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?

[Supers1976]

Thanks Echofuzz for replying,

I did explain this to my Dr about my menstrual cycle but he dismissed it, which was annoying because I do believe it's part of the problem, and he also noticed my neck thicker on one side but also dismissed it, that is why I'm going for a second opinion on Monday.  It is frustrating but I am hopeful that this nes DR will be wanting to pursue things further. Just for the sake of another opinon I dropped into a chinese Herbalist and she noticed my neck straight away, she also believed my menstrual changes are linked too...hmmmmm!  She believed that is why I'm having overall hairloss. Do you know how many type of thyroid blood tests there are that you can have? My DR did the regular blood test and he said the thyroid was normal, but I just feel it he needed to dig deeper.

Will post back when I see the other DR, also the herbalist wants me to came back once the NEW DR has given me her opinon, she believes she will be able to help. We will see!

Thanks again for replying, makes me feel not so alone. Cheers!

[echofuzz]

autoimmune disorders are notoriously difficult to diagnose.

did you tell your doctor about your cousin's thyroid cancer? that might influence the doctor's actions. if your insurance allows it, you might consider finding a good rheumatologist and explaining everything in detail to them. that helped me get this autoimmune disorder thing narrowed down, even if i still don't know as much as i'd like about my condition.

you might also consider talking to your ob/gyn about your menstrual cycle.  i had similar changes in my cycle, and my ob/gyn did a full work-up on me, including checking thyroid and other hormone levels.

hope that helps...