What kind of doctor can diagnose lupus?

Many people who have (or suspect they have) lupus see a rheumatologist (or pediatric rheumatologist if a child or teen). This type of doctor specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases of the joints and muscles.

What doctor do you need to see for lupus?

Start by seeing your family doctor and a rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in the diseases of joints and muscles such as lupus. Depending on your symptoms or whether your organs have been hurt by your lupus, you may need to see other types of doctors.

How do you confirm lupus?

No one test can diagnose lupus. The combination of blood and urine tests, signs and symptoms, and physical examination findings leads to the diagnosis.

Can a primary care doctor diagnose lupus?

And, because lupus can have many different presentations, diagnosis can be difficulty and lengthy. Primary care providers are usually the first providers to see these patients, and they need more education on ordering labs and when to refer a patient to a rheumatologist.

What are the 11 symptoms of lupus?

Diagnosing Lupus

What can mimic lupus symptoms?

What does a lupus flare feel like?

During a lupus flare, you could expect to have rashes, joint pain, and possibly a new symptom, too. Some common symptoms of lupus flares include: Painful and swollen joints. Rashes.

What can trigger lupus?

Lupus can be triggered by certain types of blood pressure medications, anti-seizure medications and antibiotics. People who have drug-induced lupus usually get better when they stop taking the medication. Rarely, symptoms may persist even after the drug is stopped.

Do I have lupus checklist?

Common signs and symptoms of lupus

Extreme fatigue (feeling tired all the time) Pain or swelling in the joints. Swelling in the hands, feet, or around the eyes. Headaches.

Do Endocrinologists treat lupus?

These may include: Cardiologist: For heart issues, such as lupus myocarditis and lupus pericarditis. Pulmonologist: For lung issues, such as pleurisy due to lupus and other lung conditions. Endocrinologist: For issues relating to your thyroid, adrenal function, or other endocrine issues.

What will a rheumatologist do for lupus?

Rheumatologists also look for certain antibodies, or proteins, in the serum in your blood to help diagnose lupus, says Kramer. In healthy people, antibodies fight off foreign invaders such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi.

Is it hard to diagnose lupus?

Lupus is a disease that is known for being difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are different from person to person, they mimic the symptoms of many other diseases, and they can come and go. It can sometimes take several years to receive an official diagnosis.

What are the top 10 signs of lupus?

What does untreated lupus feel like?

If left untreated, it can put you at risk of developing life-threatening problems such as a heart attack or stroke. In many cases, lupus nephritis does not cause any noticeable symptoms. However, this does not mean the condition is not dangerous, as the kidneys could still be being damaged.

What is lupus pain like?

Muscle and joint pain.

You may experience pain and stiffness, with or without swelling. This affects most people with lupus. Common areas for muscle pain and swelling include the neck, thighs, shoulders, and upper arms.

Does lupus cause weight gain?

Muscle pain — Muscle pain or tenderness is common in people with lupus; rarely, some people also notice muscle weakness. Weight changes — Lupus can sometimes cause weight loss or weight gain.

What should lupus patients avoid?

What vitamins help with lupus?

Vitamin E, zinc, vitamin A, and the B vitamins are all beneficial in a lupus diet. Vitamin C can increase your ability to absorb iron and is a good source of antioxidants.

Is lupus pain worse at night?

The first signs of AVN can be pain in your knees, hips, or shoulders. This can lead to stiff joints and muscle spasms. Your pain may increase as the condition advances, especially at night.

Can you have lupus for years and not know it?

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 can make lupus worse?

While a person's genes may increase the chance that he or she will develop lupus, it takes some kind of external trigger to set off the illness or to bring on a flare. Other known triggers can include infections, colds or viral illnesses, exhaustion, severe exposure to ultraviolet rays, or an injury.

What is misdiagnosed lupus?

Other skin conditions that sometimes mimic the skin problems of lupus include melasma, psoriasis, eczema (atopic dermatitis), and facial seborrheic dermatitis. A dermatologist can diagnose these skin conditions.

What does lupus rash look like on legs?

Ring-shaped rash

In people with subacute cutaneous lupus (SCLE), the rash looks like scaly red patches or ring shapes. This rash usually appears on parts of the body that are exposed to sun, such as the arms, shoulders, neck, chest, and trunk.

What is borderline lupus mean?

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?

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.