Guest guest Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 Hi Stacie, I have no experience with Lupus but I can tell you that you are VERY lucky to get a rheumy appt in only one week, most of us wait months (personally 2 months for me). I'm hoping he has good news for you, stay optimistic. in PA [ ] The beginning? Good afternoon! My name is Stacie and I recently joined your group, maybe prematurely? I have received a positive ANA with a titer of 1:160. High/low? I guess I could tell you why I was tested...I have a lot of neck issues and thought it was affecting my hands. While in with the spine dr, I asked him what he thought...He said it sounded arthritic and lets get blood work. I received a call which said I tested positive for Lupus and must follow up with a Rheumatologist to have it confirmed. I have the Rheumatologist appt Monday 6/8/09. Oh my RF factor was 5 out of <20 range. Symptoms: L hand started aching in joints closest to fingernails, then spread to middle joints. No strength in hand and pointer finger hurts to bend, almost like it could break if you put too much pressure on it? R hand has started the same as the L did. Elbows hurt, sometimes feels like they could dislocate at the elbow and fall off...I am concerned, not worried. I don't know what they're looking at or for, Lupus may have been premature. If you have any input, I will listen. Thank you for your time and look forward to hearing from someone, Monday is a long way off.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 , Remain optimistic! That is the most important thing... and when your tired take a nap (even if its for only 20 minutes) you'd be surprised to find out how much it actually helps. I share in your example of aches and pains, but I have undifferentiated connective tissue disease... My pains also greatly affect my feet and ankles... My diagnosis came based on my symptoms and x-rays, as my blood (after 2years) is still running pretty normal. The Rhuematologist says that I have similarities to Lupus and RA plus I have had Raynaulds for about 7 years now... If you'd like to chat, feel free to e-mail me personally or just send a message here.. Like said, you are actually getting to see your Rhuematologist pretty quickly compared to some others on this site... Monday really isn't that far away... (even though it might feel like forever) Best of luck Bonnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 Stacie, I'll just say that you're extremely lucky to get an appointment with a rheumatologist so quickly. Sometimes it takes months to get in to see one. I have rheumatoid arthritis, not lupus, so I can't help you with that. Good luck, and welcome to the group. Sue On Jun 1, 2009, at 3:56 PM, stacie.waters@... wrote: > > Thank you for your time and look forward to hearing from someone, > Monday is a long way off.... > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 Welcome Stacie, I hope you do not have RA. Your so welcome here though, lots of great information, and some awesome people too. I am looking forward to getting to know you. Glad your here, Tawny > > Good afternoon! My name is Stacie and I recently joined your group, maybe prematurely? I have received a positive ANA with a titer of 1:160. High/low? I guess I could tell you why I was tested...I have a lot of neck issues and thought it was affecting my hands. While in with the spine dr, I asked him what he thought...He said it sounded arthritic and lets get blood work. I received a call which said I tested positive for Lupus and must follow up with a Rheumatologist to have it confirmed. I have the Rheumatologist appt Monday 6/8/09. Oh my RF factor was 5 out of <20 range. > > Symptoms: L hand started aching in joints closest to fingernails, then spread to middle joints. No strength in hand and pointer finger hurts to bend, almost like it could break if you put too much pressure on it? R hand has started the same as the L did. Elbows hurt, sometimes feels like they could dislocate at the elbow and fall off...I am concerned, not worried. I don't know what they're looking at or for, Lupus may have been premature. If you have any input, I will listen. > > Thank you for your time and look forward to hearing from someone, Monday is a long way off.... > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 Stacie, It depends on the lab, but usually a 1:160 ANA titer is nothing to be overly concerned about. Also, a positive ANA is not specific to lupus. Do let us know what your rheumatologist says. Not an MD On Mon, Jun 1, 2009 at 2:56 PM, stacie.waters@... <stacie.waters@...