General Fatigue and Malaise
From the initial occurrence and during the course of the disease, malaise and fatigue will be common symptoms of lupus. Some patients take a short one-and-a-half-hour nap in the afternoon to reduce fatigue. However, sleeping past this period can make people unable to sleep at night. Therefore, if people continue to feel tired throughout the day and can hardly engage in daily activities due to fatigue, it is best to see a doctor.
While fatigue is an early sign of lupus, it is also a symptom of other treatable conditions. For example, it could be a sign of fibromyalgia, anemia, depression, or low thyroid. It could also be a symptom of rheumatoid arthritis. Thus, it is difficult for healthcare providers to give an accurate diagnosis quickly. While fatigue is a sign of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, the clinical manifestations are not similar. But if the doctor diagnosed that the malaise and fatigue are caused primarily by lupus, the person should stay as mobile and active as possible every day.
The doctor could ask the patient a series of questions to determine what causes the fatigue. If the person experiences these symptoms, the doctor may request blood work and other tests to determine if the symptoms are related to lupus.
