Hi everyone I'm new and confused!

[Leigh-Anne]

Hi there everyone! I've been looking for some answers for sometime now, and this site seems to be so informative!! Just a brief quick history on me and some questions maybe someone could help me with!!:) For as long as I can remember I've never felt good! I'm 35 years old very happily married and really really blessed with 2 little angel girls....I've had 3 miscarriages two of them were in my second trimester, Both of my girls were born premature, I had the worst pregnancies (of course they were worth every ache and pain) I was in so much pain with everyone of my pregnancies (I felt like every bone in my body hurt it was terrible!) I knew I was pregnant by the way my joints felt before I even took a test! anyways...I had placenta previa with my last one, and until now the doctors just pushed me off as if the miscarriages were normal....I've been searching for answers for a while...I'm always so extremely exhausted all the time, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism last year and also adrenal fatigue syndrome, I just started with a new dr and he tested me for lupus. My lupus anticoagualant came back positive , which now makes sense of the whole miscarriages and premature births. I have had several bacterial infections, blood in my urine. but my ana and everything came back negative. I dont have the joint pain now like I did when I was pregnant. So my question is do you think its possible that something triggers when I'm pregnant to give me all the joint pain and alot of the other symptoms when I'm pregnant and after delivery it lay dormant?? Can you have a remission with this disease. I just wonder if they would have tested me when I was pregnant would my AnA test been positive?? Thank you in advance for answering any questions!! Hope you have a wonderful day!!!

THANKS!!!!:wink2: Leigh-Anne:wink2:

[peonyprincess]

HI and welcome to the Lupus Site.

I had four miscarriages during my childbirthing years and I have been blessed with four children (one set of twins). I agree, I wouldn't trade them for any of the problems that I encountered. I was diagnosed with Lupus during my junior high years. I was on medication up until 1989 when I found out I was pregnant with my oldest daughter. After having her, I never went back on the medication and was off of it until May 2005. I evidently was in remission from 1989 until 2004 when I was hospitalized with a serious illness. So yes, in my case it is and was possible to go into remission. I am not sure how many others have experienced it as well or for how long. Now, I don't care about remission, I am just trying to get it back under control. Good luck!!



Nancy

[Leigh-Anne]

Hi Nancy! Thank you so much that was helpful! So when you were in remission how was your blood work? Was everything coming up negative?? How was your lupus anticoagulant when you were pregnant?? Sorry for all the questions!!:) Leigh-Anne

[Joandublin]

Hi Leigh-Anne

The Lupus anti coagulant test is badly named as it is not actually related to Lupus. It is a test used (along with a test for anti cardiolipin antibodies) to determine a condition called Hughes Syndrome also known as APS. Here is a quote from the Hughes Syndrome site


The confusing term ‘lupus anticoagulant’ should be done away with. It is NOT a test for Lupus and is NOT an anticoagulant. But it is a historical term, and so far has stuck. Confusion is added to by the variety of clotting tests used in different laboratories with abbreviations including KCT, KCCT, DRVVT and so on. A topic best left to the haematologists.

Here is that link:

http://www.hughes-syndrome.org/ (http://www.hughes-syndrome.org/)

APS can be a primary condition in and of itself without a person having Lupus or it can be a secondary condition of Lupus.

Have you had any follow up about your positive Lupus anticoagulant? This test (and the anti cardiolopin antibody test) should be done again about 6-8 weeks between them as one positive test does not necessarily mean you have APS but two positive tests would lend more weight.

Given your history of miscarriages and other symptoms I think you would be wise to bring this back up with your doctor and discuss further testing or referral. As for your question about the ANA - my understanding is that this can change over time - sometimes presenting positive and other times negative and its not an indicator of disease activity.

If you have any more questions please post and we will try and help you.

Best of luck
Luv n stuff
Joan:rose: