Last Updated on October 16, 2020
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Lupus is a tricky autoimmune disease because we can easily mistake it for many other health problems.
Since the symptoms related to this disease can often indicate a wide range of other illnesses, you should make sure to check all of the following signs of lupus and only start worrying if you’re experiencing more than four of them.
Here are the top 10 lupus symptoms you need to know.
1. Flu that won’t go away
We all know that the main signs of the common flu include muscle aches, fever, chills, and sleepiness, but many people don’t realize that lupus can also have these same symptoms. However, there’s a way to tell the difference. According to experts, you can know whether you have the flu or lupus by counting the number of sick days; while the flu is supposed to get better in 4 to 10 days, the symptoms of lupus can last for weeks or even months and sometimes they can come and go. So if your symptoms last a couple of weeks or more, you should call a doctor, especially if you’re experiencing some of the following symptoms as well.
2. You’re suddenly shedding pounds
When weight loss happens so suddenly or without explanations, it could indicate that something is wrong with your health, sometimes a sign of lupus. This autoimmune disorder causes the immune system to attack itself, messing up with the thyroid and hormones, which lead to unexplained weight loss. Surprisingly, not only weight loss but also weight gain can be an early symptom of lupus. Health professionals explain that even though weight loss is a more common sign, lupus can also cause the body to retain more water, which leads to extra pounds in some individuals.
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3. Tender bumps on your neck
These tender bumps are your Lymph nodes that are on different parts of the body in the form of small, bean-shaped structures that help get rid of malicious substances as well as fight infection. In a healthy body, the lymph nodes cannot be seen or felt. However, when the body is struggling with an illness, such as lupus, the bumps start working harder and tend to get swollen until they become visible and painful to touch. You can feel swollen bumps along the neck, behind the ears, down the jaw, or in the groin, clavicle, armpits, and abdomen. According to Joan T. Merrill, MD, swollen lymph nodes sometimes occur due to a lupus flare. People who are watching out for lupus symptoms should make sure to check in on their lymph nodes now and then.
