Rheumatology appt

[Looolooo]

So ANA tests positive for Sjorens but only a few antibodies so very mild. Want to see me in a year. Already take vit d, tumeric and fish oil for aches and pains and drink more water for dry eyes and mouth. New to HRT too. This has resolved all other symtoms. So not too worried although I will need to read up on whether to have normal covid/flu in jection this year, after epguy's bad experience.

[EPguy]

ANA test is not specific to Sjo, and it can be + without any A-I disease. Did you also get the SSa test? I had mild elevation of SSa but raging Sjo. Anyway these can all be negative and still have Sjo, so antibody tests alone aren't decisive, quite frustrating for the ~30-40% pts that are SSa neg. This makes getting the Dx a big pain.

If you want a more certain Dx a lip biopsy is usually done for sero neg pts. With the IFN risk it may be worth doing. Otherwise keep an eye on any changes.

Unfortunately many Rheums are not up to date on Sjo, compared for example Lupus or RA that they are trained for. Similar to some haems on MPNs.

On the vaxes, this year's flu vax is pointing to a low match on a predictive criteria:

"2024 Southern Hemisphere seasonal influenza vaccine reduced the risk for influenza-associated hospitalization among high-risk groups by 35%"

cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/...

so priority might be best on the Covid vax. In general flu vaxes aren't great on effectiveness, I think I posted on "imprinting" that may explain some of that. I will never get another flu vax with current technology, but that is just for me.

[Looolooo in reply to EPguy]

Thank you EP guy. They did do another test but I can't remember what it was and they also want to repeat my bloods. ANA was 38. I don't think I will get the flu vax. Hope you are keeping well.