Positive ANA friends-

Hi! Just wondering if those of you that had a positive ANA in the past had any other symptoms at the time of the test. If so, what were they?

Post Edited (MissGigi) : 1/27/2015 12:08:33 PM (GMT-7)

I don't have an initial consult until Feb 20th. Then, if more tests, more waiting. :( I called three other clinics in the area and they are booked out until March! So, I guess Feb is better.

I don't even really have the joint pain that often. It is usually wrists and knees (which I would attribute to typing and doing stairs, respectively). The weird hand thing I've had bothers me too. Raynaud's is a common first symptom of some of those diseases. But, mine isn't really typical Raynaud's, my hands get red and then if you squeeze them, they turn white for a sec or two before returning to red. With Raynaud's, your hands usually turn white in cold due to poor circulation or problems w capillaries, then as they warm they get red then hurt. That doesn't happen to me, but when I showed my doctor my hands she said, "oh, that's some Raynaudy thing or something". So now I've got it in my head that it's secondary Raynaud's and a bad indicator.

I was just curious if there were any signs others had/why they had the test in the first place.

Hey MG- I'm what they call seronegative- my blood betrays me. I do not test positive for ANA or RF. Now that I'm controlled all blood is normal.
I was always healthy as a horse. I went to bed in perfect health and woke up an invalid.
I was dx'd by ruling everything out by blood tests , the fact that I lost 28 lbs. in a month for no reason, my inflammation markers were off the charts (ESR & CRP) I was swelled up as big as Shrek and my joints were so hot they sweat. The pain-the pain I cannot describe. I was afraid I was going to die and I was afraid I wouldn't die. It was so bad oxycontin didn't touch it and I was unable to sleep for 2 straight weeks. I became so weak I could not sit unassisted. My first RD was horrible- I had to beg for proper pain meds. My husband had to lay into her and then she said because I wasn't responding to any meds she thought maybe I had a malignancy and sent me for a CT of head, chest, abs and back to my GP. Thank God it came back clean, and GP who has a father with RA took pity on me and prescribed sleeping pills and proper pain meds. I was on a waiting list with the RD I wanted to see-he had a cancellation and I got in to see him. He added 40 mgs of prednisone a day to my meds and I turned the corner immediately.
Ask me about about my prayers being answered- I had a modern day miracle-I'm quite sure it was divine intervention.

Thanks Lisa and Weary.

Weary- I can't believe what you went through!! How scary to just wake up like that one day. I'm so glad you found a doctor that could help you. You are still feeling well now?

Hey MG,
I have been going thru my first major flare since onset.
First one was triggered by stress (my best guess) as is this one.
After going thru what I did....all pain and fear pales in comparison.
Sometimes I wonder if it was given to me as a lesson to learn...so I could deal with my life's stresses
I have painful hands that cannot close at all in the morning and I'm having trouble gripping a pen to write- sloppy handwriting. Feet and ankles bothering me too -by mid day I change from my dress heels to slippers. Only slight swelling. All over joint aches but not enough to keep me from going to work and forcing my way thru anything I need to complete at home. I may not feel good but I CAN DO- I can't ask for anything more.
Thanks for asking....I try not to talk about it unless someone asks but it feels so good to have someone ask.

Thanks again for your input Past. It helps to hear your story.