HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Positive ANA and RNP

Support Forums
>
Lupus
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/5/2013 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
I went to the doctor for a physical in April.  I have been having the following symptoms in the last 2 years: frequent heart palpitations (more so recently), lightheadedness, fatigue, psoriasis on scalp and on ears, geographical tongue, tonsil stones, foot/leg swells periodically, body aches, frequent bladder infections, restless sleep and occasionally my hands twitch. 

Dr ran blood tests and my ALT level was elevated.  Dr was concerned and ran another panel of tests that showed my ANA +, my ALT level went back to normal.  He ran my ANA again a week later and still showed +.  I was then referred to a Rheumatologist.  The RE ran even more tests all were normal with the exception of my + ANA and elevated RNP (1.3).  My Smith Antibody was normal.  He said that + RNP is the front gate to Lupus, Scleroderma, or MCTD.  RE said I may be in the very beginning phase of my disease.  My RE wants to see me once a year or sooner if I produce more symptoms. 

Did anyone else start their Lupus or any other Auto Immune disease like this?   confused

What kind of symptoms should I watch out for? 

Chawnie

Posted 6/5/2013 3:08 AM (GMT 0)
I had a lot of UTIs at the beginning before my joints and skin got involved.

I seem to suddenly start getting rashes everytime I was in the sun. Then one day I started hurting everywhere and the fatigue was horrible.

I manage my UTIs flares by taking mega doses of cranberry fruit pills everyday.

Because I fibro have too, which sometimes joins in with the abuse, I have some bad days. Most of my days I feel like someone has ripped my muscles off and beat them with a tire iron then put them back on wrong.

You can go look at lupus.org or lupus.com for a list of things that can pop up. Not everybody gets all of the symptoms listed.

My symptoms are joint pains, muscle pains, photosensivity, and fog.
Posted 6/5/2013 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your reply couchtater. I am taken back by the + test results, not sure what to think about all of this. Seems like I just have to wait for more symptoms. I am now having my heart monitored due to the palpitations. Praying that everything comes out normal.

I have noticed that in this last year I have had a really hard time remembering things, difficulty concentrating, dizziness, lightheaded, etc. So frustrating! I feel stupid sometimes due to lack of concentration and/or memory. Not sure if that is a symptom or not.
Posted 6/5/2013 5:44 AM (GMT 0)
That's what they call "lupus fog".
It's a frustrating part of it that will rear it's ugly head at the worse times.
Here's a list of ways to deal with this:
1. Notebook for writing down important stuff
2. Calendar for keeping up to date on events
3. Post-it notes (I used to use a lot of these when I was working)
4. Try not to push through the thought or finding the right word it will just make you more frustrated.

The light-headed feeling maybe Vit. D defecicy (Duh? I forgot how to spell it). LOL! Well ask your doctor to check your vitamin levels.

I take B12, B6, folic acid, and Biotien for energy and hair issues. For some reason we have issues with our hair thinning then growing back again when we're very sick.

I was a teacher for many years before lupus and other illnesses hit me hard. The foggy feeling scared me and made me think I was getting senile at 43. I went to a psychiatrist and was evaluated for it. He said I was still above average intellegence but the lupus had messed up my processing skills and dropped them down to 14% level.
I was glad I wasn't going crazy, but it just takes me longer to process things. It could be doing that to you also. Who knows?
Posted 6/6/2013 4:03 AM (GMT 0)

Couchtater - thank you for your responses, makes me feel better knowing I am not alone.  I have been saying for a year or so that I feel like I am losing it or getting dementia.  I can't seem to get the right words out and am very slow at processing or remembering things.  I haven't received a definitive diagnosis yet.

I was put on a heart monitor for 24hrs yesterday for my heart palpitations.  Hopefully I get good news.  Today my legs were a bit swollen, achy and felt very heavy.  I had indents from my work socks on my legs.  Don't know if these symptoms could be related or not.  I am new to all of this.

What symptoms should I watch for and notify my RE of?

Posted 6/6/2013 6:40 AM (GMT 0)
The swelling of your legs could mean the need of a water pill. My legs would swell up like balloons until the doctor put me on lasix. Tell him about it.

I'm so bad about swelling if I miss my water pills I gain ten pounds in just 24 hours. I take 80mg of lasix a day and potassium to replace the potassium the lasix drains out of me. Needless to say I go to the bathroom a lot. LOL!
Posted 6/7/2013 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
Omg I have been saying for years I am losing brain power and no one believed me. I used to be able to see or read something and remember it years later. Now I can watch the same show over and over.
Posted 6/7/2013 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
Teddtlove, I could remember reading a book several years before just by looking at the first page. The whole story would pop in my head in total recall.
Now, I'll find a "new" book on the store shelf, take it home, and find the same book on my night stand! LOL!
Posted 6/9/2013 8:39 PM (GMT 0)
Couchtater once when I was in junior high a teacher had a story contest she read us a story that won. I recognized the story from a book I read in third grade. I knew what book it was and where in my house I could find it. So I took it and told the teacher. (Yeah I was that kid). Afterwards I felt guilty because it was a friend of mine and I didn't know it.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply