The Woodlands TX best rheumatologist for lupus

Are you searching for The Woodlands TX best rheumatologist for lupus? Then you need to check out Advanced Rheumatology of Houston because they have everything you need to live a better life. Many rheumatologic diseases don’t have a cure and can be challenging to cope with. However, you don’t have to face your condition alone. Dr. Brionez has over ten years of experience diagnosing and treating rheumatologic diseases along with several years of experience with research studies.

When searching for a doctor to help with your rheumatologic illness, you want someone compassionate and qualified to help. Dr. Brionez earned a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Science from Texas A&M University. Then she went to Baylor College of Medicine for her Doctor of Medicine. After that, she completed her Fellowship in Rheumatology at the University of Texas Health Science Center.

In 2007 Dr. Brionez was board certified in internal medicine, then in 2009, she became board certified in rheumatology. Ever since then, she has been helping patients live healthier and more comfortable lives. Patients love Dr. Brionez for her expertise and her sincere care for what they are going through. It is important to know that you have a supportive doctor by your side when it comes to managing a rheumatologic illness.

Getting an appointment with Dr. Brionez will get you on the right track when it comes to treating your illness. Many people with lupus can live happy and fulfilling lives thanks to the new advancements in treatment. Dr. Brionez always uses the most trusted medical treatments, so you know you will be in good hands when you choose Advanced Rheumatology of Houston. This is why you should choose them to be your The Woodlands TX best rheumatologist for lupus.

Talk to your doctor about how to manage the symptoms of lupus.

About Lupus and The Symptoms

The full name for lupus is systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE. SLE is an autoimmune disease that affects the healthy tissues of vital organs and the joints. In severe cases, it will affect the heart, lungs, brain, or kidneys. In more mild cases, it affects the joints and can cause pain and discomfort that will impact daily life. This is because it causes systemic inflammation in multiple organs or joints of the body. Over time this can cause damage to the body, making it essential to get treatment as early as possible.

Lupus mostly affects women and will develop around either puberty or in early adulthood. Twenty percent of lupus patients are children and teens. A rare form of lupus can affect children under five years of age and is called childhood-onset SLE.

SLE or lupus can be challenging to diagnose for multiple reasons. The first reason is that symptoms can vary between person to person. The second reason is some symptoms could point to other diseases because they aren’t specific to lupus. Some of these symptoms are:

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

Although these symptoms aren’t specific to lupus, The American College of Rheumatology has a list of symptoms that are used as a guide for doctors. This list makes lupus a little easier to diagnose and get treatment to the patient faster. Some of these symptoms are:

Rashes

There are a few different types of rashes you could experience with lupus. You could have a malar rash, discoid rash, or a rash from sun exposure. A malar rash is a butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks, and discoid rashes are red raised circular patches. Lupus is also known to flare-up from sunlight, which is why you could experience a rash on parts of the skin that were exposed to the sun.

Mouth Sores

These sores are found in the nose or the mouth and will last between a few days to a month.

Arthritis

This is a disease of the joints and can affect two or more joints in the body. It will cause tenderness and swelling that will last a few weeks. You can experience arthritis, whether or not you have lupus. Some of the other types of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. If you are experiencing arthritis from lupus or something else, then you should contact the Advanced Rheumatology of Houston. They can help treat your arthritis and get you back to enjoying life.

Lung or Heart Inflammation

If you are experiencing heart or lung inflammation, it will cause chest pain when you breathe deeply. The medical names for heart and lung inflammation are pericarditis (heart) and pleurisy or pleuritis (lungs).

Neurologic Problems

Neurological problems are problems with the nervous system and can include seizures, psychosis, and strokes.

Kidney Problems

Your doctor can find kidney problems by running tests. If these tests show poor kidney function, then you have a kidney problem on your hands. Another way to see if there is a kidney problem is to see if there is blood or protein in the urine.

Abnormal Blood Tests

Blood tests are one of the best ways to test for lupus because some abnormalities are common among lupus patients. One of those abnormalities is having positive antinuclear antibodies. These antibodies are the ones that cause your immune system to attack itself, which is what lupus does to those who have it. Other abnormalities you could face are anemia, low white blood cell counts, and low platelets. You could also end up having other antibodies like anti-Smith, antiphospholipid antibodies, and anti-double-strand DNA.

Another challenge with lupus is that the symptoms don’t appear all at once. So the best way to check for lupus is to do blood tests, specifically an ANA. Having a The Woodlands TX best rheumatologist for lupus will help you to get a proper diagnosis that will ensure you get the right treatment.

Lupus doesn’t have to control your life. Take back control. Give Advanced Rheumatology of Houston a call today.