Spring TX lupus Rheumatologist near me

Spring TX lupus rheumatologist near me

Spring TX lupus rheumatologist near me

Are you searching for Spring TX lupus rheumatologist near me? Then you are in the right place because Advanced Rheumatology of Houston is full of highly trained staff and lead by a fantastic doctor. Dr. Brionez earned her Bachelor’s in Nutritional Science from Texas A&M University. Then she moved on to Baylor College of Medicine, where she earned her Doctor of Medicine. After that, she completed her Fellowship in Rheumatology at the University of Texas Health Science Center. She then went on in 2007 to become board certified in internal medicine, and then in 2009, she became board certified in rheumatology.

Patients love Dr. Brionez because she cares about what they are experiencing. She strives to help her patients live a comfortable, healthy life. With over ten years of experience in diagnosing and treating rheumatologic illnesses along with many years of research studies, its no wonder why she is the best. Setting up an appointment with her will help you to get your life back on track. You wouldn’t regret choosing her to be your Spring TX lupus rheumatologist near me.

Lupus is a complex illness that results in many symptoms and will significantly disrupt a person’s life. Continue reading for more information on lupus.

Spring TX lupus rheumatologist near me

Know the signs and symptoms of lupus

Lupus and Its Symptoms

The full name of lupus is systemic lupus erythematosus, which is also called SLE. This disease is an autoimmune disorder that primarily affects women. It is known to develop during puberty or early adulthood. Twenty percent of people with lupus are children and teens. In rare cases, lupus will form in children under the age of five, and this is called childhood-onset SLE.

Lupus can range from mild to severe and causes systemic inflammation of joints and organs. The severe cases of lupus can cause inflammation of the heart, kidneys, brain, and lungs. More mild forms of lupus will affect the joints. However, either way, lupus will cause considerable pain and discomfort to anyone who has it. Treatment is necessary for living a more comfortable life and preventing organ damage.

What causes lupus is unknown, and currently, there is no cure for it. However, there is a treatment that allows those with lupus to live longer, happier lives. The treatment has shown to increase lifespan and improve the quality of life. There are some complexities surrounding lupus. One of these is that symptoms aren’t always specific to lupus and can vary from patient to patient. Some of the symptoms you could experience are:

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

While some of the symptoms of lupus can lead to nearly any disease, The American College of Rheumatology created a list of more specific symptoms. This list is used as a guide by doctors for diagnosis. Some of the symptoms on the list include:

Rashes

There are a few types of rashes you could experience when having lupus. You could have a malar rash, discoid rash, or you could get rashes from the sunlight. Malar rashes are rashes that cause a butterfly-shaped rash to appear on the cheeks. A Discoid rash is a rash that causes red raised circular patches. Then a rash from sun exposure is caused because, for many lupus patients, the sun can cause flare-ups. Part of this flare-up is developing a rash on any skin that has been exposed to sunlight.

Mouth Sores

These are sores that develop in the mouth or nose. They will last between a few days to about a month.

Arthritis

This is known as a disease of the joints. It causes tenderness and swelling in two or more joints that lasts for weeks. Other forms of arthritis are not related to lupus, such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. Whatever the cause of your arthritis, maybe, a rheumatologist can diagnose and treat your arthritis with the best medical treatments.

Lung or Heart Inflammation

This will cause chest pain when you breathe deeply. The terms that doctors use for this type of inflammation are pericarditis for heart inflammation and pleurisy or pleuritis for lung inflammation.

Kidney Problems

Doctors can find kidney problems through testing, where the results show poor kidney function. Another way that doctors can test for kidney problems is through urine analysis. If they find blood or protein in the urine, then there is a potential kidney problem.

Neurologic Problems

Neurological problems are problems that have to do with the nervous system. These problems can include psychosis, seizures, or strokes.

Abnormal Blood Tests

Many lupus patients have one abnormality in common, and that is positive antinuclear antibodies. These antibodies are what cause the immune system to attack itself and the healthy tissues of the body. Many autoimmune diseases have these. There are also other abnormalities that your doctor could find, such as anemia, low white blood cell counts, and low platelets. Other abnormalities in blood tests can include anti-Smith, anti-double-strand DNA, and antiphospholipid antibodies.

Since lupus is a complex disease, it can be tricky to diagnose. However, this is why doctors tend to use blood tests, especially an ANA. It is essential to have a doctor who is well versed in rheumatologic illnesses because then they will have a better chance of giving the proper diagnosis. This is why you should choose Dr. Brionez to be your Spring TX lupus rheumatologist near me.

Spring TX lupus rheumatologist near me

Live your life without lupus holding you back.

Treatments

Lupus is a chronic disease meaning there is no cure. However, that doesn’t mean that you have to live in pain. Treatments for lupus have been known to improve quality of life and increase lifespan. The primary goal of lupus is to keep it in remission to prevent organ damage.

Remission is when lupus is its least active, resulting in little to no symptoms. The longer lupus remains in remission, the better the patient’s life will be. The most common treatment for lupus is through medication. Medications that help treat lupus are:

  • Corticosteroids and immune suppressants
  • Plaquenil
  • Benlysta
  • NSAIDs

Your doctor will strive to find the best course of treatment to keep your lupus under control. They will limit side effects while making sure you continue to have the benefits. Getting the right treatment is essential to living a more comfortable life. This is why you should choose Advanced Rheumatology of Houston to be your Spring TX lupus rheumatologist near me.

The Best Spring TX Lupus Rheumatologist Near Me

Contact Advanced Rheumatology of Houston today at (281) 766-7886 to set up your first appointment. You can also check out their services and drop by their location to learn more. Allow Advanced Rheumatology of Houston to be your Spring TX lupus rheumatologist near me.

 

Fun Facts About Spring, Texas

  • They host family-friendly events all year round
  • There are 150+ attractions in Old Town Spring
  • There have been rumors that Bonnie and Clyde visited Spring TX in the 1930s
  • For more information about Spring TX, check us out