!!!PLEASE!!! Help me understand AUTO-IMMUNE BLOOD TESTS & SYMPTOMS?!

!!!PLEASE!!! Help me understand AUTO-IMMUNE BLOOD TESTS & SYMPTOMS?

Hi.
I went to a DR last month and he pulled these tests. I have not been back yet. Waiting for my next appointment.

I do not understand how the antibodies can be as they are and my how bad my symptoms have been with the abscence of detectable inflammation in the blood work!

I have NOT been DX'ed with lupus as of yet.

My symptoms are SEVERE, Chronic fatigue, chronic joint pain with very mild inflammation, chronic migraines, electrolyte imbalance, heavy menstraul bleeding, etc.

Can !!!ANYONE, PLEASE!!! help me with understanding why I feel SO BAD with out any inflammation???

My ANA is 1:1280, Nucleolar.
My ANTI RNP is positive.
My ANTI SM is postive.
MY ESR was on 5/23 it was 16. On 5/29 it was 12. MM/HR.
My DNA AB was negative.
My CH50 is 66.
My C3 was 127.
My C4 was 19.7

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

3 weeks ago
Also, please note that I occasionally take NSAIDS. 1-2 X's a week. Not enough to affect inlammation blood tests to my knowledge.

3 weeks ago
GlutenFreeGirl: Thank you so much for the answer. I have been gluten free since 12/06. I do NOT have a definite DX of C.D. but a DR recommended I tried going gluten free due to chronic stomach issues. It has worked wonders as far as my stomach issues and I have lost 30 lbs!!!
+++++++++
Chris:
Your answer has helped me understand the ESR & hs-CRP side to things. Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!!

Although, I must say one thing-my ANA is 1:1280. That is the ***highest*** the lab measures.

I might join your group. I need all the info and help I can get right now.

I am not getting many answers from the DRs I am subjected to.

Thank you again for the answer!

Hi I'm Chris, I personally have Lupus, Sjorgren's, and a couple other autoimmune diseases. I am sorry you are so distressed. I am going to start with the easiest stuff first. First, I own a support group for people with autoimmune diseases, and all the information Im about to write was pulled from our files. Your ANA is very mildly positive, and the pattern suggest that it can be almost any autoimmune disease, likely sjorgrens which is very much like Lupus. I have it, and truth is, it causes almost the same problems as Lupus, so they really feel like one in the same. Your ESR or SED rate which measures inflammation is normal, but it does not mean you dont have inflammation, your blood is just not picking up on it.
I had a hard time finding much info on CH50,c3,c4, however they are consistant if positive with Lupus, sjorgrens or other connective tissue diseases. Antibodies to the Sm antigen are found almost exclusively in lupus, and often help to confirm the diagnosis of SLE. Antibodies to RNP (ribonucleoprotein) are found in a number of connective tissue diseases. When present in very high levels, RNP antibodies are suggestive of mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), a condition with symptoms like those of SLE, polymyositis, and scleroderma. On the RNP being positive, my feeling with all the other evidence leads me to think its lupus or sjorgrens still. Heavy menstrual cycles when we have polled group memebers from a couple diffrent groups seem to affect about 80% of us. In fact I was under 30 when I had to get a hysterectomy. Chronic Migranes, are and can be a mainstay of autoimmunes, or allergies. I just moved from a house that was infested with mold, which caused brain swelling, which led to 5 months of chemo. Once we moved out, the migranes left, unless I get near mold, or too stressed out. TOPOMAX is the medication of choice for most memebers in our group that suffer from migranes, you need to see a doctor and talk to them about a perscription, in the meantime, icepacks help greatly. The fatigue is hard, there is no easy fix. for me it comes and goes, but once you get some kind of diagnosis, they will give you some medications, which after 1-2 months may help with that overwhelming fatiguge and what is called brain fog (feeling out of it). The dr, should have been able to give you somthing for your electrolyte imbalance, usually some kind of vitamine or supplament type protocol for a month or so. depending where your pain is, I like Icy Hot patches, they work, and if you can, find some kind of community pool for the summer if you dont have sun sensitivity or have somthink like aymca indoor pool and just wade around, it helps the joint and muscle pain greatly

also included is the 11 critera for lupus
Diagnostic criteria for lupus
Provided by:
Last Updated: June 29, 2004
Diagnostic criteria for lupus
The following criteria are used to distinguish lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE) from other autoimmune and rheumatic diseases.

A person with 4 of these 11 conditions can be diagnosed with lupus; 3 symptoms suggest that lupus is probably present, and 2 raise the possibility of lupus. Symptoms may be present all at once or appear in succession over a period of time. 1

Butterfly (malar) rash on cheeks
Rash on face, arms, neck, torso (discoid rash)
Skin rashes that result from exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet light (photosensitivity)
Mouth or nasal ulcers, usually painless
Joint swelling, stiffness, pain involving two or more joints (arthritis)
Inflammation of the membranes surrounding the lungs (pleuritis) or heart (pericarditis). This inflammation is called serositis.
Abnormalities in urine, such as increased protein or clumps of red blood cells or kidney cells, called cell casts, in the urine
Nervous system problems, such as seizures or psychosis, without known cause
Problems with the blood, such as reduced numbers of red blood cells (anemia), platelets, or white blood cells
Positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) test
Signs of increased autoimmunity (antibodies against normal tissue), as shown by laboratory tests
References
good luck
chris contact me anytime