ANA,
Welcome to the forum and thanks for starting your own thread. It does make it easier to keep everyone's stories separated. I do wish you would calm down. I just read through all the posts that ticked everyone off and I can understand where they are coming from. I can also understand that you are scared about what might...and yes, I say might, be happening to your body.
The ANA test is the first antibody test done when an autoimmune disease is suspected. The results of the ANA is usually given as a ratio... as 1:80, 1:160, 1:320, etc... Are you sure they said your ANA was 500? Since your iron is high, I would make sure you don't add extra iron to your daily life...no supplements and decrease red meat consumption, if not eliminate it altogether. There is a percentage of the population that can have positive ANA levels and never develop an autoimmune disease. Let's hope my daughter is in that category as hers came back high this spring but she's had many antibody tests to see if she has any rheumatological disorders or other autoimmune issues since I have AIH and my 2 sisters have MS. All her other tests came back negative and she has no symptoms so she will simply be screened annually...and she will not assume that she will be on any transplant lists or that she will die prematurely. She is simply going about her life, thankfully, as she's only 14.
My ANAs began showing up positive in 2003. I was screened annually by a rheumatologist. Nothing else came up...then the jaundice happened at the beginning of 2007. I saw a hepatologist and was diagnosed with AIH. I was in liver failure and yet, here I am. No cirrhosis and living a super fine and normal life. No one has ever talked to me about transplant and most (not all) AIHers will live a normal life expectancy provided they respond well to medication and have few flares. So while there is nothing you can do about your ANA level (and it will fluctuate)...it does NOT mean that you will die. So please refrain from the doom and gloom. That is what's pissing everyone off. We lost someone very dear to our HealingWell family last week and she fought a very courageous battle. Yes, she died from AIH/PBC as well as a few other issues that arose from it. Knowing that and knowing that I have one of the diseases she had, I am still not going to freak out about my disease. I know that things can be so much, much worse. I am happy to be on my medication and having regular blood work to make sure I stay stable. You need to try to keep things in perspective. Maybe you've been having a hard time because you don't know what's going on...and I get that but please don't take it out on the (seemingly) only people who have truly been trying to help you.
My recommendations:
1. Do not drink any alcohol. You said you don't so please continue to do that until you know what's going on. No, I'm not accusing you of abusing alcohol but as others have said, no matter what, if you possibly have an issue with your liver, alcohol WILL make it worse so avoid it.
2. ask the doctors to run the other antibody tests specific for autoimmune liver diseases; AMA (for PBC) and SMA, LKM-1 and SLA (for AIH). Not all AIHers have positive antibodies so it gets a bit tricky.
3. drink plenty water and get exercise...especially since you are symptomless. It's the best thing you can do for your self.
There's a scoring system to rule out (or in, however you look at it) a diagnosis of AIH.
When did the doctor say you'd get results for your biopsy? Are you seeing a hepatologist?
FYI, David, Connie & Mr. Ziffle (and many others, including our caregivers)....have all been to hell and back...have respect for those who have been close to death and are here to help everyone out, out of the goodness of their hearts. If you allow us, we will be part of your internet family and help you deal with whatever the doctors diagnose you with. Again, welcome to our HealingWell family.