skin rashes, swelling in the feet or around the eyes, joint pain, headaches, dry eyes, shortness of breath, swelling in the joints, and chronic fatigue.
What A Lupus Diagnosis Entails
One challenge with diagnosing lupus is that the early signs are easily confused with other illnesses or are ignored altogether. For example, skin rashes can be passed off as an allergic reaction while chronic fatigue may not be taken seriously if you have a busy lifestyle.
In some cases, people don’t seek medical intervention until the disease significantly affects an organ like the kidneys, lungs, heart, or brain.
There’s no one definitive test for lupus and so your doctor will depend on the results from several different tests. You can expect to undergo blood and urine analysis, kidney and liver assessments, an Antinuclear antibody (ANA) test, as well as imaging tests.
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In some cases, your doctor might request a biopsy to determine if the disease has damaged any organs.
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How The Disease Is Treated
Once you’ve been diagnosed, there are a variety of medications that your doctor may prescribe. These drugs include corticosteroids for inflammation, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain, antimalarial drugs to reduce the likelihood of flares, immunosuppressants to handle your overactive immune system, and biologics to deal with your overall symptoms.
Along with taking your medication as prescribed, certain lifestyle changes can be helpful. Many people with lupus find that regular exercise, avoiding alcohol, quitting cigarettes, and eating healthily reduce the severity of their symptoms. Before making changes to your diet, remember to talk to your doctor about what’s best for you.
Lupus is a lifelong illness but as Nick Cannon has noted, “I can live until [I’m] a very old man with this diagnosis as long as I take care of myself.” To live well with lupus, it will be important to stick to your prescribed medical regimen, exercise, eat well, and know when to take a break from stressful situations.
