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Posted 1/29/2008 6:18 AM (GMT 0)
Steriods and I do not get along at night. I am awake at 1 am and decided to try and figure out some of my labs. I notice alot of women on HW have Sjogrens. My Anti Ro and Anti La scores were 521 and 320 . I do not however have any symptoms of Sjogrens. Any of you with Lupus have high titres of Ro and La? I cant make any sense out of this disease on paper. It appears to be alot of guess and more guess work. I also see alot of women here have low complement levels? Mine were high? Maybe you guys can teach me a thing or 2.
Posted 1/29/2008 6:25 AM (GMT 0)
I don't understand it either Chaya and I've watched my doctors struggle for answers as well. I do know that low complement levels mean one's lupus is active. So having high complement levels is a good thing. I'm sure someone else here can give you better information than I.

Pat
Posted 1/29/2008 6:48 AM (GMT 0)
How can abnormally high complement levels be a good thing? The labs give a margin for reason no? Oy vey if only Einstein had chosen to be an immunologist! I dont understand any of this stuff. Even after applying myself for a few hours research on the good ole web. I throw in the towel. I have had a number of DR.'s agree that I have Lupus lately so something must be a dead give away. Trying to get DR.'s to agree is like having 5 women in a room with the same opinion. AINT happenin.

Post Edited By Moderator (AlwaysRosie) : 1/29/2008 6:33:14 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/29/2008 6:58 AM (GMT 0)
I know how frustrating it can be. The most important thing is that your doctor should give you meds to take care of the symptoms you have. If you're not happy with your rheumy, go to another rheumy. Find someone who listens to you and who will take the time to answer your questions and explain things to you. After all, you're the one paying the bill. Go for it.
Posted 1/29/2008 12:54 PM (GMT 0)
HIgh Complement levels can mean your body is preparing for a flare. Ironically no one has ever checked my complement levels, EVER. Then again what was the point when you could look at me and at my liver labs and know how my disease was doing? We will see if that remains the same after the baby comes.
Posted 1/29/2008 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
I am someone who has had elevated compliment levels. My old rheumy just shrugged her shoulders and said she didn't know what it meant. I found out through my own research and also through my current rheumy that increased compliment levels can mean acute inflammation which can mean you are headed for a flare. Here's a quote from a medical article I found regarding compliment levels: "Increased levels of both C3 and C4, in addition to increased concentrations of C-ReactiveProtein, are linked to acute inflammatory disease and tissue inflammation." All of this can be frustrating since not all docs agree on what the symptoms and the labs mean. I sometimes think you could go to three different docs with the same symptoms and labs and walk away with three different diagnoses. Hang in there and don't stop looking for answers.
Posted 1/29/2008 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you everybody for the responses and Hippie Mom thank you for some facts. I cant seem to wrap my head around all of this sometimes. My main concern at the moment is my brain function. I am having horrible issues with memory. My husband has actually noticed since Aug that I am getting worse. Its a joke in my house that if you want mom to remember ,remind her every 5 mins. I can be in a conversation and I know what I want to say and the words wont! come to me. I did it in front of the Dr. and he repeated himself and all I could do was stare at him. I finally said I am sorry I cant seem to formulate an answer. It is scaring me . I am rather shocked at the rapid decline in my health in such a short amount of time. I am glad I have HW to share my woes.
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