What Common Symptoms Does Lupus Produce?

          The disease that we describe as lupus appears to be one in which the body attacks its own tissues. The symptoms therefore vary from person to person and it is difficult to pin down an exact set of signs of the disease.

          In the vast majority of people with lupus, aching joints are common, with 95% reporting this. 90% of patients also show evidence of swollen joints and arthritic changes and also have a fever that persists.

          Between 70 and 80% feel very tired all the time, with fatigue persisting for weeks and even months. A similar proportion experience skin rashes and anaemia. Only about half of the people diagnosed with lupus have kidney problems or pain in the chest caused by pleurisy. A butterfly rash across the face, particularly on the cheeks is seen in 40% and then less common symptoms include sun sensitivity, loss of hair, problems with blood clotting and poor circulation in the hands. Only about 15 % of lupus patients experience seizures.

My 15 yr old daughter is having problems with the palms of her hands turning red and tingly about 3 times a day. At night the joints in her fingers, elbows, neck,  and knees tend to lock up while she sleeps. Could this be a sign of Lupus?

I have a tremor in my left arm and my hip joints are so stiff and locked I have trouble sleeping on my side and even walking. I am also losing grip and dexterity in my left hand. Many of these issues and other ailments like hair loss, memory loss, and food allergies began after repeated antibiotics. Should I consider lupus? I'm female, 33. Had symptoms for 6 yrs now including high liver proteins too.

There are some possible "red flags" there, but it's not necessarily lupus. Docs are fond of saying that they spend more time UNdiagnosing lupus than diagnosing it, so you don't want anyone to jump to conclusions. Still, you should have some specific bloodwork done for lupus. If all of your bloodwork says no, then it's not very likely.

Either way, you really need to have someone handling your care. Whether or not it's lupus, you need follow up to determine what is going on.

Good luck!