ana

[momanon]

I have lab papers to get my ana and rheumetoid factor tested and wondered if it's best to wait until my symptoms are flaring up or does it matter? This is the first time I'm being tested.
thanx

[peonyprincess]

If you have the orders to get your blood drawn for labs, go ahead and get them now. The ana may or may not be elevated with or without flaring, it is kinda wacky that way. Regardless, it will give the docs some idea of what is going on as well as give them a baseline. Just because you may not have a positive ana right now, does not mean that you do not have an autoimmune disease. In the past, I have had negative ana's and I have had lupus for 23+ years, so go figure. Of course this is just my opinion.

Nancy

[raggedyann1]

momanon,

I agree that you should go ahead and get tested. The ana especially rarely is useful as a determination of disease activity, mine tends to always stay the same no matter how I am feeling.

The ana and RF factor are often used as screening tests for Connective tissue diseases, I am surprised your doctor didn't also include the ESR which is one measure of inflammtion.
If the ana comes back positive then they will usually go ahead and run the
ENA profile
Complements
Lupus coagulants

Those sets of test are necessary to determine which CTD you may have - that is when combined with your clinical presentation.

Let us know what you find out.

Take care,
Karen

[momanon]

Thanks. Went ahead and had the bloodwork done and will find out the results Monday (crosses fingers).
Got the ANA test ordered in a roundabout way. My GP first sent me to a psychiatrist, then an endocrinologist-evidently going for the "most likely" female culprits of "it's all in your head" and "must be hormones"- style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/umm.gif

It was the endocrinologist who asked "why are you here? You should be seeing a rheumatologist." and ordered a couple blood tests to get the ball rolling. Now I will insist on a referral to a rheumy regardless of the bloodwork.

[Lily]

Good luck, I would relate what your Endo said to you to your GP, no matter what the tests show. Its best to get the referral for the Rheumy, and ironically thats how I got mine.

Like you it got blamed on the most likely female problem - HORMONES - style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif It was the endo who said to me after second visit................you need to see a Rheumy and/or Immunologist I think you have Lupus or something like it. That was enough for the GP, even when nothing turned up on my ANA at that time. The rest is history, except that my Immunologist by the time I got to him, was both furious and slightly amused by the fact that they thought I had a hormone problem, not an autoimmune illness style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

love
Lily

[pauline1946]

be sure you post the results.

[momanon]

Only part of the bloodwork was back-rheumetoid factor was 48 but without the ANA, etc GP couldn't say anything definitive other than it does look like some kind of autoimmune illness. Glands in neck are swollen which I think she said is not characteristic of rheumetoid arthritis? Will find out more when I get in with the rheumy; who knows when that will be.... style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sigh.gif

[Lily]

Hi,

Some here have Rheumatoid Arthritis and well as Lupus. My husband has RA and swollen lymph glands are not common for him, for me they are though.

love
Lily

[raggedyann1]

momanon,

The Rheumatoid Factor can also be positive in Lupus - it is not specific to just RA.
Has your gp processed your referral to see a rheumatologist yet?

Karen

[Clare.T]

High Rheumatoid Factor can also be found in Sjogren's, so see if your GP will do anti-Ro and anti-La antibody tests, even the whole ENA panel.
Swollen glands are common in Sjogren's too.

Check out info about Sjogren's to see if you have any typical symptoms. Maybe you could get a Shirmers test done ( for dry eyes) or the other ophthalmological tests that might indicate Sjogren's

I hope you will get some answers soon - nag GP about referral ! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

Good Luck
Clare

[momanon]

Thank you for all the replies!
Got my ANA results back yesterday-finally!
They were negative which I hope is good news!
Still going to see rheumy but couldn't get in until July (and GP reluctant to offer any further info/help in the interim) so will have to wait and see what's what. But hopefully "worst-case scenerio" ruled out with negative ANA.