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Nov. 14th, 2001 11:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rivkaI had my repeat bloodwork done last Thursday, and came home last night to find that my doctor's office wanted me to call for my results. (Much better than the six-week delay in informing me of my results last time. Maybe I won't switch doctors just yet.)
My TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) test was well within the normal range. "Normal" is roughly between 0.5-5.5, and mine was 1.9. So it doesn't appear to be hypothyroidism. Damn, that was the easy answer.
My ANA (antinuclear antibody) test is still positive. This time I had the foresight to ask her to give me the actual numerical result. ANA tests are reported in terms of how much they could dilute the sample and still get a positive result. Mine was still positive at 1:80. An extremely helpful website informs me that
A positive test does not mean the patient has an autoimmune syndrome and needs clinical correlation. Since these diseases are relatively rare and there is a certain false positive rate, a positive result, just like the rheumatoid factor, is likely to be a false positive. The presence of specific autoantibodies makes the FANA more meaningful as does a higher titer. One looks for titers of at least 1:160 or higher.
The only symptom I've had so far is the rash that made her test for lupus in the first place, and that's clearing up all right with the antibiotic gel she gave me in case it was rosacea instead.
She's referred me to a rheumatologist. I called the one she recommended and they told me that they're not an in-network provider with my insurance company (which wouldn't mean that I couldn't see them, but it would mean much higher copays). Much frustration ensued until I got hold of someone at the insurance company, who said that as long as my primary doctor sent them a referral they'd bill my care at in-network rates. (I believe I'll call back and ask for a letter certifying that. Just in case.)
Here's a fun little diagram outlining possible diagnoses. Another website informs me that anti-nuclear antibodies may also occur with non auto-immune based diseases, especially in the case of infections, viral diseases, hepatitis, infectious mononucleosis, leukemia, lymphoma, melanomas, and others. Furthermore, ANA are often detected in chronic hepatitis, primary cirrhosis, thyroiditis, and allergic encephalitis.
All this suggests that the rheumatologist isn't likely to have answers for me at the first visit - just more labwork. But given that I still feel more or less healthy, I suspect that he'll be relatively unexcited. Hope so, anyway.
My TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) test was well within the normal range. "Normal" is roughly between 0.5-5.5, and mine was 1.9. So it doesn't appear to be hypothyroidism. Damn, that was the easy answer.
My ANA (antinuclear antibody) test is still positive. This time I had the foresight to ask her to give me the actual numerical result. ANA tests are reported in terms of how much they could dilute the sample and still get a positive result. Mine was still positive at 1:80. An extremely helpful website informs me that
A positive test does not mean the patient has an autoimmune syndrome and needs clinical correlation. Since these diseases are relatively rare and there is a certain false positive rate, a positive result, just like the rheumatoid factor, is likely to be a false positive. The presence of specific autoantibodies makes the FANA more meaningful as does a higher titer. One looks for titers of at least 1:160 or higher.
The only symptom I've had so far is the rash that made her test for lupus in the first place, and that's clearing up all right with the antibiotic gel she gave me in case it was rosacea instead.
She's referred me to a rheumatologist. I called the one she recommended and they told me that they're not an in-network provider with my insurance company (which wouldn't mean that I couldn't see them, but it would mean much higher copays). Much frustration ensued until I got hold of someone at the insurance company, who said that as long as my primary doctor sent them a referral they'd bill my care at in-network rates. (I believe I'll call back and ask for a letter certifying that. Just in case.)
Here's a fun little diagram outlining possible diagnoses. Another website informs me that anti-nuclear antibodies may also occur with non auto-immune based diseases, especially in the case of infections, viral diseases, hepatitis, infectious mononucleosis, leukemia, lymphoma, melanomas, and others. Furthermore, ANA are often detected in chronic hepatitis, primary cirrhosis, thyroiditis, and allergic encephalitis.
All this suggests that the rheumatologist isn't likely to have answers for me at the first visit - just more labwork. But given that I still feel more or less healthy, I suspect that he'll be relatively unexcited. Hope so, anyway.
