Re: Re: [)Question about antinuclear antibiodies blood test

[Guest guest]

Hello;

Maybe I missed something here, if so I applogize.

Did they do some other blood work in addition to a ANA? I have had a

ANA of 1:640 for many years and only started plaquinel in the past

year. MTX and Predisone are pretty storng medication to use when

there is only " some evidence of auto immune arthritis " .

Possiably they want you on the MTX and predisone because of the

degenration they saw on xrays?

Rheumy doctors don't seem to be overly concerned even with kind of

high ana results without other tests being positive.

What does the rheumatologist want you to do? Does he want you to take

pred and MTX?

Predisone often causes emotional difficulties, ask your doctor if you

can use some .5mg xanax (alprazolam) tablets while your taking the

predisone.

A high ANA is just one blood test that can be a marker for any number

of disorders from Lupus to RA to MS, it doesn't tell us anything

specfic, only that something in the body likely isn't working

correctly. It's kind of like the check engine light comming on in

your car, you know something is wrong, but more tests need to be run

before you know what is actually wrong. And with the human body,

sometimes you will run all thoses tests, and you still won't be able

to figure out what is going on. It's sometimes just what they call

wait and see. So all you can do in the mean time is treat the

symptoms the best you can. That said, MTX and Predisone maybe fine

choices to use, however I would go with the opinion of a rheumy in

general about this situation and take as little predisone as

possiable. Also use of a NSAID and other pain medication should be

considered, and possiably plaquinel.

Good Luck

> I had a blood test and my anticuclear antibodies was 1:160. My internist

> said there is some evidence of auto immune arthritis. My rheumatologist

> xrayed

> my lower back and found severe degenerative arthritis in the lumbar/sacral

> area

> but was not concerned with the antibody number. My internist gave me

> Methotrexate and Predisone. The Predisone is making me very anxious as I

> have a lot

> of anxiety and depression from my pain to begin with and it's just making

> the anxiety worse. I don't know who to believe. Is this number a sign of

> rhuematiod arthritis? Should I take the meds and which one? I am so

> confused. Meg

> in Chicago

>

[Guest guest]

Meg,

Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) can be present even seemingly healthy people.

They are not specific to any particular disease.

Does your rheumatologist know you are taking MTX and prednisone? What

evidence is your internist talking about?

Not an MD

> [ ] Re: [ )Question about antinuclear

antibiodies

> blood test

>

> I had a blood test and my anticuclear antibodies was 1:160. My internist

> said there is some evidence of auto immune arthritis. My rheumatologist

xrayed

> my lower back and found severe degenerative arthritis in the lumbar/sacral

area

> but was not concerned with the antibody number. My internist gave me

> Methotrexate and Predisone. The Predisone is making me very anxious as I

have a lot

> of anxiety and depression from my pain to begin with and it's just making

> the anxiety worse. I don't know who to believe. Is this number a sign of

> rhuematiod arthritis? Should I take the meds and which one? I am so

confused. Meg

> in Chicago