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Posted 7/8/2011 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,

I am a 24 year old white female and I went to see a neurologist for weakness in my limbs, tingling in hands, feet, face, back, head and legs. Also have had some intermitent numbness. I also get extreme fatigue without cause. Some back pain and occasional joint pain.

The neuro ordered an MRI of my head and cspine. Everything was normal except some congenital fusions of the vertebrae in my neck. I know originally the neuro was thinking MS but I had no lesions on my brain or spine.

She also ran some blood work and my ana came back at 1:2560 and the neuro said that indicacted possible autoimmune disease. I don't feel like I have a lot of the symptoms of lupus but I don't have a lot of symptoms for any of the other autoimmune diseases that have high ana results. Could it be a false positive?

The symptoms I do have that could indicate lupus are fatigue, easy bruising, dry eyes. I feel like lately I have a lot of anxiety in situations where I shouldn't.

Just was hoping for some thoughts...I was posting in the MS forum before my MRI came back clean. The neuro is referring me to a rheumatologist...what kinds of tests can I expect with them?

Thanks, angie
Posted 7/8/2011 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
You sound similar to me. I have a high ANA and a high anti-histone antibodies with everything else normal  usually. Your doctor test your anti histone antibodies yet?

My main symptoms are muscle problems, fatigue, and dry eyes. I don't have the common lupus symptoms either. I was diagnosed with DI Lupus from my Rheumatologist even though I don't take any of the potential medications that cause it and I've switched out every one of my meds in the last few years and the high antibodies persist.

They'll test for lupus and other ones, I'm curious to see what turns up.

Post Edited (Jake Harris) : 7/8/2011 3:14:11 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/8/2011 10:25 PM (GMT 0)
I have a high ANA, but my inflamatory markers are low right now. He believes I have lupus.
I suffered from headaches, rashes, fatigue, muscle aches and twitches, joint pain, hands and feet become inflamed at times.

My first visit with the Rheumy was a lot of questions and a lot of bloodwork. I'm going back for my third follow up in three weeks. He put me on plaquenil and mobic and said if it makes me feel better then it's definitely lupus. I'm feeling better.
Posted 7/8/2011 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the responses. I've only had the initial ANA test so far because originally I presented like MS and thats what the neuro was looking into. She did the ANA basically to rule everything else out and thats what turned up being positive.

I guess my pain would be more muscle aches than joint pain. I get pretty severe pain in my back but I'm assuming now that that is being caused by the anomalies seen on my cspine.

I haven't noticed any skin rashes except alittle spot I get under my right eye. My eyes have been incredibly dry lately and I've been having to carry around eye drops...I guess I just assumed it was from my contacts but I've been wearing contacts for over 10 years and I never had a problem until recently and my eyes are dry when I wear my glasses too.

I was really expecting a diagnosis of MS because my symptoms seem to point more to that, but apparently not. I see the Neuro one more time on the 13th to go over my MRI images and then she is handing me off to the Rheumy so I guess I will just go from there.

I hope someone can give me some definitive answers soon. I consult with Dr. Internet more than I should trying to understand things for myself and I'm sure it just causes me more stress than its worth.
Posted 7/9/2011 12:06 PM (GMT 0)
After thinking about it...I do get sores in my mouth...I don't have any right now so I guess I never thought about it when the ANA came back high and I also have the malar rash....but not all the time and it seems mild...just my skin is red over that area...no bumps and sometimes its so light I barely notice it.
Posted 7/9/2011 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
Mine first started looking like acne but it was flat, not raised. I was red all over with redder spots and most of my spots was around my hairline and on my cheeks.
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