Hello all,
While I don't officially have Lupus, it has been suggested by my current rheumatologist. I'm 28 and have been very ill since I was 23. I was had some fatigue issues and a few symptoms before then, but it was about 5 years ago, that I realized something is definitely wrong. (I've had about ever test imaginable and have tried a lot of different medications over the years. I've seen about 20 doctors and have spent around $25,000 and that's with health insurance. So, I'm definitely not new to being sick, just new to learning the "ins and outs" of lupus.)
My ANA has always been negative (4 times). My rheumatologist says he's seen several people whose ANA doesn't become positive till years after symptoms have started. But, I've yet to come across a person like that with Lupus. Does anyone have experience with their ANA being initially negative and then later positive? I realize there are a lot of tests that can point to lupus, but the way I understand it is that typically none of those will be explored until the ANA is positive. Also, my U1-RNP, anti-DNA, the anti-sm antibodies are negative.
My main symptoms:
Extreme Fatigue (5 years)
Hair Loss (3 years)
Constantly red face (2 years)
Joint Pain (1 year) (right hip, and all fingers and toes, middle finger joints swollen since last year)
Extremely pale
Weird rashes
Extremely sun sensitive (1 year)
-Anyways, I'll stop there, but would love an insight. I'm just frustrated (Couldn't you tell
and need any good info.
While I don't officially have Lupus, it has been suggested by my current rheumatologist. I'm 28 and have been very ill since I was 23. I was had some fatigue issues and a few symptoms before then, but it was about 5 years ago, that I realized something is definitely wrong. (I've had about ever test imaginable and have tried a lot of different medications over the years. I've seen about 20 doctors and have spent around $25,000 and that's with health insurance. So, I'm definitely not new to being sick, just new to learning the "ins and outs" of lupus.)
My ANA has always been negative (4 times). My rheumatologist says he's seen several people whose ANA doesn't become positive till years after symptoms have started. But, I've yet to come across a person like that with Lupus. Does anyone have experience with their ANA being initially negative and then later positive? I realize there are a lot of tests that can point to lupus, but the way I understand it is that typically none of those will be explored until the ANA is positive. Also, my U1-RNP, anti-DNA, the anti-sm antibodies are negative.
My main symptoms:
Extreme Fatigue (5 years)
Hair Loss (3 years)
Constantly red face (2 years)
Joint Pain (1 year) (right hip, and all fingers and toes, middle finger joints swollen since last year)
Extremely pale
Weird rashes
Extremely sun sensitive (1 year)
-Anyways, I'll stop there, but would love an insight. I'm just frustrated (Couldn't you tell