What does lupus fog feel like?

What Is Lupus Fog? Lupus fog is a general name for the cognitive impairments that often appear with lupus, including concentration and memory problems, confusion, and difficulty expressing yourself. These cognitive problems are often worse during flares.

What does a lupus episode feel like?

Symptoms include pain and swelling of the muscles and joints, flu-like symptoms such as fatigue and fever and serositis (inflammation of the serous tissues of the body).

Does lupus cause short term memory loss?

Patients with lupus can be confused because of cognitive defects, short- or long-term memory problems, psychosis, severe depression or anxiety, dementia, an infection or fever or sometimes even because of medications. If brain fog occurs, it usually happens within the first year or two after diagnosis.

Does lupus mess with your eyes?

The effects lupus may have in and around the eyes include: changes in the skin around the eyelids, dry eyes, inflammation of the white outer layer of the eyeball, blood vessel changes in the retina, and damage to nerves controlling eye movement and affecting vision.

What is the life expectancy of someone with lupus?

The prognosis of lupus is better today than ever before. With close follow-up and treatment, 80-90% of people with lupus can expect to live a normal life span.

Can lupus give you dementia?

A growing body of evidence indicates that systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with increased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia.

Are seizures common with lupus?

Seizures associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) occur in 9 to 58% of patients in reported series, often early in the disease course. Approximately half of seizures reported in SLE patients are associated with infection and with metabolic or iatrogenic complications.

What are symptoms of lupus brain fog?

This is because Lupus is an inflammatory condition that can affect every system in our bodies, including the Central Nervous System. Following are the brain fog symptoms: Low energy or severe fatigue. Depression and Anxiety. Difficulty focusing. Forgetfulness. Low motivation, feeling helpless. Headaches/Migraines.

Why does lupus cause brain fog?

The cause of brain fog in lupus is not known, though it is believed that one possible cause could be circulating chemicals such as cytokines. Cytokines are hormone-like substances that promote various activities in the body, but in lupus their functions are altered. It is also suggested that blood-flow abnormalities in the brain could play a role.

What are the problems with lupus?

Lupus may lead to blood problems, including anemia and increased risk of bleeding or blood clotting. It can also cause inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis). Lungs. Having lupus increases your chances of developing an inflammation of the chest cavity lining (pleurisy), which can make breathing painful.

Why does lupus attack the brain?

Lupus cerebritis is a symptom of lupus in which brain tissue becomes inflamed, often as a result of damage to blood vessels. Since lupus causes the immune system to deteriorate, cerebritis can be actually be caused by the disease itself. It can also be caused by an infection, either in the brain or blood, which results in swelling of the brain.