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Is a positive ANA common with Lyme?

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Posted 8/28/2014 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
In the last year of my weird symptoms, the only lab that is coming back abnormal is my ANA. It is 1:360, which my docs are blowing off as "false positive" "some people just have it" yada yada. In my reading, it looks like at that number, the chance of it being false are almost nil, especially in light of the strange symptoms (numbness, tingling, burning skin, bad hand pain, frequently feeling flu-like). My Igenex test is pending (yay, mailed it yesterday!) but I'm trying to fit the pieces together myself.

And just for fun, here's a couple little nuggets from my most recent doctor visits.

Rheumatologist last week
"Well, everyone has some musculoskeletal pain, maybe you're just more aware of it than most."

Neurologist yesterday after seeing EMG/NCV was normal
"If you have a nerve problem, then I have a nerve problem, and I know I don't"

That's cold comfort as I sit before him with tingling feet, numb painful fingers and skin that feels sunburned.
Posted 8/28/2014 3:19 PM (GMT 0)
You know, other than asking one of my neuros for a Lyme test (which she had to GOOGLE for crying out loud), I don't even mention it. I took care of the Igenex through my chiropractor who was happy to sign off on the order. If it's positive, I'll find a LLMD. I am a health care professional, but I am becoming very disillusioned with the physicians I've seen.

It is ridiculous that patients have to band together in online groups to heal themselves.
Posted 8/28/2014 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
It's very unfortunate what we suffer with from those that aren't educated. shakehead Shameful even, since they claim to be "Professionals" - HA! eyes

I was told all those things too and that there is no way I could have Lyme as Lyme disease isn't in Arkansas - only Missouri - "You haven't been spending time in Missouri have you?" asked one fool that claimed to have a dr's license. Like they won't cross a state border. I live in one of the northern most counties which butts up to the state of Missouri.

Back to your question, Windypetunia - yes, a positive ANA is quite common with Lyme. Lyme disease is an inflammatory infection - the spaces between our cells are inflamed, not just in our joints or whatever. ANA is an indicator of inflammation in the body, so it makes sense that many of us have high titers with the ANA.
Posted 8/28/2014 3:54 PM (GMT 0)
I have a positive ANA, and I think it's quite common because my LLMD was the one who tested for it.
Posted 8/28/2014 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
Ha Trav, you know those ticks use their little buggy GPS to make sure to stay up in Missouri lol.

Being pregnant is making me all the more anxious to get those Igenex results back, and perhaps even consult a LLMD even if they're negative. I only did the basic Lyme since the tests are SO pricey. Has anyone had luck submitting to their insurance for reimbursement? I had a miscarriage in May at 8 weeks, and am on eggshells every day.

Sarah, do you have any specific autoimmune diseases or only the ANA?
Posted 8/28/2014 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
I also had positive ANA titer but was tild due to past infection with mono.
Posted 8/28/2014 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
I've had mono in the past Roxie, but I haven't had my ANA checked until recently. I wish I knew if it had been positive for years or if this is new.
Posted 8/28/2014 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
Our daughter had positive ANA titers (speckled type which is indicative of connective tissue involvement). I assumed it was because spirochetes are known to prefer connective tissue. After completing treatment for bartonella (we didn't treat specifically for lyme) her ANA test was negative. Her PANS (pediatric autoimmune neurological syndrome) has resolved as well.
Posted 8/28/2014 8:21 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for sharing your daughter's experience rowingmom. I'm glad to hear she's doing better!
Posted 8/28/2014 8:37 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I have a positive ANA currently and a high SSB (Sjogrens)... LLMD seems confident this will return to normal after I finish treatment. Sorry you're going through this... It sounds like you have lyme to me. Hope you get answers soon. Hugs
Posted 9/1/2014 1:54 PM (GMT 0)
I had a positive ANA and high SED rate when my rhuemy thought my symptoms were an autoimmune disease. That was in 2009 when I would have been 4 years undiagnosed. I now think it was from the Lyme infecting my tissues and joints causing the inflammation buildup in my system.
Posted 9/1/2014 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
I have hight ANA but then tested negative with further autoimmune tests. I think my lyme is secondary to mold which brought down my immune system. Don't ever take steroids but IVIG could be helpful for lyme if you doc goes down the autoimmune path.
Posted 9/1/2014 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
I had a negative ANA. That is why my doctor started to believe me about lyme. I know it is very disappointing when your doctor tells you "we don't have lyme here"... Well, don't they know that we have mice everywhere and lyme and babesia come from mice?, especially the white footed mice. They are the ones that carry these bacterias among others. Deers are transporting the ticks close to us, and of course, the ticks infect everything they bite. We always end up educating the doctors about these bacteria, which they have no clue of how dangerous and hard to eliminate they are.
Posted 9/1/2014 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
This topic is particularly interesting to me. (I know I commented before, but want to add...)
In my case, I believe treatment itself has caused my ANA (+) & SSB (high), as my rheumatologist tested me for EVERYTHING at the end of March... I have copies of all the tests and all were normal - very normal - nothing was even remotely close to being out of range. I have about 7 pages of notes/tests just from the rheumy. All was fine. He thought posssibly Fibro according to notes. Anyway, I began treating lyme at the end of April and my blood work started showing these irregularities in June/July - I think it's because the "bugs" are freaking out. Either that, or the abx themselves are causing some abnormalities.

It is my opinion, after a lot of research and talking to my LLMD, that lyme and/or treatment of lyme can definitely cause this as well as other autoimmune tests to show positive/elevated/abnormal! It doesn't necessarily mean you have an underlying issue.
Posted 9/1/2014 6:36 PM (GMT 0)
I have a positive ANA, but also have hashimotos... So I am not sure if that's the cause, or the lyme.
Posted 9/8/2014 7:07 AM (GMT 0)
Twenty five years ago I had at least six different specialists at some of the best medical hospitals in the United States confused. I spent a year in and out of the hospital before my little hometown doctor diagnosed me with Lyme after I responded well to Rocephin. Back then all the specialists laughed at him and told my family that it couldn't possibly by Lyme because it didn't exist this far south. I had symptoms return in the spring and started to hear the same comments again. I took a short cut and went straight to a LLMD this time. I'm so grateful I did!! I also have high positive ANA levels but my LLMD simply explained that some people do with Lyme disease.
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