Test results

[amusedkitten]

C3 78
C4 14
C-Reactive <0.1
ANA negative at 1:160 titers
C-ANCA <1:20
P-ANCA <1:20

Red blood cells low 4.03
Neutrophils high 70.4

[amusedkitten]

dermatologist says no biopsy at this time..lesions are not lupus
however, i do have 2 types of excema..and probably psoriasis..which is an autoimmune disorder..but not life-threatening..
..so, what is causing all these other symptoms?..menopause?..thought i was done with all that..

[Maia]

Can't remember what your symptoms were/are... but usually 1:160 is a significant/positive ANA for most labs although apparently 5% of "normals" will have a titre that high as evidenced by studies of healthy blood donors. Also, your c3 & c4 appear to be low as referenced by my labs ranges at least and that is often lowered in autoimmune disease although can be caused by other things as well (such as infection). The high neutrophil count also actually indicates infection so it all could be due to some kind of infection that isn't getting treated.

Hopefully you're at least being monitored a few times a year until they get something figured out for you... Good luck.

[Lily]

Hi amusedkitten,

It would be good if your allergist could run some other tests, seeing as your ANA is positive at 1:160. Some people do just have a positive ANA, especially as we get older, so symptoms do count a lot in what might be going on. I cant find anywhere in your posts what sort of symptoms you are having though, besides the rashes he doesnt seem to think are lupus.
Mind you unless you are really flaring up a treat some Dermatologists miss the diagnosis, some of them have a very firm idea in their mind what Lupus and associated rashes should look like (and their assumptions arent always correct just by looking at the rashes). However psoriasis should be easy for them to spot.

The other tests worth running are the ENA panel which is about 5 tests in one. Included in those tests are ones that are SSA & SSB, well worth running in your case. They could indicate sub-acute cutaneous lupus or Sjogrens.

love
Lily

[amusedkitten]

wow..now i'm really confused..
..and here are sopme of my sumptoms..
joint pain
memory issues
sinus headaches
my rashes
losing alot of hair..a hairdresser told me i lose way more than usual, but it's so thick it isn't noticable
inability to sleep more than about 45 minutes to 1 hour at a time
fatigue
mis-spelling words quite alot..usually the little words..
..and i also have bilateral carpal tunnel..came on unusually fast..
occasional double vision..
and about 3 years ago, i had unexplained hives off and on ..only my arms at first..then suddenly one day it was my entire body..even down my throat..

[amusedkitten]

oh..and these dang hot flashes/sweats..
..and about 6 years ago i developed hypertension

[Maia]

I highly doubt menopause is causing all those symptoms; It can contribute to carpal tunnel & difficulty sleeping though - & of course those hot flashes!

Have you been to any specialists yet for the various symptoms? ENT/otolaryngolist for the sinus problems - neuro or opthmalogist for the double vision? Rheumatologist?

[Lily]

Hi again,

No wonder you are really confused :( Has anyone run a test to check your thyroid function? Another one that should be checked is the Rheumatoid Factor for possible Rheumatoid Arthritis. Your GP could probably check you for those............and they certainly should be done.

love
Lily

[amusedkitten]

every time i see the dr, it seems they wonder about my thyroid..have had it check so often..always comes out fine..i have an extremely high metabolism..i am quite on the 'thin' side..heck..skinny..too skinny..and for the 14 years before my menses abruptly stopped..i was ovulating twice/monthly..yep..2 periods every month..
never been checked for rheumatoid arthritis..hubby's mom had it, came on suddenly in her 20s..
my PCP said the ear popping is due to hypertension and the sinus is due to 'allergies'..but i am seeing the allergist tomorrow and will also ask about those other tests mentioned above

[Maia]

Hopefully they will do the allergy testing on you tomorrow; scratch and/or blood tests ;) Allergy nose has quite a distinct look to it from what the allergist told me. I didn't have allergies - I had an infection that went well over a year before it was properly treated with antibiotics.

Good luck at your appointment tomorrow.

[amusedkitten]

i don't believe it's allergies...my nose doesn't run and my eyes don't water..no sneezing either..i just get really bad nasal congestion which causes headaches

[Lily]

Good luck with your tests tomorrow and let us know how you get along. They should definitely run the Rheumatoid Arthritis test. Actually theres a more accurate test than Rheumatoid Factor for that now and its called Anti-CCP test.
love
Lily

[Lily]

Oh just an afterthought, when they test your thyroid are they just testing TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), I personally dont believe that if you are having some symptoms of thyroid disease that this particular test is enough. They should also run T3 & T4 and also a test for thyroid antibodies.

love
Lily