1. < Autoimmune Diseases

Positive ANA: What might be the cause?

Posted by FreedomWarrior @freedomwarrior, Apr 28, 2021

Hello,
I am reaching out to anyone who has had a positive ANA blood test result. I aced Rheumatology testing and I believe that Mercury toxicity is the cause. Does anyone have a similar case or know somebody who does..? TY..!

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talltxlady | @talltxlady | Sep 24, 2023
In reply to @slkanowitz "Up to 40% of RA patients are seronegative. I am one of them. It delays diagnosis..." + (show)
@slkanowitz

Up to 40% of RA patients are seronegative. I am one of them. It delays diagnosis and treatment, especially if your doctor expects textbook presentation and is unaware that so many have negative RA factor and CCP. xray and MRI of joints help in the diagnosis.

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Yes, I'm now on Methotrexate after my rheumatologist determined I have erosion in one of my joints.

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suecutuli | @suecutuli | Sep 24, 2023
In reply to @kaprizzz "Hello, I am new to this group and would like to share my story. Maybe someone..." + (show)
@kaprizzz

Hello, I am new to this group and would like to share my story. Maybe someone here has an answer, or at least an idea what my next step should be. I have been in pain for several months (hands and feet, also pins and needles), get worse at night. OTC painkillers don't help as well as prescription ones (gabapentin, amitriptyline, Robaxin). I first thought about RA as my mom has it so got tested for RA panel. ANA is positive, the rest is negative thus it is not RA, per my providers. ANA cascade test: ANA positive, the rest negative thus it is not autoimmune, per my providers. All other tests (cbc, bpm, vitamins, hormones) are normal. Pain is slowly getting worse and now not just feet and hands but also arms and legs hurt. Pain doesn't get worse or better because of certain activities (or inactivity). I spoke to three doctors (all internal medicine). One told me it was nothing, just probably fibromyalgia and gave me amitriptyline that didn't work. The second one told me it was nothing because healthy people often have positive ANA and my pain will go away if I take ibuprofen. The third one simply told me not to worry about it. I asked all three for a referral to a rheumatologist but non of them saw a reason for me to see a rheumatologist, or any other specialist. So here I am, trying to convince myself that it is nothing and my pain is nothing to worry about, as recommended by my providers:-)

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Ugh!!! You are not alone. But my PC did send me to a Rhemy who said well its
Not Lupus so go away. What i do have is HSD . I am hypermobile and my pain is all over the place and no causation can be found. This is the only diagnosis that fits after 161/2
Years of trying EVERYTHING, now i will accept amd learn to do what i can- and pull back when i must. NOTHING has helped accept being in so much pain. I take opiods for that.

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suetex | @suetex | Sep 24, 2023
In reply to @kaprizzz "Hello, I am new to this group and would like to share my story. Maybe someone..." + (show)
@kaprizzz

Hello, I am new to this group and would like to share my story. Maybe someone here has an answer, or at least an idea what my next step should be. I have been in pain for several months (hands and feet, also pins and needles), get worse at night. OTC painkillers don't help as well as prescription ones (gabapentin, amitriptyline, Robaxin). I first thought about RA as my mom has it so got tested for RA panel. ANA is positive, the rest is negative thus it is not RA, per my providers. ANA cascade test: ANA positive, the rest negative thus it is not autoimmune, per my providers. All other tests (cbc, bpm, vitamins, hormones) are normal. Pain is slowly getting worse and now not just feet and hands but also arms and legs hurt. Pain doesn't get worse or better because of certain activities (or inactivity). I spoke to three doctors (all internal medicine). One told me it was nothing, just probably fibromyalgia and gave me amitriptyline that didn't work. The second one told me it was nothing because healthy people often have positive ANA and my pain will go away if I take ibuprofen. The third one simply told me not to worry about it. I asked all three for a referral to a rheumatologist but non of them saw a reason for me to see a rheumatologist, or any other specialist. So here I am, trying to convince myself that it is nothing and my pain is nothing to worry about, as recommended by my providers:-)

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You can go to many commercial labs and get a HLAB27 test. Also, please reserch Sjogren's Syndrome. It has many faces.

