ANA test high/Lupus Diagnosis Process? Posted: 12-05-07 20:10pm
I'm really frustrated right now. I am a
Breast Cancer survivor and during my last
visit to the Oncol I happened to have had
a sore throat, rash on my neck, low grade
fever, was hoarse and had some aches and
pains. Prior to this I had 2 months of
chronic pain in my left leg. My calf
ached and I would get sharp pain in my
shin, into my knee and foot. So, she ran
a battery of tests for things such as
mono, bone cancer, lupus and cat scratch
fever. The Ana test came back very high -
901. I have to say that prior to this
over many years I have had pleurosy, hives
after the sun, joint pain in my fingers,
constant throat infections, have attacks
where the pain in my lower left groin area
is so severe I feel like I'm going to
faint, get palpatations etc. I have had
many other diagnosis and "odd" things and
have heart damage. I had Brucolosis when
I was in elementry school, for whatever
that is worth. I have had major
depression for years. So, when I got this
diagnosis needless to say I was a little
relieved because I now had an excuse for
my many ailments. I went to the Rheumy
today, and left with more questions than
answers. He is having a complete blood
profile done, 11 different tests, and
tells me that the ANA can come back as a
false positive and can take a while to
rule things out. My mothers grandmother
died of MS, and I guess this is one of the
tests he had ordered because the ANA can
come back positive if you have MS, but he
thingks that this is the least probable
diagnosis. I too, as I have read, get
strange pains and GI attacks. Many things
I read I think "yep, thats me". I don't
have a spleen, removed due to trauma which
turns out that this could be a good thing
if I have Lupus.
I guess I am looking for feedback on the
diagnosis process, did it take a long
time, what kind of tests were done, what
can I expect. I had been tested for Lupus
years ago when I would get hives after sun
exposure - all over my body. I'm
particulary concerned about my Kidneys
because I frequently have blood in my
urine and have had cloudy uring. I also
get lower back pain at times.
Please help me with understanding this!
Thanks
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lonestarguy
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 592 Location: , Hoosierland, USA
Thanks: 10
Thanked:1
Posted: 12-05-07 20:31pm
I can't tell you about tests or anything,
but my mom died of lupus, and I just
wanted to tell you how sorry I am that you
are at this point expecting a lupus
diagnosis. She had lupus before it had a
name and was tested for everything until a
doctor experimenting with autoimmune
diseases diagnosed her.
I want you to know that all those previous
symptoms you had were probably due to the
disease, but it attacks the body in
different areas and times and the doctors
never connected them. My mom spent a lot
of her adult life in the sun and the
doctors thought that triggered her
attacks, so she spent about 20 years
inside. If she had to go outside, she
would wear long sleeve shirts and hats.
I just wanted to say good luck to you as
you face this, but it looks like you have
had many other struggles before, so you're
tough.
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streetangel
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Dec 2007 Posts: 2
Thank You For Lupus Into Posted: 12-08-07 09:30am
Thank you, I just hope that I have a
diagnosis soon! I'm sorry your mother was
diagnosed at a time when they didn't
understand the disease.
