elevated antirnp

Hi
I am a new member too and also waiting for a dx. I go Friday to get my lab results. It's a terrible waiting game. I too had a positive ana and anti rnp. I dont know what my levels were though.
I have the same symptoms as you. I have been having horrible pain in my right elbow and the muscles and joints surrounding it for the past 5 weeks.
I hope that you get some answers soon do that you can get some relief!
Keep us posted!

Hugs

Rhonda

i saw my rhemy and he said that at this point he is not diagnosing me with anything b/c my labs dont show any end organ damage at this time but that eventually it will probably manifest into something. ( most likely lupus). I'm not sure if /I should be happy or sad. I know you dont want to prematurally diagnose yourself and have that all over your chart, however, i still feel some symptoms and I think if I had a diagnosis than at least I'd feel justified. Sometimes I feel like my family just thinks I'm being whiny or a hypochondriac when I say I dont feel well or I'm really tired. I dont know.. just really having a hard time right now and I'm searching for someone who had been through this.

I may have misspoke with the term end organ "damage". What my rheumy said was that as of now,  "my disease" is not negatively effecting my organs ( no renal , liver, lungs effects). So he was ok with watching me closely for a while ( every 3 mo) before starting me on any meds. Complicating the issue is the fact that i'd like to have another baby and not being on birth control he was hesatant to start me on anything. However, I'm suppost to see my ob and him asap if i do get pregnant. I think what i am struggling with most is not knowing for sure if i really have something. I am feeling better right now but i just had a strong round of steroids 3 wks ago or so. I feel tired all the time but not sure if that is b/c of autoimmune or the fact that i have a demanding job, a 2yr old, etc.. My back and knees ache a lot but again "I ask myself is this autoimmune or just overworked? i feel kinda lost. I am type A and work in medicine so it is so hard for me not to understand what is going on in my body. I keep telling myself to just live my life and not think about it but i cant help it. I have seen people in  my job being effected by these diseases ( renal failure, dialysis, hair loss, cardiac issues, pulm HTN, etc...) I can't just ignore this possible diagnosis.  what i'd like to know is how did your disease start out and what helped you, did Paquinel help a lot with fatigue, etc? Anyone pregnant with this diagnosis?

Hi CHAWNIE,

Back in November I came up positive ANA plus what was called high RNP, and indeterminate antidsdna.

Looking back over the past decade, even though I did not officially come up positive on the ANA test until last year,  I've had lots of unclassified, unexplained symptoms--including heart palpitations. These caused me to go to the ER on several occasions, with no resolution. Since they always seemed to happen around my period time, I thought it was hormonal.

I'm very fair skinned and have always had a lot of red in my face, but this past year or so have noticed much more redness and irritation--especially around my mouth and nostril area. Don't know if this is related to autoimmune issues, but it would not be unheard of I guess?

For as long as I can remember, at least 30 years, I sometimes get light headed when I stand up. In recent years I have also become so scattered and forgetful--could be aging, but with the positive ANA and such, could also have something to do with that. I also have shed a bunch of hair in the past year...

I go to see the rheumatologist in July. Have you seen one yet?

Eveinca - I am seeing a rheumatologist.  I see him once a year unless my symptoms don't improve or get worse.  I am light skinned as well and sunburn easily.    My RE says that my symptoms could get worse in 3 months - 5 years. 

Couchtater - thanks for the advice.  I definately need to do that.  My problem is I love being outside.  How do you avoid UV rays?

I have been noticing that after I spend time in the sun, that night or the next day I feel yucky.  I feel swollen, shaky, hands shake, lightheaded, headache, etc.  I need to find sun protective clothing and a wide brim hat to wear.  What kind of sunblock is good for people with Lupus or MCTD?