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Blood work results...please help!

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Posted 10/2/2007 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Doc called yesterday and said my ANA titer was 1:640, but that's not positive for Lupus so he had me come in for more bloodwork today. I read on other websites, that this was a high titer.

I won't know anything for two weeks. I was wondering if anyone else had that ANA result? I have symptoms of lupus as well...hair loss, mouth ulcers, rash, sun sensitivity, raynauds phenomenom and more!

The ANA pattern was speckled. Does that mean anything to you?

Thanks for your help.

Totally confused!

Gab

Posted 10/2/2007 9:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Gab! Welcome to the group! you came to the right place. We actually did a poll recently and it seems the largest majority of us lupies have a speckled pattern. As for your ANA of 1:640 yeah that is kind of high but your doctor is right that alone does not mean you have Lupus. It takes all the different signs and symptoms and time and test and time and tests. It can take months to years to get a conclusive result. Thanya find out that you probably have more than on AI. There are people here with lupus who have a neg ANA. Also an ANA can change from one test to the next. It's just one of those tests that means there is a fairly good chance that you don't have lupus if you have a neg. ANA. But as I said you can't always count on it. There are some great moderators on here that can point you to the links that will help you to understand a little better. Try not to let it overwhelm you or get you too frustrated. Ask all the questions you want someone will have an answer. You also can rant if the spirit hits ya! we all do it from time to time. Somtimes just coming to a place where others know how you feel makes a world of difference.
As for doctors visits. write everything down. take pictures of rashes and swelling. you should also keep a note of your temperature 3 times a day. all the family history. Anything even the things you think are nothing can be a big clue.
well ok I'll quit yacking now. Anyway you keep coming back here and I hope to get to know ya better.
Welcome to the Family
hugs
carol
Posted 10/3/2007 2:43 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Gab . . . welcome to the forum!!! If you look in my signature, there are some links. One is for the criteria for diagnosing Lupus. There are 11 criteria and you need 4 of the 11 for a diagnosis. Not sure what type of rash you have . . . they will count the malar rash or the discoid rash as one of the criteria. Carol is right . . .rake pictures of your mouth ulcers and skin rashes so you can show the doc because, of course, by the time you get in to see him, the rash and sores will be gone. Welcome!! Blessings!
Posted 10/4/2007 2:01 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Gab,

I have the same ANA and symptoms that you do. However, I have kidney involvement so I was given a diagnosis very quickly. There are many other members that also have similar symptoms but they are still looking for answers. Lupus is very hard to diagnose and it mimics many other diseases too. In other words, it is common to be totally confused. The other members gave you good advice; in the meantime we are glad you found us. Please feel free to ask any questions. Not everyone here has a diagnosis of lupus and you are always welcome. GOOD LUCK.

Sandy

Posted 10/4/2007 8:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there...
I had the same results as you. ANA was 640. It is kind of high. I was sent to the rheumatologist after the high ANA and they did about 20 more blood tests. One of them being a double-strand anti-DNA test. Mine was "greater than 300". Whatever that means (still haven't been able to find much on that). That is what is the confirmation of lupus (along with all the other symptoms), so I am told.

Put me on prednisone and plaquenil. I had been taking 2400 mg. of ibuporfin a day for the pain and am still taking it. Also put me on a calcium supplement.

Went back for my 10 week check-up last week. I'm still showing inflammation in my bloodwork. They say I'm about as good as I'm going to get (pain wise). The one downer was that my second double-strand anti-DNA test came back the same as it did in July. Doc told me that people whose anti-DNA doesn't drop are usually at greater risk for kidney involvement (I do not have it, as yet).

My best advice:
GET YOUR REST! STAY OUT OF THE SUN!
I have a hard head and a couple weeks ago really pushed myself at an outdoor high school band show for my daughter. I ended up with the "mother of all headaches"...physically ill. The doc said it was probably a lupus flare from being in the sun and heat.

Don't panic. Knowledge is power. You are the best judge of how you are feeling. And, if you don't think you are getting the answers you need - find another doc.
Posted 10/5/2007 1:06 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Gab,
Looking over some web sites tonight trying to understand some of my blood test results I came across a great site that explains about ANA and the different blood tests for lupus and other autoimmune diseases.  Here's the url http://www.ii.bham.ac.uk/clinicalimmunology/CISimagelibrary/ANA.htm

Hopefully this will help you.

Posted 10/5/2007 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Gab,
My ANA has been that before, but it was the presence of other ai diseases and specific antibody tests that got me my diagnosis, also the schirmer test for eyes for sjogrens. I've only had ds-dna test once and it came back negative, and I've never had it tested again, but I have other problems and some odd antibodies to organs and other tests come out indicative of AI disease. My doc thinks I'm working up to something and it hasn't really hit hard yet, though it has in the past, and I'm just doing relatively good now. So he keeps testing, though I need to ask him about the dsdna again. Part of my problems are due to interferon therapy and liver disease, that is why I've got odd collection of disorders and abnormal labs. Hopefully they will keep testing you so they catch it when its bad. Look forward to hearing from you soon and I'm glad you found this place.
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