All in know is i have many AI symps and my blood work was negative..i do believe its like hitting the lottery for a reading of positive iff you think you may be from the symps your having?..i have the sore skin and prikles at the moment and my chin and forehead are red and sore to touch,infact my whole body feels sunburnt right now?...many pple here will tell you that they waited for years for a positve reading for AI diseases?...huggs to you,i feel for you..

there are so many overlap AI disorders and you test negative for them, but that doesn't mean you don't have them. I was told I have lupus like indicators in my bloodwork but was neagative for full blown lupus. Now the have dx me with mixed connective tissue disorder, my combination seems to combine some lupus symptoms some Rhuematoid arthritis and scleroderma, which has affected my lungs. It must be frustrating to be so far from your doc, can you email questions to your doc? You may need another opinion too. I hope you get the right help and start to feel better soon....hugs
Beth

Yes hon you can have lupus and have neg ana,s.. Have they done a complete work up for lupus?n It sounds with your fingers that you may have raynauds. I just bet it is cold there. Did they start you on plaquinal also? it is very hard when you have children. I don't have the list of tests you need right on hand but I know someone will post them or I will find them. hugs M

I have alternating bloodwork. Sometimes it's negative and other times it's highly positive. One doctor said lupus and the rheumatologist said overlap or mctd because the lupus markers weren't there the last time I was tested.
With that I have raynauds, positive sjogren's syndrome and graves. I know how it is to keep getting the runaround. I'm at the mercy of the military health system so getting multiple opinions is hard but I kept trying because I knew something wasn't right. I'm like you, I need to know exactly what's wrong. Is there a rheumatologist closer than 350 miles to you? Wow that's a long distance to have to travel. I hope you get answers soon.

Thank you for all the response's ,there is only 2 rhematologist in Alaska and they are in Anchorage I live in Fairbanks. Anybody experience with the rash, I got this a few years ago before the dx of RA and now again. They just said it was a allergic reaction to something and left it that. I also have Graves since 1992. I also have severe eye pain at times. Thanks so much... Marie

Its hard to have things going on and not get answers. Don't give up. You can see many of the folks here have dealt with your frustration at some point. I have postive ana's every test, every 6 months and the new rheumy dr says mmmm...maybe lupus but I don't present with organ issues. Makes you want to scream. I have night sweats so bad. They are not like the ones I had when dealing with forced menopause from surgery. I get fevers, prickly skin in sun plus the red little dots on my skin if I can't get out of it. I have major pain in joints, especially my spine. I have divertiulis, acid reflux,pleurisy, and supposedly fibromyalgia. Best wishes to you. Don't give up. You will always get a response from someone at this group.