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Is this Lupus?

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Lupus
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Posted 12/3/2010 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
Have finally seen a rheumatologist after a positive ANA and RF test. He ran more tests. The ones that came back positive are p-ANCA, Antinuclear Antibodies, ANA pattern is speckled, dsDNA antibodies is positive too. He pretty much confirmed what I'd thought - that I have fibromyalgia. I also have ulcerative colitis and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, endometriosis, and possibly interstitial cystitis.

Am waiting to get back in with the dr to get the official results of the testing. I had picked up a copy from the lab. Any opinions? My mother has rheumatoid arthritis and is positive for lupus.
Posted 12/3/2010 5:11 AM (GMT 0)
What symptoms do you have? With my lupus it is REAL REAL weird some times. When I was 12 I started getting chronic hives that would last a few months then go away for a few months. Then after I had my daughter 2 1/2 years ago I quit getting hives and now I can hardly tell when I have a flare because I have fibro also, but what led to the big diagnosis was a severe abdominal pain. Ask them to check your sed. rate, did the doctor mention lupus because the blood work looks like it is a big possibility to me
Posted 12/3/2010 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
Chronically feel tired, sick. Joint and muscle pain, exhaustion following little exertion, pain for days after exercise, chronic sinus/ear infections, low grade fever, some inflamed joints at times, rash on chest/back for last 14 years...

Post Edited (luv2ride) : 12/3/2010 9:34:37 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/5/2010 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
Can you know for sure if you have Lupus based on a ANA test? I have mouth/nose sores, recurring low grade fever, heart palpitations, chest pains, blood in stool, asthma. I feel better after taking steroids like Prednisone.
Posted 12/6/2010 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
Saw the doc today. He reordered the anti-ds/DNA test and added a couple of complement tests - CS and C4, plus anti-myeloperoxidase antibody test. I guess if they come back positive, we will know if it's vasculitis or Lupus or undiagnosed (yet again)....
Posted 12/8/2010 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
So if the complement tests - C3 and C4 are not flagged as low, does this exclude Lupus from diagnosis? Levels of C3 - 98.3 (range 79-152mg/dl) and C4 - 17.9 (range 15.7-47.2 mg/dl).....???? Dr says since ANA is flagged high but not at 10, and RF is positive, but mildly positive, and anti ds/DNA is high but mildly high.... I just want to know if this is Lupus or not? More tests sent to Mayo for vasculitis and lupus... my previous results were "indeterminate" according to dr despite being flagged as abnormal but not extremely so...
Posted 12/8/2010 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi luv2ride,
My hubby has some of the same symptoms you have, only his ds/dna came back slightly elevated, so all the rheumys he has seen including the mayo clinic dismissed it as Lupus. But we are not sure what is going on? He did have a possitive Lyme test so maybe we finally got it down. Will go to one more rheumy just to rule out Lupus.

Hope you get your figured out and start feeling better.
Posted 12/8/2010 3:54 AM (GMT 0)
cookiemonster, does that mean that the drs said is IS LUPUS? My ds/DNA was elevated but only a bit...

Am curious what other tests they did for him and how they reached a diagnosis (finally)... have considered going to the Mayo clinic myself to find out what the heck is going on... so tired of all the testing with no definitive answers.
Posted 12/12/2010 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
Myeloperoxidase came back within normal limits, as did DNA double stranded antibodies (though in previous test was flagged high).
This last time the dr sent tests to Mayo. Complement C3 and C4 were within normal range too. Next step is biopsy rash on my chest that won't leave... now I'm very confused... can ds/DNA Ab change within weeks from positive to negative? Have had 2 positive ANA tests, and positive RF test too.
Posted 12/16/2010 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
Update - my dr reordered the ds/DNA and myeloperoxidase antibody and C3 and C4. All the above came back normal.

Previously have had 2 positive ANA tests, positive on ds/DNA, positive on P-ANCA, and many other lupus symptoms (persistent rash, joint pain, low grade fever, everything hurts, mouth sores, etc..).

So... according to Rheumy, I'm fine now since the last tests came back within normal limits. I am now discharged from his care.

I just don't get it. I suppose I just ignore the earlier positive tests and get on with my life. I am planning to get the rash biopsied sometime in the near future.
Posted 1/25/2011 10:28 AM (GMT 0)
Theirs honestly more to it, Like last year I had three things come up that were signs of Lupus, but honestly theres much more to it. Like I think their has to be about 6 things that deffinatly show wether or not you have it. Plus, your symptoms would help. For example I get: Inflammation(Brain, Stomach, and in the chest), My arms, hands, legs, and feet turn purple/blue when cold, I was diagnosed with fibromalygia,hives on the back of my legs, fevers, depressed very easily(I use to never get depressed, I'm a happy person), hard to breathe, and etc. and I'm only 14. And I tend to lose weight VERY easily, but you don't necessarily have to have the same symptoms as I do to have Lupus, It's mainly all in the blood work. Hope this helps ! 
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