What do I really have??

[jmj731]

I tested a 3.5 for the Antiscleroderma-70 Antibodies, and a positive ANA.  My Rheumatologists says that I show no signs of scleroderma, But my General Pract. says I may have it.  I have a swollen thumb which has been getting larger and  curving, my eyelids are swollen, I have hip, knee and ankle swelling.  I'm just told I have polyarthritis. and a verdict of etiology undetermined by my Rheumatologist. Can someone help me with this?  

[charliesmom09]

Hi! I also had a positive ANA, and my sed rate was 5x normal and I had anemia and positive SSA ( Sjrogen's). My symptoms are severe fatigue, joint pain and general achiness. I was diagnosed with mixed connective tissue disease and put on prednisone and plaquenil 200mg BID. The steroids helped at first but I think I have been going through a flare up bc Ive been feeling pretty crappy lately. My rheum. did not say I have Sjrogens even though I was positive bc I had none of the classic s/s. Autoimmune diseases are weird, one moment your labs say 1 thing and another time they say another. They are very hard to diagnose but if you feel sick, GET A SECOND OPINION!! Thats exactly what I did when I did not get the answers I needed. Take it easy, you will find the right doctor and treatment soon. Any questions, let me know. P.S. I am only 26 years old and got sick suddenly this summer!

[karajo]

I'm not all that familar w/ scleroderma.  I know it can affect the skin as well as organs.  And I am not as familar w/ the test.  The few I people I know w/ scleroderma told me they only had a small spot on their arm and it has progressed very slowly.  

Sometimes people have more than one autoimmune disease.  If you thumb is curving, your dr. might want to look into RA.