Positive ANA Questions

I’m not sure about the numbers, but you should do some reading on a couple of websites that will explain it all and give you access to those of us who have Sjogrens.

This one is great for help from other Sjogren’s patients in how to deal with symptoms and all sorts of other things people run into when dealing with Sjogrens:

smartpatients.com

One is https://www.sjogrensadvocate.com

It was started by an MD who has Sjogrens. It has wonderful resources about diagnosis as well as many other information. Don’t try to read it all at once. Often a Sjogrens diagnosis takes years due to the varied nature of the manifestations if the disease. Basically, if you have many of the symptoms even if you don’t check all the boxes, you could be diagnosed from looking at the whole picture. Some doctors will not give the diagnosis unless you fill in all the boxes!

The other website is:

Getting on hydroxychloroquine as soon as possible can help prevent the progression and lessen the severity of many of the symptoms.

Good luck to you, you have to get educated and be your own advocate. I would recommend seeing a rheumatologist but not all rheumatologists are knowledgeable about Sjogrens or don’t treat it as the systemic disease it is, only calling it a dryness issue.

Take heart, there are treatments and there are lots of resources out there to help you!

I have MCTD, which consists of many overlap symptoms of Lupus. Plaquenil/hydroxichloroquine might be useful and you would visit a Rheumatologist. For dry eyes, and blurriness, I use Systane eye drops frequently during the day. For especially gritty days, I use a PM ointment. If you wear sunglasses outside, that can help with windy days. Other drafts, like an overhead fan, can also make eyes drier. My opthalmologist gave me Pataday, but there are also other RX remedies. Taking care of dry eyes can prevent cornea injury.
mctdfoundation.org

Here are a few related discussions about antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in your blood:
- Question on ANA and dsDNA: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/question-on-ana-and-dsdna/
- Positive ANA: What might be the cause?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/positive-ana/
- Positive ANA’s and GI issues: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/positive-anas/
- What can cause ANA titre of 1:2560?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-can-cause-ana-titre-of-12560/

@tlhuckins, did you ask your doctor whether it's time to consult a rheumatologist? How are you doing?

Hi, I hope all is going well! What did they end up finding?

I have some similar results. How are you doing?

can i ask my sinus dr was the one who sjorgen's and referred me to a rheumotologist. problem is the rheumotologist cant see me until feb unless a cancellation comes up. which makesme a little nervous. originally when my sinus dr referred me he suspected it do to my dry mouth, i had hoped he was wrong andmy dry mouth was somehow relate to my re-ammurgence of allergies(i'm being re-allergy tested tday) but then i went back to my eye dr to check for dry eye as my eyes were still bothering me even after using my allergy drops. he said ihad dry eye. and gave me some dry eye drops to use three times a day. i dont think its as bad a some though i can still make tears and the dry eye drops do help. so until i can see the rheumotologist i stay hydrated like my sinus dr said i also gargle with biotene and salt water. just wondering your thoughts? also tested neg for 5 sjorgens antibody bloodwork. also seeing nathurpath dr next week

Hello all - 🤗

Thank you for taking the time to read/follow my story. I did meet with a Rheumatologist back in May about my test results. She said that because I didn’t have many other physical symptoms commonly associated with autoimmune disease (joint pain, hair loss, etc.), that I didn’t necessarily have an autoimmune condition and as a result, she couldn’t diagnose me with anything. She said her approach going forward was a “wait and see” method and that if I developed new symptoms that I could contact the clinic as an existing patient to be seen quickly. So regarding test results, still a mystery. 🤔 In regard to my dry eyes, I was diagnosed with Ocular Rosacea by an Opthamologist and did a six month course of Doxycycline. It improved my symptoms somewhat but I still struggle with dry eyes and mouth, especially at night. I know this part is anecdotal, but I am also getting a bunch of dental work done (one a broken root) that I’ve needed for a while, and sometimes I wonder if there is any link between the inflammation in my eyes and my teeth. That’s pure speculation at this point but I’ve been to countless doctors appointments for this and haven’t had any solid answers as to why this happened. It’s hard not to speculate. From a community standpoint, I appreciate you all in your separate battles. I send you hugs (if you like hugs), and words of encouragement. You are not alone!

I saw your note and wanted to reply. If you haven’t accessed: smartpatients.com
I encourage you to do so as there is a huge Sjogren’s group with lots of helpful hints and ways to deal with the many symptoms of Sjogren’s. Lots of people have faced a long road to diagnosis so don’t give up!

I hope it’s not Sjogren’s but if it is, there are many of us who support each other here at this site.

Thank you. I appreciate your response. I don't see the rheumatologist until February so it's hard waiting with the symptoms and not knowing but I did say I just saw a allergist and he knew my issues he knew about my bloodwork being negative and he said it was rare for sjorgens with negative tests but I don't know.i do have similar symptoms

Sjogrensadvocate.com

This site was created by a Dr who has Sjogren’s. Lots of info about the MANY people who are zero-negative for Sjogren’s but nevertheless, by looking at all the factors are diagnosed and treated for Sjogren’s.

Please check out her many resources and threads about the trials of getting diagnosed.

Many rheumatologists are not trained about Sjogren’s s either so it may take more than 1 rheumatologist to get diagnosed. Not fun, but don’t quit.

Good luck!