Lupus or not?

Ann Ireland

Veteran Member

Joined : Apr 2006

Posts : 511

Posted 5/5/2008 8:00 AM (GMT 0)

If told I most likely had lupus flare in Dublin when ANA was high but dont have now, does that mean I am in remission or I DON'T have Lupus?

Can you have Lupus one month and not the next.

I also tested pos for the rheumatoid factor, my joints are agony and I have burning pain.

What does this factor mean?

appreciate any answers!!!!

xxAnn

hippimom2

Veteran Member

Joined : Jul 2005

Posts : 5403

Posted 5/5/2008 1:44 PM (GMT 0)

Lupus doesn't come and go, but your labs can certainly fluctuate from month to month. A lot of people here have ANAs that fluctuate between positive and negative. My understanding of a positive rheumatoid factor is that it is an indicator of rheumatoid arthritis and also some people with lupus have a positive RF.

Ginny

Veteran Member

Joined : Feb 2003

Posts : 5514

Posted 5/6/2008 2:03 PM (GMT 0)

Hippi is right. The ANA can fluctuate a lot. Making it look like the lupus has gone away, but it hasn't. Don't spend too much time thinking about the ANA factor. It's just one of the many things that are taken into consideration with a diagnosis.

Lots of people get a diagnosis with a negative ANA, as long as there are piles of the other criteria present.

Blessings,

Ginny

AlwaysRosie

Veteran Member

Joined : Jan 2005

Posts : 8616

Posted 5/6/2008 8:02 PM (GMT 0)

Ann . . . Sorry you are still in limbo with your diagnoses. There is a link in my signature "Lupus Diagnoses 4 of 11" that explains how they diagnose Lupus. The other links in my signature may be of interest to you as well. Also, I see in your meds that you take Entocort and I never noticed before the you have Crohn's (maybe because I was recently dx'd with crohn's and so just now noticed???). Anyway. . . . crohn's can cause A LOT of the Lupus symptoms. It is also auto-immune and attacks the joints etc. It causes rashes and even open sores. Just a thought. Blessings!

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