Lupus day 14.

 Hi Everyone!

During lupus month I have shared some different symptoms that can happen. I want you to know that not all lupus people get all of these symptoms and some of these happen to  people who DON'T have lupus. The thickening of blood is one of them. 

From the lupus foundation of Pennsylvania.

In the last few years I have been getting nodules on my thyroid ( many people have thyroid nodules and don't have lupus) and now my left lung. I had a CT scan a few months ago on my stomach and through that was seen the nodule on my left lung. I had a CT scan yesterday to see if it is growing or changing. There are no changes. The nodules on my thyroid have changed and I have had several biopsies. Thank the gods that they have all be benign. So, that got me to thinking. Does lupus cause nodules?

 In fact, lupus can cause nodules in various organs, including the skin, lungs, kidneys, brain, and other areas.  

Nodules, which can be raised lesions, are a manifestation of lupus, and their presence can indicate inflammation and tissue damage. 

lupus  can lead to thyroid problems, including thyroid nodules, and lung complications, including nodules. Patients with lupus often have antithyroid antibodies, which can lead to thyroid inflammation and nodule formation. Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the thyroid, is a common thyroid problem associated with lupus. However, because Hashimoto's is an autoimmune disease on it's own you can have it without lupus.

As far as the thyroid nodule lupus patients do have a slightly increased risk of developing thyroid cancer. Studies suggest an increased risk of papillary thyroid cancer in patients with lupus, especially those with thyroid autoimmunity. That would be me. In addition my sister had thyroid cancer. So my ENT watches me closely. 

Thyroid biopsy.

As for the brain. Two lesions were found on my brain 25 years ago. Even though they have grown they are very slow growing and have not turned ugly.  I have mentioned before that in 2013 an MRI showed hundreds of white spots on my brain. No changes with those either. I get an MRI every year. 

I'm sure, ( ya know I'm not a doctor) that the lung nodule is from on going inflammation of my lungs. It's a very painful ordeal that radiates through the whole top of my body to my back and shoulders. In fact, that's how I know it's coming. One of my shoulders starts to hurt. It's an indescribable pain. 

The inflammation in the lungs, can cause nodules and damage lung tissue, potentially leading to scarring and fibrosis.

Not my CT scan 

 

That's it for today. 

For all of you I wish you good health.

 

Nicole