ana choice positive tesst result

I would see another rheumy and take pictures of rashes and symptom list. I am sure others will come on with more/better advice.

Hi there

I urge you to get copies of your blood test results so that you can see exactly what is going on. It is quite possible that you have an autoimmune connective tissue disease. A moderately raised ANA might not be significant but diagnosis is made on the basis of all the signs and symptoms. If the ANA was at all abnormal further more specific tests should be done. If lupus is strongly suspect further tests should be done even if the ANA is negative.

The ACR Criteria was drawn up for classification purposes and provides only a general guide to diagnosis. There are many misconceptions about it. A number of important signs and symptoms are omitted such as the anti Ro anti bodies and complement as well as non specific signs such as fatigue and hair loss.

If you do have lupus or very similar it is possible that simple treatment with an anti malarial could vastly improve your health , quality of life and help prevent the spread of disease. Too often treatment is delayed. Make sure urine is tested too. In uncertain cases a skin biopsy will show lupus. It is most likely to show up in affected skin but the chances are reasonably high that SLE will show in unaffected but exposed skin such as the inner forearm or even in unaffected non expsoed skin such as a buttock or lower abdomen

If at all possible a second opinion could be a good idea.

Good Luck
BB