![]() ![]() People with Sjogren’s often experience dryness of the eyes, mouth, and vagina. Sjogren’s can also affect people who do not have lupus. Sjogren’s SyndromeĪs many as 10% of people with lupus may experience a condition called Sjogren’s syndrome, a chronic autoimmune disorder in which the glands that produce tears and saliva do not function correctly. However, you should never push yourself beyond reasonable discomfort. Often this can be difficult, but many people find that slightly pushing themselves to engage in light to moderate exercise actually increases their energy levels. If you and your doctor decide that your malaise is due solely to lupus, try to stay as active and mobile as possible during your daily routine. Other fatigue-inducing conditions, such as anemia, low thyroid, and depression, can also be treated. Fatigue accompanied by pain at certain parts of your body may be a sign of a treatable condition called fibromyalgia. If you feel that you are tired throughout most of the day and that fatigue prevents you from engaging in daily activities, speak to your doctor. However, exceeding this time frame might lead to problems sleeping at night. Some people find a short 1 ½ hour afternoon nap to be effective in reducing fatigue. Ninety percent of people with lupus will experience general fatigue and malaise at some point during the course of the disease. In addition, maintaining a healthy weight helps to alleviate stress on your joints and keeps your organs working productively and efficiently. It is very important that you try to achieve a healthy weight, because women with lupus between the ages of 35 and 44 are fifty times more likely to experience a heart attack than the average woman. Please remember that it is very easy to gain weight, especially when taking steroids, but it is much more difficult to lose it. ![]() Light to moderate exercise can also help you to maintain a healthy weight and cardiovascular system, while also boosting your mood. You may need to reduce your calorie consumption your physician can refer you to a nutrition counselor if needed. Therefore, it is very important that you speak to your doctor about maintaining a balanced diet while taking these medications. Other medications, such as corticosteroids, can cause weight gain. If you experience a loss of appetite due to your medications, your doctor may suggest alternative medications or solutions to ease stomach discomfort. No matter what the cause of your weight loss, you should speak to your doctor to ensure that the loss does not indicate a more serious condition. Increased lupus activity can sometimes cause weight loss, and certain medications can cause loss of appetite. Immunosuppressive medications such as azathioprine, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, and mycophenolate also suppress the immune system, so if you begin to feel ill when taking one of these medications, notify your doctor immediately. ![]() If you are taking steroid medications such as prednisone, be alert for any sign of infection, since steroids can suppress your immune system while also masking symptoms of infection. In addition, a fever of 101☏ or more should be given medical attention. Certain trends may alert your doctor to specific processes occurring in your body. If you experience a fever lasting a few days or fevers that come and go over the course of a few days, you should take your temperature twice daily and keep a record. Tenderness of a joint in known as arthralgia, and it is important that your doctor distinguish this from the arthritis (true swelling) that may accompany lupus. He/she will examine you for any signs of joint swelling and can speak with you about medications that may ease some of this pain and inflammation, such as over-the-counter pain treatments and NSAIDs. If this habit does not offer comfort and joint stiffness prevents you from daily activity, be sure to speak with your doctor. People often find that taking warm showers helps to relieve this problem. Many lupus patients experience joint stiffness, especially in the morning. Fever can also signal inflammation or infection, so it is important to be aware of the patterns of your body and notify your physician of anything unusual. Such low-grade temperatures may signal oncoming illness or an approaching lupus flare. Many people with lupus experience reoccurring, low-grade temperatures that do not reach 101°. A temperature of 101☏ is generally accepted as a fever. The average human body temperature is around 98.5☏, but many people run just above or below that mark. These co-occuring conditions are known to doctors as “comorbidities.” Several signs, symptoms, and comorbidites of lupus are detailed below. In addition, other conditions, such as fibromyalgia, occur commonly in people with lupus but are not directly due to disease activity. Lupus affects everyone differently, but certain signs and symptoms are common. ![]()
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