Test results

Got results back on a blood test done Monday.  It shows the distribution of different lymphocytes.  My doctor told me that the results are not consistant with primary SLE, but that the Lupus-like Syndrome I do apparently have is secondary to whatever is making my lymphocytes be so low.  But he couldn't tell me what the test results did indicate - and he's asked some Immunologists and they were puzzled also.  He mentioned that I might have to get a lymph node biopsy to get more info.  So who knows what's really going on.  This is so frustrating - it seems that tests just cause more questions than answers these days...   

Thanks for being here to "talk" to...it does help to diffuse the tension about all this. 

(edited to add the title)

Take care,

 

Hi Ginny,

Thanks for replying. My eyes get dry, but my mouth is always too full of saliva - to the point that I choke on it sometimes. I've had doctors mention Sjogren's to me, but when the antibody test for it comes back negative they then insist that I don't have Sjogrens and that the dry eyes are secondary to the Lupus-like Syndrome (UCTD). But 10 months of Plaquenil did nothing to help my dry eyes (and it really bothered my gut), neither does eye drops - the eye drops have junk in them that irritate my eyes all the more.

The swollen lymph nodes are the ones in the neck under the jaw bones. They've been intermittantly swollen for the last few years - before that, I never had swollen lymph nodes. Yeah, I'm thinking the biopsy may be what it will take to get answers. But that's what I thought when I went in for the bone marrow biopsy, but it just created more mysteries (no iron detected = very abnormal; all the immune cells were normal).

Thanks for your support. Take care,

Razzle,
I know you are frustrated beyond belief! Take care of yourself. You are in my thoughts and prayers, Judi

Razzle, I wish I had some some answers for you, but it looks like this is quite a mystery. I'm just really sorry you are having to go through this and that doctors don't know what's going on or what is causing these abnormal test results. Regarding Sjogrens - not everyone with Sjogrens has the antibody for it. There are a certain percentage of people who have the antibody, but it's definitely not 100%. I am really hoping it doesn't take too long for the docs to get to the bottom of this - it has to be frustrating and scary at times. Take care and please keep us updated.