Blood tests

[rosiemay]

Hi,

My rheumy sent me a letter about recent blood tests. She said that it had shown up something that causes APS and Raynards. But I can't find a particular result that would diagnose the two. I did have a positive ANA which could apply to the Raynards but does it apply to APS as well?

Regards

[Hidden]

I test negative for APS at the moment but weak positive for ANA re Sjogrens if that helps?

[Hidden]

Not sure if I'm just confused by different names, but when a doctor first decided that I had APS, I first had a blood test to confirm that my blood was in fact 'sticky' but I had a full genetic work up to identify the cause as well as check the amount of indicators. I live in Greece, so obviously systems are different- for example I received zero follow up care or advice, its like they found the problem now go away, whereas my mum (UK) cant even get that first blood test and her doctor said a full genetic work up was too expensive to order. He did however ask for a copy of mine and treats her accordingly- which kind of makes sense if its genetic.

Maybe you ask about the possibility of this in your area?

Good luck finding out

[Hidden]

I'll try and find them, but that's definitely what I was told I needed. My greek is poor, so its possible that the doctor just picked words i'd understand rather than correct terms, but i was definatly told 'full genetic work up'. I'm sure about this as my insurance didnt cover it and we spent some time comparing private laboratory quotes (over 1000 euro) before a nice doctor had me admitted to hospital and demanded tests to get insurance to cover costs

I have been feeling confused on this site that no one else seemed to have had one as I was told it was the only way to be sure. My mums GP asked for a copy of my tests, I don't think he changed her medication as she is on so much already, but it obviously helped him know what he was dealing with as clearly a genetic test assumed I'd got it from one of my parents. I've never met her GP, but he does sound like someone who dislikes being ignorant and when my mum told him my hemotologist said it was a certainty that she had it, I think it would have made him a bad doctor not to at least look in to it.

[Hidden]

I'm absolutely sure you know a lot more than me, everything I know I learned from this site! I have moved three times since I had tests, and I can't find them (I'll keep looking and tell you what I find) . Just to be clear about the language barrier, I'm English my doctors were Greek. I asked my sister in law about my tests, as I think she had them last. She is very unsympathetic and abrupt but she said it was a genetic test, however I can well imagine that I had a DNA test and she is just mistranslating it to me. As she is a doctor, I asked her to explain the tests to me but she thinks I'm an idiot and gets annoyed at my questions (I studied genetics as part of a biology degree so I reckon I would understand).

Anyway, what your saying makes sense, as I couldn't work out why no one else here had had one if they were a real thing. Sorry if I got my facts wrong.