Which blood tests? Update: An incorrect diagnosis :)

[abifae]

Abi and Bee, that's how I feel about it most of the time. I have very little faith in the ability of the medical profession to help just about any physical disorder. If I had a sudden traumatic injury, there's no other place in the world I'd rather be than a modern hospital.

Exactly! If I get a broken bone or gunshot wound, then yes, please, to the doctor with me.

General aches and pains, colds and flus, brain imbalances.... nuh uh. LOL.

Just work on healing, remembering it takes lots of time. But you will get there.
I still struggle physically. But my good days outnumber the bad ones now. Used to be all bad days!

Exactly! I used to have seizures so bad and autism so interruptive that I couldn't work. And now look!!! I have days that I REALLY wish I had more sick days I was allowed to take, but I force myself to work and I survive.

Instead of back to back really bad episode, it's one every couple months.

And it will keep getting better.

 

[FarmerChick]

Would the possibly deadly disease be an autoimmune disease?

Yep.

But the specialist says I don't have it so to the other doctor.

I would think that truly wasn't necessary. IF another dr. thinks you might have something horrible and sends you to a speicalist then that Dr. is doing their job. they are out of their realm and send you to the Dr. that could be sure. AND if that other dr. made a correct call you would be thanking him big time LOL


many many people do have 'legit actual diseases' that many Drs. can not diagnose til you hit that right one....so be sure you don't dismiss any future symptons.

hope it all goes well for you!!

 

[miss_thenorth]

I would say the othere doc probably found some autoimmune disease results. --some but not all antibodies are probably present. Like I have mentioned, I was diagnosed as mixed connective tissue disease, and most symptoms cleared up with dropping gluten. I know Autoimmune diseases arise from an overactive immune response of the body against substances and tissues normally present in the body. In other words, the body actually attacks its own cells. The immune system mistakes some part of the body as a pathogen and attacks it. (as per wikipedia)
Celiac disease is a reaction to gliadin, (or gluten), and when the immune system cross-reacts with the small-bowel tissue, causing an inflammatory reaction. That leads to a truncating of the villi lining the small intestine (called villous atrophy). This interferes with the absorption of nutrients, because the intestinal villi are responsible for absorption. (also as per wikipedia).

Now, if you can follow that, then try and put the two together. you have an immune response casuing an inflammatory reaction, which then interferes with absorption of nutrients. After a while, this causes an autoimmune respopnse, due to the overactive immune response o fhte body against substances ( gluten or gliadin).

Here is more information. http://www.sclero.org/medical/symptoms/associated/celiac-disease/a-to-z.html

 

[Lady Henevere]

But the specialist says I don't have it so to the other doctor.

I would think that truly wasn't necessary.

He really did earn the for the diagnosis. To say that I have lupus based on a low positive ANA titer and no other lupus symptoms was not cool. A positive ANA titer can be one of many signs of an autoimmune disorder. But about 25-35% of women have a false positive on ANA titers, so that their test comes back positive but they never develop any kind of autoimmune disease.

On the good side, that doc did listen well and he sent me to a specialist. (The specialist was very kind, but he sort of rolled his eyes about the fact that I was there based on the positive blood test.) I may even give that doc another chance if I have something simple like an infection and I need antibiotics. He certainly was better than the first doc I saw in this crazy journey!

Mtn, first of all thanks for the great info both here and in the PM you sent. (She sent me over to this thread which has some info on her own autoimmune experience.) I do wonder if it's Celiac. I haven't been tested but I went gluten free about a year and a half ago, and it got rid of some major, longstanding digestive problems. But when I get really busy I eat out more, and often I don't bother a waiter or food-counter clerk about whether there is hidden gluten in the salad dressing, veggie soup, etc. So I would not be at all surprised if that was causing the ANA titer to go up.

In the meantime, I've been getting by okay with the symptoms but I notice that after a period of high stress (a big, stressful presentation, working hard to meet a tight deadline, etc.), I have a "slow" day where I can't focus and I have a lot of trouble putting thoughts together. It occurred to me that this could be a sign of adrenals -- they work hard for the period of stress, and once the deadline is met they sort of shut down too much. Does that make sense with respect to adrenal fatigue...or am I just making up explanations?

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

But the specialist says I don't have it so to the other doctor.

I would think that truly wasn't necessary.

He really did earn the for the diagnosis. To say that I have lupus based on a low positive ANA titer and no other lupus symptoms was not cool. A positive ANA titer can be one of many signs of an autoimmune disorder. But about 25-35% of women have a false positive on ANA titers, so that their test comes back positive but they never develop any kind of autoimmune disease.

On the good side, that doc did listen well and he sent me to a specialist. (The specialist was very kind, but he sort of rolled his eyes about the fact that I was there based on the positive blood test.) I may even give that doc another chance if I have something simple like an infection and I need antibiotics. He certainly was better than the first doc I saw in this crazy journey!

Mtn, first of all thanks for the great info both here and in the PM you sent. (She sent me over to this thread which has some info on her own autoimmune experience.) I do wonder if it's Celiac. I haven't been tested but I went gluten free about a year and a half ago, and it got rid of some major, longstanding digestive problems. But when I get really busy I eat out more, and often I don't bother a waiter or food-counter clerk about whether there is hidden gluten in the salad dressing, veggie soup, etc. So I would not be at all surprised if that was causing the ANA titer to go up.

In the meantime, I've been getting by okay with the symptoms but I notice that after a period of high stress (a big, stressful presentation, working hard to meet a tight deadline, etc.), I have a "slow" day where I can't focus and I have a lot of trouble putting thoughts together. It occurred to me that this could be a sign of adrenals -- they work hard for the period of stress, and once the deadline is met they sort of shut down too much. Does that make sense with respect to adrenal fatigue...or am I just making up explanations?

Yes, ma'am, adrenal fatigue, brought on by the gluten intolerance.
Sounds like you are not too severe though.
Start slamming the B complex, FCLO, Vitamin C (plain acerola powder) and be strict about gluten.