> wrote: > > > Good afternoon! My name is Stacie and I recently joined your group, maybe > prematurely? I have received a positive ANA with a titer of 1:160. High/low? > I guess I could tell you why I was tested...I have a lot of neck issues and > thought it was affecting my hands. While in with the spine dr, I asked him > what he thought...He said it sounded arthritic and lets get blood work. I > received a call which said I tested positive for Lupus and must follow up > with a Rheumatologist to have it confirmed. I have the Rheumatologist appt > Monday 6/8/09. Oh my RF factor was 5 out of <20 range. > > Symptoms: L hand started aching in joints closest to fingernails, then > spread to middle joints. No strength in hand and pointer finger hurts to > bend, almost like it could break if you put too much pressure on it? R hand > has started the same as the L did. Elbows hurt, sometimes feels like they > could dislocate at the elbow and fall off...I am concerned, not worried. I > don't know what they're looking at or for, Lupus may have been premature. If > you have any input, I will listen. > > Thank you for your time and look forward to hearing from someone, Monday is > a long way off.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 Welcome Stacie! I don't remember much about the titer levels but when I first became ill they also told me I had Lupus and I was terrified. I did a lot of research about it at the time and still do. If you ever need someone to talk to about it please feel free to message me outside of this group. It's all scary when you are first dealing with any of it. I had the migrating arthritis, discoid rash and butterfly rash along with a positive titer. It really depends on what the rheumatologist says. I have ER docs, Urgent care doctors and sometimes even my primary who still think I have Lupus but all my Rheumys have emphaticaly told me to put that out of my mind. That I have Sero Negative RA and not Lupus along with some other autoimmune stuff that seems to go hand in hand with everything. I do sometimes still wonder though due to blood tests and what not. I guess my point is that your Rheumy will fill you in more but in the mean time you have found a group who is a great support. I joined recently and have not really posted much but it has been wonderful already just reading what everyone has to say. Again welcome to the group! April S. > >> > > > > Good afternoon! My name is Stacie and I recently joined your group, > maybe prematurely? I have received a positive ANA with a titer of 1:160. > High/low? I guess I could tell you why I was tested...I have a lot of > neck issues and thought it was affecting my hands. While in with the > spine dr, I asked him what he thought...He said it sounded arthritic and > lets get blood work. I received a call which said I tested positive for > Lupus and must follow up with a Rheumatologist to have it confirmed. I > have the Rheumatologist appt Monday 6/8/09. Oh my RF factor was 5 out of > <20 range. > > > > Symptoms: L hand started aching in joints closest to fingernails, then > spread to middle joints. No strength in hand and pointer finger hurts to > bend, almost like it could break if you put too much pressure on it? R > hand has started the same as the L did. Elbows hurt, sometimes feels > like they could dislocate at the elbow and fall off...I am concerned, > not worried. I don't know what they're looking at or for, Lupus may have > been premature. If you have any input, I will listen. > > > > Thank you for your time and look forward to hearing from someone, > Monday is a long way off.... > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 Thank you so much for your response. I will let you know via posting, what comes of the appointment. Best, Stacie > > > > > > Good afternoon! My name is Stacie and I recently joined your group, maybe > > prematurely? I have received a positive ANA with a titer of 1:160. High/low? > > I guess I could tell you why I was tested...I have a lot of neck issues and > > thought it was affecting my hands. While in with the spine dr, I asked him > > what he thought...He said it sounded arthritic and lets get blood work. I > > received a call which said I tested positive for Lupus and must follow up > > with a Rheumatologist to have it confirmed. I have the Rheumatologist appt > > Monday 6/8/09. Oh my RF factor was 5 out of <20 range. > > > > Symptoms: L hand started aching in joints closest to fingernails, then > > spread to middle joints. No strength in hand and pointer finger hurts to > > bend, almost like it could break if you put too much pressure on it? R hand > > has started the same as the L did. Elbows hurt, sometimes feels like they > > could dislocate at the elbow and fall off...I am concerned, not worried. I > > don't know what they're looking at or for, Lupus may have been premature. If > > you have any input, I will listen. > > > > Thank you for your time and look forward to hearing from someone, Monday is > > a long way off.... > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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