Pretty upset... Positive ANA!!!! :(

Hi guys, just got done at my LLMD appt, and found out last month I had an elevated (positive) ANA, but negative for autoimmune diseases. She's retesting me for ANA every month, and retesting for autoimmine diseases in 2 months.

Anyone else have a positive ANA Lyme/co? I'm kind of freaking out. Very upset. I felt better with a positive Lyme test and negative for everything else... :,(

Rheumatologist tested me in March and ANA was negative.

My ANA was also super high. I was negative for all autoimmune diseases. There are more very specific blood tests they can do for lupus and stuff, and mine all came back negative. My ANA was normal when I first got sick abnormal after I started treatment.

No, she had no specific plan. Just to retest. She didn't seem overly concerned.... But she's not the one with a positive test. I am very concerned. When I'm done treating Lyme I want to be done with the pain/health issues. I can't bare to think of having an autoimmune disease to contend with along side, and after I'm done with Lyme.

Maybe I'm being a drama queen, but seriously I can't take much more

Post Edited (Delmar) : 8/18/2014 8:42:41 AM (GMT-6)

I think that is a reflection on the testing and its less than exacting results. No doubt lyme and co mess with our immune systems so I dont think it a stretch other things could show up. Hang in thete, I know it xan be overwhelming and discouraging but keep telling yourself tomorrow will be a better day, I say this sometimes it helps me get thru the moment.

Thanks everyone. Just when you start to think you're turning a corner....

I'm a mess today.

You guys think the ANA, and the borderline Sjögren’s could both be due to Lyme?

I've (of course) been online reading a bunch of stuff, and it really scares me. I read that many times if you have one of these AI conditions you likely have another, and with some people they get a positive ANA result and it isn't until another 3-4 years that the ugly AI disease actually rears its ugly head, such as Lupus.
But, made me wonder if a lot of those cases might actually be Lyme.....? Left untreated, maybe...??
I read an article about a doctor who believes almost all AI diseases are caused by Lyme or Lyme-like infections.

I'm just feeling very low... It's one thing after another. I'm 29, I have a toddler at home, I really wanted to have more children, and even if I can't, I want to see my only child grow up, I don't want to be in pain the rest of my life. I used to run marathons and now I have pain picking up my boy and walking around the house. I am having a hard time seeing an end in sight right now, and admittedly having a bit of a "pity party". I know many of you relate to what I'm going through, but it so difficult going from being an extremely athletic, hardworking, and outgoing person, to this. I get on this forum and I read your posts and I know I'm not the only person going through this, and though I don't want anyone to suffer as I am, it's somewhat comforting knowing I'm not alone. But then, I look at facebook, hang out with my family, my friends, my husband's family, and no one can relate, no one has ANY health problems, and they certainly don't understand Lyme and I feel like the lowest person in the world.... So alone. Even my grandparents and my husbands grandparents haven't gone through pain and health issues as I have. I don't want my little boy to loose his mom. Whether it be to death, or pain. I mention pain, because I'm afraid that I won't be the mom he needs if I am in constant pain... I try very hard and I think given the circumstances I've done a pretty good job. I could barely move on Easter but I got up and hid the Easter eggs, and filmed him running all over the house with a huge smile on his face, and though that's a great distraction at times, I watch the video of him on Easter morning and remember MY horrible pain, and how I wasn't "present". I WANT MY LIFE BACK!!!
I'm very angry today, and though I tell myself all the time "it could be worse, don't feel sorry for yourself, you'll get better", I still find myself saying, "why!?!?!"

I hope we all get better. Sorry for venting. I want this to be over

Post Edited (Delmar) : 8/18/2014 10:23:34 AM (GMT-6)

Delmar-
Your post resonated with me so much. I feel you!! I also have a toddler at home and used to be athletic and had a successful career etc. etc. Now I struggle through pain, fog and have trouble managing him alone. I hate it.

I don't believe in the "things happen for a reason" mantra but I am learning from this ridiculous experience. For me, because I've been sick I have learned how to cook and eat REAL food - not the stuff that comes in packages with lists of ingredients, I've learned how to take responsibility for my own health and I've learned how to live in tune with my body and more consciously. This might sound a little nuts - sorry. Before I got sick I was "normal" and I ate whatever, didn't really take care of myself and was totally clueless about health. All doctors are good and know what's best, right? Ha! The point is that I've learned some really important things and been "woken up". Its been such a painful way to learn, but now I can do better for myself and most importantly, my son. He's probably one of the few toddlers that cries when he can't have some organic fermented beet kvass! Weird? Yes! But so healthy and happy. Anyway, on my good days that's how I see it from my experience - everyone is different. On my bad days I wallow, swear and hide.

It sounds like today is a difficult day for you. Get pissed, do whatever you need to do. But hang in there and keep fighting! You are not alone.

Oh and I forgot the most important thing - try to relax about the ANA. Focus on the Lyme and then see what happens. Don't be distracted - heal the Lyme and then see what your body does.

Me- I had Hashimoto's and now I only have low thyroid function!

The AI response would be from the Lyme disease. It's known to mimic all kinds of AI conditions.

My mind raced when I was diagnosed with Hashi's - I learned all about it and scared the beejeebers out of myself! And now, I no longer have those markers in my blood.

Swollen lymph nodes can happen a lot with infections too -especially Lyme disease! Many do or go have Lymph massages to help them release the debris from the blood that can get 'clogged up' in them as they are filtering the blood. Do be careful though, as this can also cause a person to herx as the "debris" are toxins in our bodies - dead bacteria and other 'goodies'.

Always best to check!! You are the one most concerned with your health, doctors (no matter how good they are) have many other patients to be concerned about as well.

Also, please see the bottom of the post I mead above about swollen lymph glands - I had just edited that post when you posted.

I would like to say the same about you- thank you for your support while I've been here!

And thank you!!! I'm glad I can be of some help!

Thanks Louise :) To make sure I understand, she treated the Lyme and got better, and then went into remission from the Lupus?
I appreciate you taking the time to make me feel better, it does :)

Oh Louise! Don't get me going! I went on the internet to look up what her symptoms were. They had diagnosed her with lyme, but then changed to lupus. Her type of lupus was attacking her spinal cord.
She had extreme fatigue and weak muscles.
She had high white blood cell count. I don't have that.
All my blood work is good. I think if you have lupus that was giving you serious symptoms, you'd have wonky blood work - not just a high ANA, but probably signs as well.

Hey LymePickle, no its the presence of Antinuclear Antibody, which is associated with certain Autoimmune Diseases........ And hopefully, in my case, its due to the Lyme.