I think I see why you're being referred to a rheumatologist.

Lemme give ya the break down:

RA Latex Turbid. ---- This is the test for Rheumatoid Arthritis
0.0-13.9
24.7 IU/mL
Abnormal

The Sjorgren's Anti- SS-A (Ro) Test is one of the antibodies that may indicate sjorgren's syndrome - you also tested positive for this.

Eos (Absolute) Is the white blood count - it's high

Neutrophils (Absolute) is also a type of white blood cell count - it's high

RDW is red blood cell distribution - and is used to measure lots of things:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_blood_cell_distribution_width

Your doctor did the right thing here in referring you to a Rheumy. The Rheumy can interpret these tests and tell you what you are or are not most likely to have since you've tested positive for several things, but some more tests may be needed to pin down exactly what you have along with a good exam from a Rheumy.

Did they happen to test your ANA or Sjorgrens SS-B?

Try not to freak out. You're on the verge of getting answers.

I'm no doctor, and can't give you any insight into your results. But I'll share what I do with test results. I do online searches for each individual test, looking at different sites until I hopefully find answers to my questions. It helps me to feel proactive about my health, and it occupies some of my time so that I don't stress. In addition, it often helps generate more questions for my doctor, especially since I write down my questions so I don't forget them. Hope this helps you a little.

PS Sjorgren's is not the end of the world if that's the DX they tag you with. I have that as well as Lupus.

Me again!

Here's the diagnostic criteria for Sjorgren's - I AM NOT A DOCTOR.

You must test positive for at least two of three objective diagnostic tests:

1. Anti-SS-A/B blood test: There are two scenarios: 1) Positive serum levels of either the SSA and/or SSB antibody and/or 2) positive serum levels of the rheumatoid factor antibody (RA) and elevated antinuclear antibody (ANA) titers. All are associated with the syndrome.

2. Ocular surface staining: Measures the dissipation rate of a specialized dye that is applied to the tear film that bathes the surface of the eye. A score of three or more is considered to be positive.

3. Salivary gland biopsy: A pathologist examines the biopsy for sites of inflammation. One or more sites of inflammation per four millimeters squared area is considered positive.

Thank you guys so much for replying! I did some research and I think its either Sjgren's Syndrome or Lupus but I won't know til I see the doc.

I got these tests done in the first place because I have horrible aches and pains all over my body and cannot sleep. I've slept through exams as well. I went from being an A+ nursing student to my professors having to give me exams in the library for oversleeping. Luckily my school is very accommodating and they want me to figure out what it is and get better, but I am so stressed our and depressed, and my anxiety wont rest til I find out what it is and get it under control.

Thanks for your help it relieved my anxiety to know I'm not alone.

My ANA was also positive

Just a couple of things I picked up along my path of study...

High white cell count usually indicates an infection. Lupus causes low white cell counts, not high ones.

A positive ANA can occur in someone who does not have an autoimmune disease. This is not unusual.

If I'm wrong about these two observations, someone please correct me. These are things I've picked up from doctors and from reading books and articles about lupus. I think it's possible to show abnormal blood test numbers if your system is fighting something like a viral infection. And blood testing isn't always accurate....don't panic just yet, the readings could all return to normal range with a retesting a month down the road.

An infection could activate your immune system and that could be making you hurt all over.

I hope you are right but these aches and pains have gone on for several months. I cannot sleep because of them. At first I thought it was because my synthroid was too high (I had graves disease and had my thyroid removed and was over medicated for a while) and my white count has been consistently high for a long time. And I asked my doc if its possible that the ANA could be elevated due to the Graves but she said with the other lab results and my symptoms, there's most likely another autoimmune disease going on. I am so bad with self diagnosing because I'm a nursing student, and I'm trying not to do it but my symptoms sound a lot like Sjgren's Syndrome, but the joint an muscle pain is excruciating sometimes to the point where I had to miss exams and make them up when my pain went away. Whatever this is I just want the pain and depression to go away and I want to get back on the dean's list and get my life back. Thank you for all your help. Just left a message with a Rheumatologists office and I'm about to go take these exams today. Thank god I woke up early this time. Fingers crossed.

Sooo your ANA is positive AND you have grave's disease. If you don't mind me asking in what way were you treated for Graves? (Thyroid removal, thyroid suppression drugs, or radio-active iodine to kill the thyroid). I know a bit about this is why I'm asking...

I have Lupus, Sjorgren's and Thyroid disease.

Just FYI: When my Lupus flares - certain white counts sky-rocket, at other times they drop like a rock. It depends on the type of flare I'm having and what part of my body is being attacked.

Regardless of whether or not you decide to share your Grave's history here - be CERTAIN you share it with your Rheumy.

When was your thyroid levels last tested? (I'm particularly interested in Free T3, Free T4 and TSH).

Auto-immune issues can be hard to unravel, but I not impossible.

