please help little hapeewendy

Nurses General Nursing

Published

hey guys, I need some of your expertise here....

auto immune disorders etc were never my strong suit in school, I muddled thru like many of us did but didnt care too much about all of it until now..

Few months ago I had weird onset of uncontrolled fevers , went to family MD was told I had a virus,okay fine two weeks after that, terrible onset of arthritis in the small joints of my hands

positive ANA titre of 1:320

speckled pattern consistant with SLE

family MD sent me to a rheumatologist who ran a whole bunch of tests , that have quite honestly frazzled me

heres the deal if you could shed some light I would really appreciate it

latest bloodwork results

ENA antibody screen - borderline positive

RO/SSA antibodies - borderline positive

Centromere - Positive

Scleroderma 70 antibody - borderline positive

so I went from a diagnosis of lupus *which I was just coming to terms with* to now potentially scleroderma

what has me so confused is the speckled pattern of the ANA smear....that usually doesnt happen with scleroderma does it?

and my anti dsDNA came back negative, which again is usually positive in lupus

I'm thinking scleroderma now, am going to my specialist tomorrow but being that I felt brushed off by him initially any input you guys could offer would be most appreciated

(really shoulda paid more attention in this unit in school!)

cheers

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Gosh, Wendy, I'm thinking good thoughts for you and hoping for the least worrisome of diagnoses here for you!

Would have to defer to a Rheumatologist--this is way beyond my nurse brain... perhaps there are rheumy nurses on this BB?

Thoughts and prayers, as well as hugs, for you! :kiss

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I have no idea...just didn't want you to think you were being ignored. Please keep us posted, and I'll be praying for you.

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thanks guys :)

glad to see I'm not the only one who cant figure this thing out

I'm going to my rheumatologist tomorrow

was just freakin out cuz I got my hot little hands on a copy of my results ....always a bad thing :)

I will keep you all posted

thanks for your thoughts n prayers

whatever is going on I will manage.....there

are so many sick ppl out there, I'm lucky!

cheers!

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Specializes in surgical, neuro, education.

http://www.uklupus.co.uk/ldt.html

This web site had some good info on how lupus is dx. I am sorry I dont have more information for you.

:confused:

Will say a prayer that all goes well. It is very difficult having a chronic disease. If you ever want to talk you can email me directly [email protected].

I don't have lupus--but I have severe asthma (talk about sick time!!!) and osteoarthritis.

:kiss :kiss Cheryl

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Don't have any answers or suggestions for you Wendy, but I will keep you in my prayers.

Marianne

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Prayers and good thoughts are sent your way. Keep us posted. God Bless!!!!

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Same here. I've always felt that it is better to know what you face, no matter what it is. Will be saying special prayers for you .

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thank you for all your positive thinking

I went to the specialist today and he says that to him I dont exhibit any symptoms of scleroderma and he is sticking with his original diagnosis of early onset systemic lupus

I dont know if I should be happy or not, I do feel relieved that I know what I'm dealing with here...

the specialist suggested that I take a few days off to recouperate from what he thought was my first flare up , so I'm taking his advice and stayin off til monday..

he suggested longer but I feel guilty staying off work when I feel okay....

once again thanks for everything

its nice to know that we are able to support one another from miles away :)

cheers!

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Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.

Well, I guess you got some "good?" news? Anyways, I'll keep you in my prayers. It IS nice to know that we have such a wonderful support system here even though we are thousands of miles apart--some of us anyways.

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Hey there

As soon as I started to read your post I thought lupus, then I got to the end, then I just read your last post, which it was brought back to lupus. Everything to me seems to indicate lupus, although the negDNA is iffy. My ex boyfriends mother had lupus. She had it for many years. She goes through stages, it has been managed really well for the most part with her. The most side effects she has seen were/are from the steroids, she gained weight. She was sleeping a lot for a while, but is now doing a lot better. Her biggest problems were dealing with the effects of her meds. I know I can get you more info, but its late now so I will get back to you if I can. I hope you feel better and you are in my thoughts:) Hang in there.

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Specializes in CV-ICU.

Hapeewendy, have you been to the Lupus Foundation of America website yet? There is someinteresting info there on both lupus and scleroderma. Try checking out this site for info:

http://www.lupus.org and even their info site

http://www.lupus.org/education/types.html

My sister's S.O. has Lupus and works as a supervisor for a railroad crew. He has been diagnosed for years, and by listening to his body and following his doctors' good advice, he has done quite well so far. He does refuse to get married to my sister because he doesn't want to "burden" her with a sick husband -- so they just live together instead!!!!

I also know a nurse with scleroderma who has jokingly referred to it as her "anti-aging disease" with her "non-wrinkling face." She does have problems at times, but is very upfront with everyone when she is having a flareup. I've never worked with her, I just know her through a professional organization, so I don't know how it affects her work.

I shall keep you in my prayers. My hubby has M.S. which is another autoimmune disease, so I can understand some of what it is like to get a diagnosis like this. Take care of yourself!

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