Positive ANA Test? Here's What Your Doctor Missed

Comments · 192

• RH

  @rheumatologistoncall · 4 weeks ago · pinned

  A positive ANA with real symptoms and no diagnosis is one of the loneliest places to be.<br>You do not need a diagnosis to belong here. If you are still looking for one, you are exactly who we built it for. First month free, then $47 for the first 100 founding members. <a href="https://community.rheumatologistoncall.com/">https://community.rheumatologistoncall.com/</a><br>Dr. Diana Girnita

• SQ

  @squirrelprincess3596 · 3 months ago

  I had a positive ANA and the rheumatologist told me, “Most middle aged women will have a positive ANA. It’s nothing.” 😡 I ended up going to a different rheumatologist who ran a few more tests and diagnosed me with Sjögren’s!

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• CR

  @CRFCreativelyYouGiftBask-bj9wt · 4 months ago

  In my search of understanding a positive ANA which I recently was told that I have is that menopause is also a factor in women with a positive ANA due to the drop in estrogen which causes inflammation in the body both high, or low estrogen levels is an issue that leads to inflammation. I&apos;ve had so many things going on in my body since going into menopause five years ago, and none of them were the ones that I thought I would have a major problem with like night sweats that I&apos;ve always heard about, but never get at all, but instead I&apos;ve had heart palpitations that were very scary since my mid 40&apos;s that sent me to a cardiologist a few years ago, and it was menopause related, but no one tells us women about these things. My doctor order me to see a Rheumatologist, but I would like to see a endocrinologist to check both hormonal, and inflammatory issues, and I will be seeing him next week to discuss my concerns, but will not reject seeing a Rheumatologist I&apos;m just trying to kill two birds with one stone I have an amazing PCP, and will do what he suggests, but at the same time we must be our own advocate for our lives.

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• PR

  @PrettyLeeey · 4 months ago

  It wasn’t Lupus in my case, but instead Sjorgrens. But I spent a whole year being scared I had Lupus. But Sjorgrens isn’t an easy ride either. It’s just as debilitating.

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• LU

  @lucindawelenc2191 · 4 months ago

  1990. Persistent joint pain &amp; fatigue. Positive ANA test. No referral to a specialist, just a snippy phone call. &quot;You have rheumatoid arthritis. Doctor is calling in a prescription.&quot; Yeah, nothing like being told you have a crippling degenerative disease with no treatment plan other than &quot;Take a couple of Motrin.&quot; <br><br>I spent the next year trying every NSAID on the market, paying prescription prices because none of them were cheap OTC at the time. Finally started researching. I went back to the GP. &quot;Look, I don&apos;t know what this is but I don&apos;t think it&apos;s RA. There is no redness, there&apos;s no swelling, it&apos;s not bilateral, and the meds aren&apos;t helping. I want a referral to a rheumatologist.&quot; <br><br>Doctor got really nasty and said he&apos;d give me the referral but the rheumatologist would tell me the same thing. Guess what? The rheumatologist agreed with me! He ran more tests, asked for a history, did a thorough exam, and diagnosed fibromyalgia.

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• J.

  @j.ksmith7432 · 3 months ago

  Ive been waiting over 25 yrs for someone to help, I’ll still be waiting the day that I die.

  30

• MS

  @MS-ir1es · 4 months ago

  I tested positive for both sjogrens and lupus and was referred to a rheumatologist. He basically said 30% of people test positive but do not have it and blew off my symptoms.

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• RA

  @RaverX88 · 3 months ago

  It keeps getting worse and worse after COVID 😢

  9

• US

  @user-jl1mz3cl5i · 4 months ago

  Thank you very much for providing this information in a calm, re-assuring manner. &nbsp;This result can be scary and it is good to know that there are doctors like you that take the time to dig deeper and show that it is not always the worst possible scenario.

  11

• GR

  @gridspir · 3 months ago

  Thank you. &nbsp;This is so needed! &nbsp;Have seen 2 rheumatologists and both insisted nothing wrong, &nbsp;only to find out after years and years of continued suffering that &nbsp;I had two serious connective tissue autoimmune illnesses.

  6

• AL

  @alix73 · 3 months ago (edited)

  I was diagnosed at age 18. Now at 56 I still have no symptoms. It was a real positive A.N.A it was checked many times. It is a high titer with a speckled pattern. Makes no sense. I am fine thank goodness!

  4

• TE

  @tekomar6683 · 4 months ago

  Dr Girnita is such a wonderful doctor. &nbsp;My rheumatologist does nothing but type.

  14