autoimmune?

I am a 19 year old female who has had no history of medical problems and is on no medication.
This past spring, I had a few days where I experienced abnormal symptoms- tingling in my arms and legs, twitching under the skin in all parts of my body, and numbness in the legs arms hands and feet as well as pains (about 5 seconds of pretty strong pain under my skin for example in the bottom right of my palm). These symptoms came on very strong but subsided after a few days, though for the next couple of weeks I felt some of this at certain points though not much. For months I had no symptoms and was not worried that anything was going on, however, these same symptoms returned this August and came on even stronger and lasted for a few weeks. The tingling was stronger and extended throughout my limbs, again I experienced twitching under the skin and numbness throughout the body in addition to a feeling of electricity running through my body (usually my legs). In addition to these symptoms, I had the same quick shooting pains in all parts of my body as well as shooting pains in my head. I immediately went to the doctor and had it checked out. One night my entire right arm and right side of my face were tingling and my mother got nervous because she said my eyes were dilated so she brought me to the ER out of precaution. They did a catscan which came out clean. My doctor ordered a MRI which I had a few days after and it came out perfect- they did an MRI of my brain and spine as well as with contrast. The MRI came out clean as well which was very good news. All of my bloodtests came back good as well, except for one which is the Antinuclear Antibody Test (ANA test) which came out positive (not sure of the exact results). Again, I am not on any medication at all. About a week later, all of my symptoms again subsided and I thought it was all a thing of the past, though I have a scheduled rhymotologist appointment next week that my doctor still wanted me to go to. Just yesterday, all of my symptoms have returned. The shooting pains in my head are worse now and I feel them behind my face as well, often around my eyes but over my whole face as well. I am going to the doctor next week so I will be getting professional help soon but I was hoping any input would be helpful. Thanks so much!!

[ajd255]

Sorry forgot to mention, I have also had a lot of joint pain!!

[quakies]

Hi, it sounds like a possible autoimmune illness. ANA is an antinuclear antibody test. It can be positive in people with lupus, sjogrens syndrome and sometimes, rheumatoid arthritis. I think also it may be positive in scleroderma and similar illnesses. There are patterns to the test result which sometimes give a little indication of the illness - some are speckled results, for example, and indicate a higher likelihood of certain autoimmune conditions.

I know that sjogrens occasionally can lead to similar nerve type pain and problems that you have been experiencing. It is quite similar to MS when it flares up. This said, rheumatoid arthritis can also lead to nerve problems due to the chronic  inflamation (inflammation) of joints and tendons that press on surrounding nerve structures. A rheumy is definitely a good doc to see at this stage.

AI is difficult to diagnose, and there is also a lot of overlap between them, so they are difficult to distinguish and differentiate. many people end up with a diagnosis of "undifferentiated connective tissue disease" initially. Sometimes the differentiation remains uncertain.

Please see the rheumy, and good luck with getting sorted with an explanation of your symptoms, and treatment. let us know how you get on.

Best wishes