medication. But with the help of a doctor, you can limit the side effects while also controlling lupus.

Life With Lupus

Lupus is known for its flare-ups. These flare-ups can come up because of puberty, pregnancy, and sunlight. If you are pregnant and have lupus, it can cause complications and miscarriages. However, if you work with your doctor, you can time the pregnancy with your remission. By doing that, you will have a higher chance of success.

With treatment, lupus won’t keep you from enjoying life. Those with lupus are living longer happier lives than ever before. If you have lupus, it is important to learn all you can about it and your treatment. By knowing about the condition and your treatment, you will know what to expect when it comes to progression. Talk to a Houston TX lupus specialist near me to learn all you can about lupus.

The Best Houston TX lupus specialist near me

Give Advanced Rheumatology of Houston a call today at (281) 766-7886 to set up an appointment. You can also check out their services to learn more or stop by their location. Choose them to be your Houston TX lupus specialist near me.

 

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