• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Connected Rheumatology

Connected Rheumatology

You trusted home for autoimmune information

  • Dr. Elizabeth Ortiz
  • Virtual 2nd Opinion
  • Appointment Home Run Handbook
  • Articles
  • Contact Us
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Lupus

Can Your Medications Cause Lupus?

January 27, 2025 ·

Drug induced lupus can act like lupus but resolves when the medication is stopped

Drug-induced lupus, a form of lupus caused by certain medications, and not something you hear much about. It differs from the regular “systemic” lupus in multiple ways, including the expected symptoms, the positive blood tests and the prognosis. 

What is Drug-Induced Lupus?

We’ve all heard of lupus, but did you know there’s a version that can be triggered by medications? It is called drug-induced lupus. Unlike the more familiar systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which is a chronic autoimmune disease, drug-induced lupus occurs when your body’s immune system reacts to a specific medication.

[Read more…] about Can Your Medications Cause Lupus?

Understanding Lupus Hand Symptoms

January 13, 2025 ·

Lupus hand symptoms can be confusing and have a significant impact on your life

When doctors talk about lupus, the focus often lands on the kidneys. However, there’s one part of the body almost every lupus patient will face issues with: the hands. As a rheumatologist, I can tell you, the hands reveal so much and when you know what to look out for, you can alert your doc and together develop a plan. 

Lupus Arthritis: Joint Pain and Beyond

It might not surprise you to know that joint pain is a part of lupus, as it is with most autoimmune conditions. More than 90% of lupus patients will experience some form of joint pain or arthritis. But when we hear “arthritis,” we tend to think of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), not lupus, and miss the nuances of lupus arthritis.

[Read more…] about Understanding Lupus Hand Symptoms

Talking About Your Autoimmune Pain

December 23, 2024 ·

Learning how to talk about your pain can get you relief

Living with an autoimmune disease often means navigating a world of chronic pain. This pain can be frustrating and hard to explain, which can make it difficult to communicate effectively with your doctor. If you’re feeling like your pain isn’t being understood or taken seriously, you’re not alone—let’s discuss some ways to bridge that gap.

Why Is Autoimmune Pain So Hard to Explain?

The pain experienced with autoimmune diseases can be incredibly complex. One reason it’s so difficult to describe is because pain itself is subjective—what feels like a 3 on the pain scale for one person might feel like an 8 for someone else. Plus, autoimmune-related pain isn’t always consistent. It can flare up, calm down, and then change location or intensity from one day to the next.

[Read more…] about Talking About Your Autoimmune Pain

Positive ANA Test: Lupus Symptoms & Next Steps

December 16, 2024 ·

Not all joint pain, rash and ANA mean lupus

If you’ve recently had an ANA (antinuclear antibody) test and are feeling a bit overwhelmed, you’re not alone. A positive ANA result can stir up a lot of questions and worries, especially when it comes to conditions like lupus. 

What Does a Positive ANA Mean?

Just because your ANA test came back positive doesn’t automatically mean you have lupus. The ANA test is a tool that helps us understand more about your immune system, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle.

[Read more…] about Positive ANA Test: Lupus Symptoms & Next Steps

What the Sedimentation Rate Really Says

December 2, 2024 ·

Find out if your ESR means inflammation in rheumatology

If you’ve ever had a blood test and wondered what your ESR results mean, you’re not alone. The ESR, or erythrocyte sedimentation rate, is a common test used to check for inflammation in your body. But while it’s a useful tool, it doesn’t always paint the complete picture of your health. Let’s dive into what ESR is, what it can tell us, and why tracking it over time is so important.

What Is ESR?

ESR stands for erythrocyte sedimentation rate. It’s an inflammation marker that measures how quickly your red blood cells settle at the bottom of a test tube over an hour. The faster they settle, the higher your sedimentation rate, which typically indicates more inflammation in your body.

[Read more…] about What the Sedimentation Rate Really Says
  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Page 4
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 7
  • Go to Next Page »

Copyright © 2025 · Connected Rheumatology, PLLC

  • Home
  • Elizabeth C. Ortiz, M.D.
  • Virtual 2nd Opinion
  • Appointment Home Run Handbook
  • Articles
  • Contact Us
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policies