Two low positive ana's

Hello all. Im sure you have seen me around posting about my symptoms and negative lab results lol. Back in september when I started this investigation into my symptoms I had a low positive ana come back. I also had a uti at the time and blood in my urine and was iron deficient and anemic. The IDA was treated and got better as was the uti. I just recently saw my neurologist to be evaluated to see if he could help solve the mystery as I have been seeing him since age 15 for seizures. Two blood work ups after that my anas were negative. I also felt I wasn't flaring those times either. My lab results came back negative except for the ana. I recieved the letter yesterday in the mail. My neuro also said I had raynauds because my pulses in my feet were good so it wasn't a circulation problem and I was tested for nerve problems which came back normal. My new primary dr tested me for porphyria. Its a rare genetic disease. It is not associated with inflammation or raynauds. Since raynauds is autoimmune itself I personally think that the anas mean something along with all my symptoms. My neuro even stated in the letter to take the result to my pcp because it could mean a rheumatologic condition. I just want to know other peoples opinions on this situation and what you think. I also see the rheumatologist I saw before in may. I was thinking about switching my appt sooner and getting evaluated again taking my list of symptoms and my blood workups showing the blood in the urine, pos anas etc. Can anybody give me any suggestions on some tests I could have ordered or anything that could help me know what to do next? I really believe Im finally getting somewhere and being in a flare am ready to be diagnosed so I can feel better! I hope you all are well and have a great weekend! -Brittanee

Hi Babe38 - Don't freak out, just find a lupus-knowledgeable rheumatologist and get a workup from them. One way to do that (if in USA) is to visit www.lupus.org and use the 'chapter locater' to find the closest group. Then contact the closest group and ask which rheumatologists are working with them -- those drs are the ones who will know the most about ANA and related illnesses. ANA 1:160 isn't a huge number, and there are lots of other things to consider before deciding that it is anything like lupus. Hang in there,

Hi Brittanee, the only thing I can suggest is make a list of all of your symptoms even the ones that are small, provide the doctor copies of previous labs, x-rays, etc and keep your appt in May with the rheumy. He/she should ask you a ton of questions about your symptoms and your family history. I don't think I would ask for certain lab tests I would first ask him what he thinks it could be and maybe ask him if he thinks it could be lupus and go from there.

I pray you get some answers soon. We all know how frustrating it is waiting on a dx but hang in there, sometimes it takes a while to get a correct dx.