Re: Re: New here: Auto immune tests are positive

[Guest guest]

Betty,

Many people with autoimmune diseases don't get a firm diagnosis for a

while because they are hard to diagnose sometimes. My RA came on so

strong that it didn't take me too long to be diagnosed; just had one

wrong diagnosis before the rheumy suspected RA.

If you Sed rate is always up, there's a reason for that; they just

haven't been able to figure it out yet.

a and can probably help you with some of those lab tests.

I hope you get some answers soon.

Sue

On Wednesday, February 15, 2006, at 02:42 PM, Betty wrote:

> Thanks to all for your welcome and search tips. I was searching for

> information and a group such as this but I did not think of

> checking under " RA " . A special thanks you to Sue for directing me

> here. When I started my search with information here I found too

> much to read in one evening.

[Guest guest]

Betty, your sed rate and the Scl-70 results are the only ones that sound

significantly elevated.

You should seek the opinion of another rheumatologist, preferably one who

knows something about scleroderma.

As for the Raynaud's, keeping warm is important because it can prevent

attacks and subsequent damage. Each attack may not only be affecting your

hand;, some researchers theorize that it can also affect your internal

organs.

If you are currently a smoker, it is imperative that you stop.

a has a lot of good information on the labs here:

http://arthritissupport.info/Lab%20Tests.html

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] Re: New here: Auto immune tests are positive

> Thanks to all for your welcome and search tips. I was searching for

> information and a group such as this but I did not think of

> checking under " RA " . A special thanks you to Sue for directing me

> here. When I started my search with information here I found too

> much to read in one evening.

>

> The test that the rheumatologist did is so vague I didn't know how to

> include it with my first post. 1st line: Antinuclear antibody

> 2nd line antibody titer liver-weakly pos 1:20 2nd line: pattern

> speckled pattern 3rd line: comment HEP-2POS-1:40 4th line comment

> speckled pattern.

>

> Usually I can read lab reports. I did find that " speckled " may or

> may not indicate anything. Does any of this make sense to you. She

> also did a Sed rate 51 with norm 0-30. Several years ago I had seen

> this doctor because at that time the sed rate was much higher. After

> being on prednisone for a few months it was still above normal. So

> her comment to this sed rate was that mine was always up.

>

> The lab report for the scl70 antibody said they would hold the sample

> for 30 days and suggested several other tests done on it. That report

> did include a rheumatoid factor that was 8 in a range of 1-20.

> Nothing else that I could see on those test were in range. Since she

> didn't even know about that test naturally she didn't order the other

> tests.

>

> The Raynauds has only been bad for about 1 month. Before that it was

> not significant. I had meant to talk to the Rheu about that but

> forgot. When I got home and remember that I called her office and

> she said if I wanted to come back before the scheduled apt. to do

> so. I have an apt. with my GP tomorrow and wanted to have something

> more definite when I see him but with my most recent information find

> I have been so overwhelmed I am not coming up with anything

> specific.

>

> I find doctors seem to know so little even in their specific

> category. But I think it interesting that the pulmonary doc knew

> more about this than the rheumtologist does.

>

> I now have a list of autoimmune positive test. I am pretty well

> knowledgeable about diabetes but just prior to these test I had asked

> my GP who is handling my diabetes for a specific test to determine

> about the diabetes. He did not know about the test but did it. It

> came back positive just before I got these other reports. Between

> all these test I have been spending a lot of time on this.

>

> It's hard to get a medical degree in a couple months! The advice

> regarding Raynauds was " keep warm " . I don't know if it would be of

> any use to go back just to talk to her about the Raynauds. What can

> be done anyway?

>

> Sorry about such long post, but any information from any of you is

> welcomed.

>

> Bvan (Betty)

[Guest guest]

An antiboody titer report has a comment " HEP 2 " . Does anyone know what that is

or where I might find that information?

BVan (Betty)

[Guest guest]

Betty,

A " HEp-2 " reference on a lab reports simply tells you how the test was

performed - what substrate was used.

HEp-2 cells = human laryngeal epithelial carcinoma cells

This information is included so that the person interpreting the results

knows more specifically about what test was done.

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

Re: [ ] Re: New here: Auto immune tests are positive

> An antiboody titer report has a comment " HEP 2 " . Does anyone know what

> that is or where I might find that information?

> BVan (Betty)

[Guest guest]

Yes, Betty, you need a new rheumatologist ASAP.

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] Re: New here: Auto immune tests are positive

>

>

> > Thanks to all for your welcome and search tips. I was searching

for

> > information and a group such as this but I did not think of

> > checking under " RA " . A special thanks you to Sue for directing me

> > here. When I started my search with information here I found too

> > much to read in one evening.

> >

> > The test that the rheumatologist did is so vague I didn't know

how to

> > include it with my first post. 1st line: Antinuclear antibody

> > 2nd line antibody titer liver-weakly pos 1:20 2nd line:

pattern

> > speckled pattern 3rd line: comment HEP-2POS-1:40 4th line

comment

> > speckled pattern.

> >

> > Usually I can read lab reports. I did find that " speckled " may or

> > may not indicate anything. Does any of this make sense to you.

She

> > also did a Sed rate 51 with norm 0-30. Several years ago I had

seen

> > this doctor because at that time the sed rate was much higher.

After

> > being on prednisone for a few months it was still above normal.

So

> > her comment to this sed rate was that mine was always up.

> >

> > The lab report for the scl70 antibody said they would hold the

sample

> > for 30 days and suggested several other tests done on it. That

report

> > did include a rheumatoid factor that was 8 in a range of 1-20.

> > Nothing else that I could see on those test were in range. Since

she

> > didn't even know about that test naturally she didn't order the

other

> > tests.

> >

> > The Raynauds has only been bad for about 1 month. Before that it

was

> > not significant. I had meant to talk to the Rheu about that but

> > forgot. When I got home and remember that I called her office and

> > she said if I wanted to come back before the scheduled apt. to do

> > so. I have an apt. with my GP tomorrow and wanted to have

something

> > more definite when I see him but with my most recent information

find

> > I have been so overwhelmed I am not coming up with anything

> > specific.

> >

> > I find doctors seem to know so little even in their specific

> > category. But I think it interesting that the pulmonary doc knew

> > more about this than the rheumtologist does.

> >

> > I now have a list of autoimmune positive test. I am pretty well

> > knowledgeable about diabetes but just prior to these test I had

asked

> > my GP who is handling my diabetes for a specific test to determine

> > about the diabetes. He did not know about the test but did it.

It

> > came back positive just before I got these other reports. Between

> > all these test I have been spending a lot of time on this.

> >

> > It's hard to get a medical degree in a couple months! The advice

> > regarding Raynauds was " keep warm " . I don't know if it would be

of

> > any use to go back just to talk to her about the Raynauds. What

can

> > be done anyway?

> >

> > Sorry about such long post, but any information from any of you is

> > welcomed.

> >

> > Bvan (Betty)