Ann S

Jeannie,
Sorry it took so long to get back to you. I've been around, but mostly just lurking.......... thanks for 'holding the fort down'. I've had some mojor problems at work and it's kind of drained me of a lot of things.
I'm glad you found someone who you think is at least listening to you. I do want to warn you though, not to get you thinking negative thoughts, just to prepare you in case. When my internal med. Dr. ran tests, I had a positive ANA. Then, he wanted to run ANA specific tests (about 4 or 5). All the specicfic tests came back negative. He then referred me to a rheumatologist. After seeing all my old test results, listening to my symptoms & history, and doing a physical exam, he said it was his opinion that I had Rheumatoid Arthritis with a mix of Lupus. (on top of the old IBS and newer Raynauds dx) He said he wanted to run further tests, but he seemed sure enough to prescribe a bunch of meds. All the further tests came back o.k., except for one borderline. I asked him what he thought now with the new info, but he said he still believed his first dx was right and that he felt the results of the last tests meant the chances of getting the more serious forms of the diseases were lessened. He explained that you can't just rely on the tests for a dx!!!!! Anyway, the way your dr. has been leaning, there's a good chance that the same results could be interpreted differently. As for that muscle enzyme test, I've never heard of it. But then, there's a lot of things I don't know about all this stuff. When do you find out the results of the new tests and see your Dr. again?
I'm really concerned about Jeri too and I miss her. Please stay in touch and don't disappear!
Take care, Ann