Positive ANA result 8+

[Bee1011]

Hi I am new here I feel alone with my symptoms and want to talk to people with similar issues. I have had raynauds for 5 years but I have never had it diagnosed I just tried to keep me hands and feet as warm as possible. I visited my gp recently as I have started to experience other health issues. I feel exhausted most days, I pick up every virus going, suffer headaches, I can't stand bright light and I have pins and needles in my left foot and hand constantly. Shortly after starting with Raynauds I was put on bp tablets for high bp and after a routine visit to my optician I was sent to the hospital optician for dry patches on my eyes and treated. Anyway the gp did bloods and I have a positive reading of 8+ for centromere anti nuclear antibody which is apparently the highest of can get. I have an appointment with rheumatologist on 2nd Nov, apparently that's an urgent referral ! I'm thinking I could have lupus but it feels like I'm guessing by google ! I feel poorly and exhausted most days at the moment due to my symptoms and a bit scared of what the specialist will find. Does this sound like secondary raynauds and lupus to anyone ?

[misty14]

Hi bee

Welcome to the forum, you've come to the right place for help and a good chat. Hope you will like it.

Interesting ANA result and glad your seeing a Rheumy fairly soon. It's non specific result for lupus but means there's something going on with your immune system. It depends what pattern the ANA was as to which immune condition it could be. Your Rheumy will do more specialist bloods to try to answer this. Take any photos of rashes and list your symptoms and how long you've been ill. Also how it started as he'll take a detailed medical history first appointment. Also family history is helpful too. Any relatives with an immune illness?.

Hope this is helpful and you keep us posted how you get on. X

[Bee1011 in reply to misty14]

Hi Misty

Thank you for your reply I will do as you advised and write down all my symptoms, I don't have any rashes so maybe it isn't lupus I really don't know I suppose I'll have to wait and see.

It's good to not feel so alone though so I think this site will be good for me.

Do you have Raynauds or lupus ?

X

[misty14 in reply to Bee1011]

Hi bee

Usually Raynauds pre- dates these immune illnesses by quite a few years!. It did for me, has it for you and are you on treatment for it?. I take Adalat one a day 20 mg and it's been so helpful.

There's a lot of overlap of symptoms with these immune illnesses so you could get a diagnosis like mine which is UCTD or undifferentiated connective tissue disease. This means your body is showing symptoms of three different illnesses, lupus, RA and scleroderma and can't make up its mind which to be!. Don't worry if you do get this as the treatment is the same so you won't miss out. The important thing is getting the recognition that you have this kind of illness!. There are a lot of us on this forum who have this diagnosis so plenty of people to chat to who understand!. Hope though that your more clear cut and you might be when you have more specialist bloods taken!.

Write as much info down as you can for your appt, it will be so helpful as going to a consultant for the first time can seem very daunting. Hope I've helped a bit more and it goes very well. Sure it will. I look forward to hearing how you get on. X

[Bee1011 in reply to misty14]

I don't take any medication as I've never been to the doctor with my raynauds even though it is quite severe it is there all year summer and winter and quite painful. I don't know why I didn't go busy life I suppose and problems with my teenage daughter I put myself on the back burner so to speak but lately other symptoms are just getting too much and I am fatigued and ill all the time plus the pins and needles constantly was kind of a worry.

Thanks for your advice misty I appreciate it and will let you know when I've been to the rheumy. X

[misty14 in reply to Bee1011]

Hi bee

Raynauds treatment is more for the Rheumy to do and it would be good for him to see how bad you are!. Sorry life is tough with your teenage daughter and your ill health!. Hopefully you'll get a good outcome. Fingers crossed for you. X

[Bee1011 in reply to misty14]

Thanks 😀X

[Paul_Howard Partner LUPUS UK]

Hi Bee1011 ,

Welcome to the LUPUS UK community forum. I hope that you find this a helpful place for information and support.

I'm afraid that we aren't in a position to say whether you may have lupus or not. The antinuclear antibody (ANA) test is used as part of the diagnosis of lupus but is not specific. It can also be positive in a number of other connective tissue diseases and some healthy people. Your rheumatologist will most likely request further tests that are more specific to identify the cause of your symptoms.

I can understand your concern at having to wait until November for your appointment. Sometimes it is worth calling your consultant's secretary regularly to see if there have been any cancellations and whether they can fit you in sooner.

We have a blog article about Raynaud's in lupus which includes some information and tips on preventing attacks. You can read it at lupusuk.org.uk/coping-with-...

If you'd like any tips on preparing for your upcoming appointment, you may also find our article here helpful - lupusuk.org.uk/getting-the-...

If you'd like more information about lupus and how it is diagnosed, you can request or download one of our free packs at lupusuk.org.uk/request-info...