Aa
Positive ANA
Could I have scleroderma or scogren's?
I'm hoping you can help. Recently I have had joint pain in my fingers and now they are turning purple when cold which is Raynauds syndrome. Since I'm over 30 my Dr wanted to run test to see if I had an autoimmune disorder, we'll my ANA was positive with a 640 titer, nucleolar pattern. She thinks I could have scogren's or scleroderma. But I have no symptoms of either except the joint pain and swelling in fingers. She told me not to worry that it was nothing alaraming. Any advice would be helpful.
Thank you
I'm hoping you can help. Recently I have had joint pain in my fingers and now they are turning purple when cold which is Raynauds syndrome. Since I'm over 30 my Dr wanted to run test to see if I had an autoimmune disorder, we'll my ANA was positive with a 640 titer, nucleolar pattern. She thinks I could have scogren's or scleroderma. But I have no symptoms of either except the joint pain and swelling in fingers. She told me not to worry that it was nothing alaraming. Any advice would be helpful.
Thank you
She ran the normal stuff, CBC, RH, SED rate, hemaglobin and many others. All came back perfect except I am anemic which is no surprise there, that is common for me. My vitamin D was very low. So now I'm on vitamin D and iron supplement. I was on BP meds, she took me off those because it made my BP too low, now it is reading perfect. I was on thyroid medicine as well but now off because it made me feel worse and those numbers are now reading perfect. I am seeing a rheumatologist next month just to rule out anything. Thanks for you suggestions.
What other tests did your doctor run?
Are you seeing a Rheumatologist?
The first thing I would do, if you are not already seeing a Rheumatologist, is get a referral to a Rheumatologist, preferably a Rheumatologist at a large university affiliated medical center. A competent Rheumatologist will order many blood tests to help determine what you have. He/she will also order a lip biopsy to confirm Sjogren's.
It is important to get a diagnosis now so you can get treatment now. Delaying treatment is not wise. Early treatment can delay the progression of the disease.
Sjogren's Syndrome is often associated with dry eyes and dry mouth, but Sjogren's can manifest with a variety of symptoms, depending on which organ/organs it is affecting.
Below is a list of some of the many manifestations of Sjogrens Syndrome. A person may have only a few or may have several:
dry eyes, dry mouth, dry skin, dry vagina, dry nose, dental decay, sinusitus
feeling of sand in the eyes, burning eyes, corneal ulcerations
peripheral neuropathy (burning feet or toes or other areas, numbness, etc.)
other types of neuropathy
brain fog, cognitive problems, memory problems
difficulty swallowing, reflux, heartburn, cannot swallow dry things
muscle and joint pain
lung problems
liver problems
severe fatigue
http://info.sjogrens.org/conquering-sjogrens/bid/165536/Symptoms-of-Sjogren-s
I hope you can find out what you have so that you will be able to get appropriate treatment. Best of wishes going forward.
Are you seeing a Rheumatologist?
The first thing I would do, if you are not already seeing a Rheumatologist, is get a referral to a Rheumatologist, preferably a Rheumatologist at a large university affiliated medical center. A competent Rheumatologist will order many blood tests to help determine what you have. He/she will also order a lip biopsy to confirm Sjogren's.
It is important to get a diagnosis now so you can get treatment now. Delaying treatment is not wise. Early treatment can delay the progression of the disease.
Sjogren's Syndrome is often associated with dry eyes and dry mouth, but Sjogren's can manifest with a variety of symptoms, depending on which organ/organs it is affecting.
Below is a list of some of the many manifestations of Sjogrens Syndrome. A person may have only a few or may have several:
dry eyes, dry mouth, dry skin, dry vagina, dry nose, dental decay, sinusitus
feeling of sand in the eyes, burning eyes, corneal ulcerations
peripheral neuropathy (burning feet or toes or other areas, numbness, etc.)
other types of neuropathy
brain fog, cognitive problems, memory problems
difficulty swallowing, reflux, heartburn, cannot swallow dry things
muscle and joint pain
lung problems
liver problems
severe fatigue
http://info.sjogrens.org/conquering-sjogrens/bid/165536/Symptoms-of-Sjogren-s
I hope you can find out what you have so that you will be able to get appropriate treatment. Best of wishes going forward.
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