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1 reply
kaprizzz | @kaprizzz | Sep 24, 2023
In reply to @suetex "You can go to many commercial labs and get a HLAB27 test. Also, please reserch Sjogren's..." + (show)
@suetex

You can go to many commercial labs and get a HLAB27 test. Also, please reserch Sjogren's Syndrome. It has many faces.

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ANA cascade includes Sjogren's test. All negative. I will do the test you recommend. Thank you for the idea.

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1 reply
suetex | @suetex | Sep 25, 2023
In reply to @kaprizzz "ANA cascade includes Sjogren's test. All negative. I will do the test you recommend. Thank you..." + (show)
@kaprizzz

ANA cascade includes Sjogren's test. All negative. I will do the test you recommend. Thank you for the idea.

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Unfortunately, SS isn't that easy to test for. If it were, it would be identified as the problem more often. Once again, it will take a well informed rheumatologist to spot the pattern.

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mctd43years | @mctd43years | Sep 25, 2023

Hi, ANA is anti-nuclear antibodies. Antibodies are proteins that your immune system makes to fight off bacteria, viruses, and other germs. But sometimes, your immune system can mistake parts of your own body for foreign invaders. It releases special antibodies, called “autoantibodies,” that attack your cells and tissues. . And they can be a sign of autoimmune diseases. Reference Range:
< 1.0 AI Negative
>=1.0 AI Positive
It is generally a sign of an autoimmune disease. It can take a long time to determine if it is an autoimmune disease or just a false positive. Be patient, it is usually a long road to diagnosis. Good luck.

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1 reply
arniecollins | @arniecollins | Sep 25, 2023

Have you had a blood test for HLA-B27? Research spondyloarthritis. Took me 14 years, 2 neurosurgeons, and my 4th rheumatologist to get accurate diagnosis. http://www.spondylitis.org

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1 reply
elopia32 | @elopia32 | Sep 25, 2023
In reply to @kaprizzz "They checked my thyroid. It's fine. Your labs look like RA but may be a lot..." + (show)
@kaprizzz

They checked my thyroid. It's fine. Your labs look like RA but may be a lot of other things. Hopefully you will get your diagnosis and the treatment that helps

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Have you been checked for autoimmune hepatitis? That’s what I have and it many years to figure it out.

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1 reply
Mentor
Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Sep 25, 2023
In reply to @mctd43years "Hi, ANA is anti-nuclear antibodies. Antibodies are proteins that your immune system makes to fight off..." + (show)
@mctd43years

Hi, ANA is anti-nuclear antibodies. Antibodies are proteins that your immune system makes to fight off bacteria, viruses, and other germs. But sometimes, your immune system can mistake parts of your own body for foreign invaders. It releases special antibodies, called “autoantibodies,” that attack your cells and tissues. . And they can be a sign of autoimmune diseases. Reference Range:
< 1.0 AI Negative
>=1.0 AI Positive
It is generally a sign of an autoimmune disease. It can take a long time to determine if it is an autoimmune disease or just a false positive. Be patient, it is usually a long road to diagnosis. Good luck.

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@mctd43years Hello and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! You’ve given some good information on ANA to other members.
Any coping tips for management of your disease?

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1 reply
mctd43years | @mctd43years | Sep 25, 2023
In reply to @becsbuddy "@mctd43years Hello and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! You’ve given some good information on ANA to..." + (show)
@becsbuddy

@mctd43years Hello and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! You’ve given some good information on ANA to other members.
Any coping tips for management of your disease?

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I guess the most important thing I have learned is to listen to my body not to well meaning family and friends. They want to understand and to help but they cannot know how you feel. Only you and people like you can really understand. They see you out and about one day and the next day you're flat on your back. There is no way they can really understand it. The best thing to do is to explain that you have good days and bad days. Also, a positive attitude of "I can do this" and a smile on your face helps you and your loved ones. It is not good for you to lament on your condition. Remember, it is a condition, not you. You are still who you always were as long as you stay positive. Best of luck to all and keep smiling.

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