Can a positive ANA only mean lupus?
Posted , 5 users are following.
I've had a lot going on... Had a positive ANA
Have constant low energy, joint swelling in hands, feet & knees, muscle pains, gastrointestinal & intermittent ovary pains, Intermittent breathing and rib pain, shoulder and shoulder blade pains. Fingers go white at times. Body feels like its attacking itself the past few years and have been going to emergency care clinics during attacks and prednisone & antibiotics seems to be the only thing to calm it and get me back to normal.
In Spring 2015 hair started coming out by the handfuls and In the Fall was awoken out of bed gasping like something was attacking my lungs. Lung results showed nothing but winged ribs. A few month later, Had sudden muscle and joint pain where knee ceased up like it was fused together & couldn't bend it, physical therapy worked on it a few months to get motion back into it...cartilage is gone.. Following spring had pain front to back r side. Found air in abdomen & thought I may have had perforated ulcer that closed itself, pain came back this year, endoscopy preformed, slight redness gastritis.
Prednisone and antibiotics help.
Last 2 falls/springs have been worst.
0 likes, 5 replies
crystal29909 bb123
Posted
A positive Ana alone doesn't mean lupus. According to my rheumatologist there must be symptoms to go along with it and other blood markers. I've had a positive Ana, positive rnp but until I show actual signs of mixed connective tissue disease my rheumatologist says no worries and every 6 months checks my labs and looks me over. I do occasionally have stiff joints and I feel that the more I move the better I feel. I also occasionally have white cold fingers especially if the temperature is cooler than 75. But I do have anemia from heavy periods and for some odd reason a low white count. I wouldn't worry too much ,just note your symptoms , talk often with your dr and try to live a healthy lifestyle.
valerie59351 bb123
Posted
Hi this sounds very familiar. I have lupus and Sjögren's syndrome which has all these symptoms. I have had this for 15 years and unfortunately it doesn't get better. Sometimes it is more manageable and I find it pays to keep as busy as possible. Diet is also key. I have eliminated most carbs and dairy which helps with the digestive problems. Exposure to sunlight helps my joints. Rest when you feel really bad. Sorry not to be more helpful.
Val
bb123 valerie59351
Posted
Thank you both. I've heard this is a hard disease to properly diagnose.
@ Valerie; Do you have anything other than a positive ANA blood reading too?
I find too that carbs and milk can cause whatever I have to flare, even though I tested negative to celiac.
valerie59351 bb123
Posted
Val
Superitchy bb123
Posted
Definitely sounds like lupus but no, a positive ana doesn't necessarily mean it's lupus. When I had my positive ana test, they tested for other things and it came out that I had a double helix dna so 99.9% of the time, that means lupus. Make sure they run other tests now that you have a positive ana.