ANA positive 1:160, hair loss but no real answer!

[Supers1976]

Hi I am a 32 yr old mother of 2 and I needs some advice, I have a swollen lower neck on the right side, I also have an enlarged tonsil on the right side.  My salivary gland also looks a bit swollen there too. My hair is thinning dramatically with an itchy stinging sensation at the roots, and I wake up feeling anxious but I don't know why, although it could be because I am worried, but I some times get this feeling even when I'm feeling good. I had blood test done an it indicated everything was normal including my thyroid, the only thing that came back abnormal was my ANA which were positive 1:160. The DR did a further test (ENA) and this came back slightly abnormal too, indicating I may have some unspecified Auto Immune issue. If I where a tight collar on my shirt I feel as if it's pressing down on my throat. Around my right ear it also feels tight. I have been previously been diagnosised with Sinus issues(X-ray showed my right side was full a few years ago) an a sludgy gallbladder(Functioning at 37% when it was bad a few years ago) but it hasn't bothered me much in the last few years until now. It is starting to give me small stitch like pains under my ribcage again.  My menstrual cycle in the last 4-5 months has also gone from  a regular 27day cycle down to a 20, 21,23 day cycles however the bleeding is about the same, I also get ocassionally constipated too. I am slightly worried, and I have made an appointment at a different DR for next week as the one I have now does not seemed to be wanting to pursue this any further unless I develop more symptoms(which I think is silly). Can you please give me some sort of help so when I see the new DR next week I can give them something to look at first.  I have a cousing that a few years ago had thyroid cancer also. Can you also have a thyroid issue even if the initial blood results comeback normal?  Are there further blood tests that can be done for a thyroid problem instead of a regular blood test?

[Joni686]

I am glad you are getting the attention you need from your doctors.  All I can add is be sure and keep records of all your doctors visits and bloodwork.  It will help you if you ever change doctors, get second opinions etc.
Good luck and God Bless.  You came to a good site.  I have been here for a couple of years and made some good friends who are very helpful

Joni

[JenB12]

Sally,  It's no problem at all, I rely on people to give me advice and help me on these sites as well. This is a wonderful place to find answers as well as support!

Be sure to let us know how everything comes back.

PS. It's funny because it did the **** on my post above as well where i was trying to write "doing"

Jen

[Supers1976]

Thanks so much for everything Jen (is it Jen? - I am Sally), I am truly grateful for everything you hav done for me. You didn't have to, but you did! And helping others that are in need sometimes feels like a rare thing, you are very special and kind.

I am happy and relieved that my new DR listened too!  She got a bit of a surprise when she checked my pulse and blood pressure, she also noticed that my outer eyebrows are thinning, and from what I just read this is a symptom of Graves Disease too.

Well now it's just a waiting game for the results to come back but I will have the ultrasound done this Friday, so I will let you know what it says when I get it back that day.(I always look at my results, too curious to wait).

Had a bit of a laugh about the non-existant swear word too! I have know idea why "doing" is considered a swear word, but it's quite funny!  I thought "Oh no she's going to think I keep swearing at her all the time!" HA!

Anyway I will post soon, once again thanks for all you've done, your a blessing!

Sincerely
Sally

[JenB12]

HAHAHA that is too funny! I was trying to figure out what word could possibly go there that would be a swear word! hah!

[JenB12]

That is EXCELLENT news! I'm very happy that your Dr. listened to everything you had to say. And it sounds like she knows what she is talking about. It's important with medical issues to keep an open mind and for Doctors to remember that sometimes you can have more then one condition working against the patient at the same time!

I think there are a few more blood tests which assist in the dx of Graves... I don't know exactly what they are, but i am sure your Doctor knows!

My ANA titer was 1:320 speckled pattern and my Internist seems to think that it is due to my autoimmune thyroid issues... i'm not 100% convinced because you usually see lower titers such as 1:40, 1:80, or none at all, with autoimmune thyroid issues, but i'm **** further testing with a Rheumy so we'll see.

It could take a while before you have a good dx and a complete picture of what is going on with you..... but at least you are on your way!!!

Be sure to keep me updated!!! :)

[Supers1976]

Sorry about the *** I have no idea what that means as the word it is covering up is "doing", not a swear word...Weird!

It is meant to read " She is doing all the tests..."

thanks again for all you wonderful help!