Positive ANA: What might be the cause?

Yes, my ANA is positive and was first discovered in 2018. I saw a rheumatologist who told me that all of my specific autoimmune disease tests were negative.
I had the test repeated in March 2021 and it returned positive, level at 80, nuclear, and homogenous, the same as in 2019.
Quest and the VA heavy metals tests do not differentiate between Mercury types and do not specify which heavy metals their tests involve.
LabCorp’s occupational exposure test returned positive but well below the referenced standard. This test is an acute exposure test.
I found QuickSilver Scientific’s “TriTest” that differentiates between dimethylmercury and Elemental Mercury, and tests blood, hair and urine for burden and excretion.
My test, after three years of chasing affirmation and quantification, returned. It showed positive Methylmercury and Elemental Mercury toxicity plus poor excretion of Elemental Mercury but some excretion of Methylmercury via head hair.
I seek a clinical chelation detoxification because holistic protocol is cost prohibitive for me. I could write a book of my journey to affirmation, but I must care for myself first.
I am certain that there are other people, especially Veterans, that may be Mercury toxic and not know it given the ADA and FDA chronic denial of Elemental Mercury toxicity from Dental Amalgam. Sushi and Sashimi popularity has also increased significantly, and in my case, contributed to my Methylmercury toxicity or accounted for it entirely.
My total Mercury bodily burden is 3.19 ng/mL. The CDC emergent burden value is 10 ng/ml. By QuickSilver’s methodology, the CDC total burden range is 0.038-9.96, derived from 1,938 tested patients. The CDC total burden reference average is 0.833 ng/mL as compared to my 3.19, to demonstrate my toxicity level.
I have not been able to find a toxicity level to symptom comparison, which would be useful for detoxification urgency qualification, quantification, or category, should such exist.
Mercury toxicity is just one of several significant medical concerns and I would rather be diagnosed and treated for them concurrently as two (so far) are of unknown type or origin.
More later..

Hello Athenalee, please keep us posted as to your outcomes regarding Sjögren’s. I believe I have recently developed the same as a result of my SFN, having the usual dry eyes, mouth, ears and skin. I had to wait for 3 months for my rheumatologist appt. so the Sjögren’s hasn’t been actually diagnosed yet. I’ve been able to deal with the new symptoms and prefer not to take drugs if I don’t absolutely need them. I did have labs done and my ANA was negative. Due to diet changes a year ago for my SFN I have lost over 10 lbs. and am trying without success to gain it back! I wish you the best with your testing and treatments. Helen

My rheumatologist tested for many things, not sure what all. From what I could discern from the results I did have one high reading which points to a connective tissue disease (which I believe could be SFN or Sjögren’s?) according to my neurologist, but all the rest seemed within range. I understand that often people test negative for Sjögren’s but have many symptoms. I have to wait til July to know more.

Hi Freedomwarrior, now you have me worried! How did you determine the toxicity being from sushi? I eat it often and have previously ignored the possibility of it. (stupidly?) Helen

