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Positive ANA and ENA Panel
Hey guys, new to group. I have a question that maybe someone who's been through something similar can help me with. Im a 33 year old Hispanic male. Whole thing started late June of 2018. I noticed a big lump about size of an egg on left side of neck above collarbone. My doc did blood work and sent me to do a ultrasound. I was told blood work came back ok but but radiologist thought lump was lymph node. She then sent me to have CT scan. By this time I had already been feeling a little off at times. I felt tired and was dealing with nausea, headaches, bloating, shoulder pain and so on. She then sent me to a hematologist who in turn did a lot of blood work, x-rays, and another ultrasound. He said he thought lump was a muscle and not lymph node. Whooo, but then he said blood work keeps showing positive ana. He then did a ena panel and came back positive for scleroderma, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Wow! So now he sends me to a rheumatologist. A week before appt I got strep throat. It was the worst thing I have ever been through. Every bone in my body hurt so bad for three days and I had a massive headache the whole time. I never ever miss work but I did this time. I explained all this to him. He then said well since you don't have any swelling I don't think you have an auto immune disease. I think you have fibromyalgia. He sent me to do a bone density scan and a lot more blood work. Ill see him in two more weeks. Just wanted to get you guys take on this. Thanks in advance and sorry for bad grammar and punctuation
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Hi @slim1938, welcome to Connect. It sounds like you've been through the wringer with a lot of tests but the doctors have not yet figured it out. I would keep a log of all your symptoms, pain levels, etc. and take them with you to your next doctors appointment. We need to be our own advocate and work with our doctors to help them help us. It's good that you are asking questions and learning as much as you can about your health issues. I have no medical training or background but most of the members here on Connect have also been in a similar situation and were searching for answers, so I'm glad you posted your question. I'm tagging our moderator @kanaazpereira to see if maybe we should move your post to a similar discussion where you can meet other members talking about positive ANA and Fibromyalgia. In the meantime you might want to read through the discussion here:
Groups > Autoimmune Diseases > Lung Nodule, D-Dimer elevation and ANA +VE
-- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/lung-nodule-d-dimer-elevation-and-ana-ve/
I'm also tagging members @nikohl7 and @sheker who have discussed different blood tests and positive ANA numbers to see if they have any suggestions for you.
John
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1 ReactionThanks @johnbishop and I will keep reading through prior discussions.
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1 ReactionLet me begin by saying Autoimmune Diseases are not for sissies. So chin up. I have and do experience the rath of not just one but more confirmed by ANA.testing
years ago. What works for me is maintaining a whole lot of faith and counting my blessings beats the alternative. NO, NOT EASY but do able. There will be good days and not so good days. I went for years
being told NOTHING was wrong.
The medical community has and is becoming more knowledgeable regarding autoimmune diseases.
All they can do is try to manage the symptoms as at the present time there is no magic answer or cure. So to summarize, I am so sorry you
are experiencing Scleroderma if that is the case. I too have Scleroderma along with much more.
Research, research, research. Learn all you can. Journal, document and God bless
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1 ReactionThanks @deannal . I agree on keeping the faith and staying strong while dealing with this crap. I just hope that if I do have any autoimmune diseases they can help me early on and not wait till I'm all messed up. Can a person test positive on ana and ena panel multiple times and not have an autoimmune disease?
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1 ReactionHi Slim 1938
Hopefully you do not, however like I mentioned Autoimmune Diseases
for the most part are managed. As far as a cure only prayer and a miracle would be my guess. Medically speaking there are no cures unless I am mistaken.
As for catching it early many autoimmune diseases have symtoms similar to other diseases , for example lupus and scleroderma both very serious.
ANA testing, simply a blood draw,
will confirm any suspicion.
All the symptoms you mentioned will be helpful, so like I said write them down in detail, date etc.
Take care , thank you for reaching out , happy to be there for you, hope it helps.
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2 ReactionsA little update. Went back to rheumatologist for test results. He said everything came back negative this time. He said equipment and criteria used by hematologist is different than what he uses to confirm diagnosis. He diagnosed me with fibromyalgia and gave me meds. He said he would see me in two months and retest me. I'm really not sure I want meds yet. I feel that I can still cope without meds and if fibromyalgia doesn't cause any bone deterioration then why take them. I don't know, just my thoughts.
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1 ReactionI recently had blood work and my ANA portion came back 1:1280 homogenous. Normal range is 1:80 or less. Mayo is ordering additional testing and an autoimmune panel. Has anyone else experienced an elevated ANA? If so, what did you learn? I am a 74 year old woman in otherwise excellent health, and am told there are many positive ANA readings in older women. Thank you for any enlightenment!
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3 ReactionsHi annedodrill44, I moved your message to this existing discussion about ANA testing in the Autoimmune Diseases group (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/autoimmune-diseases/). I did this so you can meet other members talking about elevated ANA levels, like @slim1938 @carpe_bean @bluebird6156 @jenniferhunter @lioness @becsbuddy and others.
You might also be interested in this discussion on Connect:
- What can cause ANA titre of 1:2560? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-can-cause-ana-titre-of-12560/
The antinuclear antibodies (ANA) test detects autoantibodies in the blood that may indicate an autoimmune disorder. You can read more about the test and why it is done here: https://labtestsonline.org/tests/antinuclear-antibody-ana
Anne, what additional tests are being ordered for you? What condition, if any, is being suspected?
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3 ReactionsMayo is sending a kit in the mail to me. !ill have the draw done locally and mail back to Mayo. I know that among testing they ordered is an autoimmune panel, but have no other specifics until I receive the order. Sounds like results could take awhile.
Thank you, Colleen for moving me to the appropriate discussion group!
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1 ReactionI have, once a out 30 years ago, and again about 5 years ago, diagnose with CREST Scleroderma, 30 years ago it was erythemia