Positive RNP antibodies but no diagnosis

Hi

I have tested positive for the RNP antibody which is the antibody for mixed connective tissue disease.  I was tested due to having Raynauds Syndrome.  This was last June.  Since then, I have had a lot of weird symptoms, but the rheumy doesn't think they are related to this disease, so I don't have an actual "diagnosis."  I'm just postiive for RNP antibodies.  I want to know if any of things going on with me could be due to this connective tissue disease. 

I have various aches and pains.  I have pain in both bicep muscles.  I have pain in my oblique near my hip.  I have really tight muscles throughout my body.  I have to stretch everyday.  They are so tight that I feel like the ligaments/muscles "clunk" when I move my arms in a circle.  Sometimes it actually seems like the skin is attached to the muscle because it doesn't want to stretch much.  To me, since this is a connective tissue disease, it would make sense that my muscles would be tight, etc, yet the rheumy insists I do not have any of the diseases related to it since I don't have enflammed joints, etc. 

Any others that do not have a diagnosis experience anything like this?

Thanks

Lori

I haven't had similar test results, I know I have some kind of autoimmune thing going on but my ANA is always negative. Right now I'm waiting on some test results, I'm trying to find a rhuemy but it's been really hard for me. My mom mentioned that a rhuemy I saw as a child is still practicing, he actually diagnosed me with poly arthritis when I was a kid and at that time my ANA was positive. I just found all this out a couple of weeks ago, I don't even remember the arthritis pain and didn't know I was diagnosed with it. I guess my mom didn't want me to worry about it. But my point is he won't see me again unless something shows up in these blood tests... so it's a good thing if everything comes back negative but then I still won't have a rheumy.

But I agree with you, your symptoms do sound related to the MCTD. With the tight muscles and tight feeling in your skin, I wonder what your doctor is thinking? I read somewhere that when the ANA is negative that doctors will also look at other anti-bodies like the RNP anti-body to help them determine if its lupus or srogrens or MCTD. And you also have the raynauds, right? I would think it's all related but I'm not a doctor. I didn't know inflamed joints was a criteria for a diagnoses. Everybody's different, I think your rheumy should be paying more attention to what you are telling him... maybe you need a new doctor. Is he at least treating you so it doesn't get worse?