ANA test - Fibromyalgia Message Board

GodsGirl4ever06 · 05-27-2005, 08:19 AM

I went to the doctor yesterday to get my Hep A shot (fun fun) for work and I knew that it was about time to retest my ANA.

Well, we had a little discussion. My ANA titer has been at 1:40 the couple times it's been checked. He says this is negative. I say it's not.

I was on a lupus board (not at Healthboards) for quite some time when they originally suspected that that is what I had. I learned some stuff. A lot of those people have really low ANA titers but had lupus. I also learned that some people (a low low number) can have a pos. ANA, but not have lupus.

Anyway, what should I think? It's all so confusing. I have fibro, and I know that..where does lupus fit in?

I did get my blood taken yesterday also (fun day full of needles it was...) to check my ANA again, pretty much on my insistence.

So we will see if there is a change or it stays at 1:40.

I don't exactly know what I'm trying to ask you all...but...help? Maybe explain some stuff? Ahhh, I don't know!

Glojer · 05-27-2005, 08:34 AM

The results of your ANA are considered low for most labs. Just because you have a high ana doesn't mean you have lupus, but it does mean you could have some joint and tendon pain. It is my understanding that people with high ana counts (mine was 1:320) sometimes have more inflammation in the tendons around the joints than in the actual joint like arthritis. That is always the problem for rhuemys to figure out the best way to treat for your joint pain. Conversely just because your ana is low doesn't rule out lupus or joint pain. You need four of the 11 acr criteria to be diagnosed with lupus. Check the top of the lupus board here for the sticky posts to give you that kind of info. I'm just beginning this journey myself, but goldenwings and a few others have been on it along time. I'm sure they will have much better info than I do, but if I can help in any way I will be glad to. Insisting on the blood work is a beginning, and always get copies of your results to keep a file for yourself for reference when you have further testing. Getting a lupus diagnosis can take a very long time, I keep saying I am not too worried about the diagnosis, I just want to be treated for the symptoms so they don't get any worse.

Glojer