| Re: Is it time to go back to the doctor?
Toin, From what I've read, there really isn't any one definitive test for SLE. Instead, the Am. College of Rheum. looks for 4 "matches", sometime in your lifetime, from their list of 11 classification criteria. There's a "sticky post" near the top of the Board with these criteria, plus a list of common symptoms.
If you tested positive for ANA, that doesn't necessarily mean you have lupus (could be something else, like RA, or a passing virus, or a family trait).
On the other hand, there are a couple of autoantibodies that are SO specific to lupus, that if you have one of them, you might get the Dx even with meeting fewer than "4". These two "biggies" are anti-DNA and anti-Sm.
I *think* there are various reasons for passing blood, not nercessarily lupus, in other words. I've done it from stones & from UTI's. However... I'm no doctor (obviously!), but I think you REALLY SHOULD get thoroughly checked out. But I sympathize with your having up's & down's with doctors. A lot of us here have expressed the same grievance---me, too. I hope others post, too. And at least you'd have the group here to chat with as you work your way through appts., etc.---and good company never hurts! Sincerely, Vee
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