Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
I have always had a very high ANA, and also high rheumatoid factor. It seems the ANA cued my first rheumatologist to diagnose me with Lupus, although my symptoms are much more RA-like. Just wondering how many people also had a positive ANA and/or was told Lupus first??? My new rheumatologist seems very confident that this is RA.
It's so frustrating to tell your family you have lupus, and then be told, oh wait it's really RA. Now I'm trying to tell them I have RA and they just don't understand the overlap and confusion. Oiiiiii.
It's so frustrating to tell your family you have lupus, and then be told, oh wait it's really RA. Now I'm trying to tell them I have RA and they just don't understand the overlap and confusion. Oiiiiii.
Praying that it all works out for you nickel... 'tis a difficult road..
I also have high RF and positive ANA and was diagnosed with RA. My nephrologist also wanted to test me for lupus, so I did another blood work specifically for Antiphospholipid Antibodies, Anti-Smith, and Anti double stranded DNA.
I tested negative for all three - so no lupus for me.
I wouldn't let them jump to a lupus diagnosis without further testing.
Keep smiling!
thanks for the responses, hope you all have warm weather to enjoy!!
My ANA goes abnormal one month to normal the next month. It doesn't stay consistently abnormal. The rheumy disregards it for now. I can go months with it normal at a time. She just watches it.
2scicrazed? - what does your screen name stand for?