Hi Helen,
Not knowing is not being stupid.
In my case, I am very toxic with Methylmercury (MM). I was stationed in the Far East and ate tons of raw fish and continued to do so when I returned stateside. My claim is by exclusion of other Mercury sources, although I have read that the human body can convert Elemental Mercury (EM) (Dental Amalgam) in to MM. However, my heavy fish consumption, mostly tuna, lends itself to my test-confirmed MM poisoning. I consumed raw tuna roughly from 1994-present. The body's MM excretion method is via hair.
I am also test-confirmed toxic with Elemental Mercury from Dental Amalgam, again by exclusion. Its excretion method is via the toilet, both inputs.
My first symptom was, since 2013, unending head and ear ringing. Again, by exclusion. I stopped working in a hazardous noise environment in 2013, and I am fervent in protecting my hearing. I was exposed to hazardous noise in the USAF for 15 years daily, and periodically for another 13. Add five more years as a contractor.
My poisoning is SO bad (how bad is it..?), that it is in my skin oil, blood, and saliva.
While searching for an accurate test, I acquired a USB microscope and have microscopic pictures of the Mercury in my skin oil. I have lost tricep, bicep, pectoral, shoulder, and calf muscles. The atrophy is caused by compromised communication between the brain and muscles, akin to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or Lou Gherig disease (ALS.org).
To your question, the human body has NO use for Mercury. It is causal in brain disorders like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Dementia, and more. The test that I used is called a "Tri-Test" from Quicksilver Scientific (QS) that tests hair (excretion), urine (excretion), and blood (two tests) that differentiate between MM and EM. The site recommends ordering the test through a Functional (Holistic) Medicine provider. Mine marked the kit up by $100. The reason QS wants patients to use a provider is to interpret the test results. My total test cost was $400. For me, testing was IMPERATIVE.
I interpreted my test results before I saw the provider. It is not rocket science, just graphs, but QS' test interpretation instructions are important.
I hope that I answered your questions. Getting tested is an individual choice and I am happy to share my results with you, conditional on not sharing my information. I already redacted a copy, but please do not share my posted picture. Feel free to private message me if you need more information. I have researched Mercury toxicity for the past 3+ years while searching for a good test. Much more to this public health issue than the CDC and FDA will publicly admit. Try https://amalgam.com for more info. Dr. Leo Cashman has been at this for far longer that I, though I will take the fight to another level, maybe via a PhD dissertation. Hit this too, very credible information: (https://orawellness.com/how-to-safely-remove-mercury/).
Take Care,
--> Rick

Hi there,
Last year I had a positive ana of homogenous and mixed speckled pattern both with a titre of 1:1280. At the time I had a bunch of random symptoms including anemia, hair loss, dizziness, fatigue, fainting, headaches and nausea to name a few, I could barely stand up some days. I have had periods throughout the past 5 years where these symptoms come and go and had many tests but nothing ever eventuated until I had the positive Ana. I saw a rheumatologist who treated me with high dose steroids but my symptoms only 80% went away, he basically said that he doesn’t think it’s autoimmune related and to come back if I ever had symptoms again. My new GP retested my ANA which is now dense fine speckled pattern 1:2560. I am reading a lot of articles that DFS pattern can be clinically insignificant in “healthy individuals”. Can the other patterns go away or not show up if not currently in a ‘flare up’ or can they change? Just looking for some direction on where to go next with this information or weather I should be concerned. I have a few odd symptoms but I am not currently feeling as unwell as I have previously but have a few odd symptoms such as kidney/chest pain. any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Hi there,
Last year I had a positive ana of homogenous and mixed speckled pattern both with a titre of 1:1280. At the time I had a bunch of random symptoms including anemia, hair loss, dizziness, fatigue, fainting, headaches and nausea to name a few, I could barely stand up some days. I have had periods throughout the past 5 years where these symptoms come and go and had many tests but nothing ever eventuated until I had the positive Ana. I saw a rheumatologist who treated me with high dose steroids but my symptoms only 80% went away, he basically said that he doesn’t think it’s autoimmune related and to come back if I ever had symptoms again. My new GP retested my ANA which is now dense fine speckled pattern 1:2560. I am reading a lot of articles that DFS pattern can be clinically insignificant in “healthy individuals”. Can the other patterns go away or not show up if not currently in a ‘flare up’ or can they change? Just looking for some direction on where to go next with this information or weather I should be concerned. I have a few odd symptoms but I am not currently feeling as unwell as I have previously but have a few odd symptoms such as kidney/chest pain. any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Hello @georgiakate Welcome To Mayo Clinic Connect. We are a group of individuals who help each other through health journeys by sharing information and tips and on what has worked for us and what has not. We are not medical professionals so we cannot diagnose or prescribe medication, we can simply prescribe information, resources and tips.
You have seen a rheumatologist who detected a high ANA score but he he does not think that there you have an auto immune disease. You do have lots of vague problems or symptoms but he doesn’t think these are important. Is that correct? Then your GP finds that your ANA score almost doubled.
Can you return to the rheumatologist, tell him that your ANA has doubled, and ask about special lab work for autoimmune diseases?

https://hoagmedicalgroup.com/articles/what-does-a-positive-antinuclear-antibody-mean/. I added this link about some rheumatologists talking about autoimmune diseases.

Will you come back and let me know what you have learned? Becky