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Posted 3/26/2009 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hello all,
I posted a month or so ago about being reffered to a rhemy after multiple years of complaints that my thyroid medication is not working, and my GP just keeps increasing the dosage. That being said, my GP now has my thyroid medication up to 224 mcg per day, and still I feel horrible. My GP finally did some different lab work which showed an ANA of 1:320 and sent me off to a Rheumy. Last week my rheumy repeated the ANA and other tests and I received a call for follow up next week. about a month, my ANA went from 1:320 to now 1:640. Also, the nurse indicated my Vit. D is very low. Soon after starting to tell me my test results she said "you know what, I shouldn't be telling you these results and so you need to follow up with Dr. E. He'll go over everything with you and provide a treatment plan". What the heck??? Does anyone know why my ANA went up more? And the cause of my VIt D 125 to be low? I know all of you are not doctors...but I sure do welcome all of your knowledge. You live with the symptoms I have everyday and most of you have been living it for years. Thank you in advance!
Diana
Posted 3/27/2009 12:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Diana, The ANA is calculated in "titers". So the next number from 1:320 is 1:640. There are no results between 1:320 and 1:640. If it were higher than yours, the next result would be 1:1280. When they test for ANA, the sample is diluted and tested. If they find anti-nuclear antibodies in the diluted sample, they dilute it again, if there is still detectable anti-bodies, the number is doubled each time it is detectable. They continue to dilute and test until they get a diluted sample with no detectable ANA. Clear as mud? Hopefully you'll get some kind of treatment plan when you go back to see the doc. But likely, he'll want more bloodwork. :( But, you are on your way to receiving some help, ok? Blessings!
Posted 3/28/2009 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
I went and got my lab results from the dr today. I will see the rheumy on the 2nd of April. Here are all of the results:
ANA 12 Profile
Anti-Nuclear Ab...Positive
ANA Titer 1:640
ANA Pattern Homogenous
ANA Titer 1:40
ANA Pattern Speckled
Anti-centromere AB...<1:401
Anti-SCL-70 AB-EIA...neg
Anti-SM AB neg
Anti-RNP AB neg
Anti-RO AB neg
Anti-LA AB neg
Anti-Ds DNA AB 3.6
Anti-chromatin AB neg
C3 121
C4 15
Cardiolipin, IGG <15.0
Cardiolipin, IGM <12.5
Cardiolipin, IGA <15.0
Thyroid Microsomal AB >1300

Lupus Anticoag 1.1

Vitamin D 25 CH 20

CPK 109

Ferritin 9

Does anyone understand any of these labs? I appreciate any information you have to offer.
Once again, thank you.
Posted 3/28/2009 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
One great place to read about various lab tests is labtestsonline.org/ . I can never remember all of them so I check back with the web site as I hear about different tests -- otherwise I'd have them all mixed up for sure! Lupus fog!
Posted 3/28/2009 4:54 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Momof5children,
I just went to my rheumy last Mon. and my Vit D level was 27 which is great for me (it as been zero before) but she wants it up to 35. She says that low Vit D levels can cause you to be tired and right now I'm so fatigued that I can barely swat a fly off my face! All of this lab result stuff is confusing and I am a nurse. I am curious as to why your physician felt it necessary to keep increasing your thyroid meds. I have Lupus and Sjogrens's disease so I'm not one to get out in the sun and absorb the Vit D that way. Of course in Ohio in the winter that's not possible anyway. Always be sure to take a little notebook to your appts. with your questions written down and jot down any new info he gives you. Then you research, research, research on your own because they don't tell you "the rest of the story" as Paul Harvey used to say.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Nurse2
Posted 3/28/2009 5:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hey nurse2 that's some good advice because I always forget to ask at least a couple of questions. 1000 UI of D is good for the sole. On the Wet Coast and i do mean wet we don't get much sun either not that I'm going out in it being a redhead. As we say out here you don't tan you rust.

Bryan
Posted 3/28/2009 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for your responses and advice. I find comfort here. I hope I get some answers on the 2nd. May all of you feel well this weekend.
God Bless,
Diana
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