Hey again MB. I had a total thyroidectomy in 2009. I was recently tested for my thyroid hormones on Aug 24 and these were the results:

TSH 0.450-4.500 0.008 uIU/mL Abnormal

T4,Free(Direct) 0.82-1.77 1.81 ng/dL Abnormal

I switched doctors cause my other one sucked, clearly, and my current endo is bringing my levels back down.

Is there a link between graves and lupus and SS or something?

Yes, there is.

I'm asking because many, many of the symptoms you've listed (despite your labs) are hypothyroid symptoms. I'm not saying that's you're ONLY issue here, but it may be part of your issues. To find out for sure, you need to get your Free T3 and Free T4 tested (since you're being treated for hypothyroidism (no thyroid) then TSH won't tell you anything. It's a measure of pituitary hormone - not actual thyroid hormone levels. I know this from experience :)

Let me explain:

Painful joints, muscle cramps extreme fatigue are all hypo symptoms and can be quite life altering, but are perfectly treatable if you have a thyroid savvy doctor. If not, it's time to find a new one that is not a TSH worshipper.

MOST people feel well with a Free T4 level in the upper 1/4 of the range or slightly over the top of the range and a Free T3 level in the upper 1/2 of the range. See Below:

In your case, your numbers should be as follows:

Free T4
Lab Range 0.820 -1.770
Lab Result 1.810
Percent of Lab Range: 104.21%
Target Range: 1.39-1.77 Or slightly over - in your case 1.81 is NOT hyper. It's probably where you feel better.

Free T3
Typical lab range: 2.300 -4.200
What you should shoot for: 3.44-4.2

You really need your Free T3 tested for two reasons:

1. Low Free T3 can cause many of the symptoms you are describing.
2. A) If you do have a rheumatic disease like lupus or sjorgrens you'll most likely be treated with steroids. People who have lupus/sjorgrens and/or thyroid disease often have difficulty converting Free T4 to Free T3 (most of this occurs in the liver).
B) When on steroids, Free T3 conversion can drop or stop altogether. You will need to keep a close eye on Free T3 and make sure your doctor draws that lab. If there's a deficiency you will need to add Free T3 to your regimine if you haven't already. For instance, most docs rx synthroid (T4 only meds) - Armour has both T4 and T3 - still other docs add Cytomel (T3 only) to supplement synthroid. It really doesn't matter what you choose to take, as long as you keep that number up on your labs.

Last, but not least - low Free T3 can send pain levels sky-rocketing. When my Free T3 is low - I CANNOT STAND THE PAIN. And there's no pain killer on earth that will make it better. Oh, and the fatigue is killer.

I'm not saying it quashes all my issues with Lupus/Sjorgrens but it certainly helps keep a lid on my pain levels.

What I'm afraid you may get into here - and it happens alot - is you'll be tagged with more than one auto-immune disease (and they do tend to travel in packs) and the thyroid issue will take a back seat.

Have them check it at least every six weeks along with Free T4.

Your TSH should be below 1 - always - because you are taking thyroid meds. If it gets above 1 - that means you're not getting enough meds, but only Free T3 and Free T4 will tell the tale.

I hope this helps.

I've been where you are....

MB

Oh, and if you haven't already - eliminate all sugars and gluten - it's been proven to increase inflammation in all these diseases (and others).

Me again!

I wish this thing had an edit button....

Conversely...if your Free T3 is really high - it can also cause the symptoms you're describing.

Either way Free T3 is really important to check in people who are prone to inflammatory diseases like Graves, Lupus, and Sjorgrens.

Either of these diseases can cause a higher white blood count (lupus in particular cases - depending on the body part affected) and steroids can also knock the white blood count up. ALL of these diseases are inflammatory in nature. To balance one - you must balance them all....

I'm gonna give you some links to check out, K?

Overall info on thyroid and Free T3:
https://eaware.org/thyroid-gland/

http://chriskresser.com/low-t3-syndrome-i-its-not-about-the-thyroid

http://chriskresser.com/inflammation-strikes-again

http://www.mercola.com/article/hypothyroid/diagnosis_comp.htm

http://breakingmuscle.com/health-medicine/understanding-thyroid-why-you-should-check-your-free-t3

If you have questions you can message me.

Definitely eliminate the sugar and gluten. My doctor told me that "Gluten is like a poison to anyone with an autoimmune disease." And she also said that "Gluten likes to attack the thyroid." I, too, have thyroid problems from time to time. However, the usual thyroid tests are normal or near-normal for me. My doctor has to monitor my anti-thyroglobulin (???)--a test that used to be the gold standard thyroid test, but which is seldom used nowadays. When mine gets too elevated, she prescribes a natural thyroid med (Westhroid/Naturthroid), which contains T3 and T4. It helps me a lot.

Interesting. I will talk to my doc about this. She's new and she seems to listen and really care a lot. I actually do feel very hyperthyroid, and since she lowered my dose I do feel a little less hyperthyroid, but I'm gonna ask her to check my t3 and maybe she can put me on amour thyroid or something. I'm sure she will listen. Every other doctor was ignoring my aches and pains but as soon as I brought it to her attention she tested me for all of this. Thanks guys I really appreciate all this feedback.