• Fatigue. Lupus leads to excess inflammation and stress, which puts a heavy strain on the body and leads to exhaustion. If you are feeling fatigued for extremely long periods at a time that doesn’t seem to go away even if you rest and which interrupts your work, school, or social life, it could be related to lupus.
• Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling. Lupus can attack the joints in the fingers, wrists, ankles, and knees. Joint pains can come and go, but it’s important to take them into consideration when evaluating whether you have lupus.
• Skin rashes. Lupus can lead to rashes anywhere, but it is most often identified by the malar rash, or “butterfly rash,” that spreads across the cheeks and nose bridge. Rashes may also develop after being in the sun, as increased photosensitivity is also a common symptom of lupus.
• Susceptibility to disease. Lupus weakens the immune system, so infections and diseases can last much longer than usual. Fevers are extremely common. If you are experiencing repeated fevers, take it into consideration when evaluating whether you have lupus.
• Cognitive impairment. Lupus can target the nervous system and lead to cognitive impairments such as brain fog, memory issues, confusion, and difficulty multitasking. It may even be that intense pain or stress leads to a lack of sleep, which can subsequently make focusing difficult.
It is important to note that even if these symptoms are characteristic of lupus, they may also be occurring separately from lupus. Regardless, speak to your doctor if you are suffering from these symptoms, especially if they don’t seem to be constant and fluctuate in severity over the span of weeks or months. Such symptoms should never be ignored if they are life-threatening or extremely serious.
