New here: Auto immune tests are positive

February 14, 2006

I have had an annoying cough for several years which my GP helps me

with. I have also had self-diagnosed (mild) Raynauds which I have

tried to ignore. December the cough became such that I had to seek

further help with it. A lung biopsy showed multiple nodules in both

lungs but the pulmonary doctor said that would not cause the cough.

Although just tonight I have read enough to think Raynauds could do

that. I will have another Ctscan in 2 months to check on the

nodules. But the pulmonary doctor did labs that came back positive

for autoimmune problems and referred me to a Rheumatologist. The scl

70 was 158 with a normal range of <100. The Rheumatologist looked at

the report and said she didn't know anything about that test. She

also didn't know about the other tests that were positive. So she

did her own. As to the results of her test she just said she had

screened me for Lupus and it was negative. I don't think Lupus is

that easily eliminated and the scl 70 looks like scleraderma to me.

The Rheumatologist is adopting a wait and see attitude.

Meanwhile the Raynauds has gotten bad. The first thing I did on this

site was query for Raynauds and right away found pictures of hands.

If that were my hands when they had flared it would be a good day.

And it extends to my wrist. It is very difficult for me to do

anything when they are like that. It is a problem and to cap that

off I met a man who is being amputated bit by bit because of

Raynauds. Toes, more toes, foot, fingers and it seems to just

progress. That with how difficult it is to use my hands have made me

think I had better find out about it and see what can be done. My

feet had been the problem but blamed that on neuropathy. The same

discoloration problems are in my feet but is there more often than

not. My hands hurt some but my feet have been very painful. I had

gone to a Neurologist for them with no help. While my feet look the

same in color and such the feelings are not anywhere near the same.

At this point I think it is neuropathy with Raynauds thrown in for

good measure.

I am looking for information and find there is much I want to know.

I was told this is a good forum and that is what I am finding though

I have not had time to read much here tonight.

Bvan (Betty)

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