tickled1
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14257
posted
We just found out my husband's ANA was positive. He's been having problems with kidney stones and arthritis. Can a + ANA indicate Lyme?
Mine was positive at the beginning of last year before I got dx but now it's negative.
Posts: 2541 | From Northeast | Registered: Jan 2008
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posted
what's ANA? gosh... i don't even know if i've gotten this test.
Posts: 127 | From Toronto, Ontario Canada | Registered: Nov 2007
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adamm
Unregistered
posted
anti-nuclear antibodies--found in lupus
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
Positive ANA is very common, they will say he has Lupus, but it's probably Lyme. I was told I had Lupus because of my + ANA and its Lyme making your immune system go haywire!
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tickled1
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14257
posted
I brought him and my daughter to my LLMD yesterday. She ordered tests for them but we haven't gone yet b/c the lab was closed when we got out of the appt. and it's a little bit of a hike to the lab for us.
They will be going SOON though. I've been trying to tell him he has Lyme but he gets mad. He only went to the LLMD to make me happy.
The tests will be through Quest which I know aren't the best but they'll at least be covered by insurance.
My LLMD doesn't go much by the tests anyway b/c she prefers to make a clinical dx based on symptoms.
I know though that if it's negative he'll refuse treatment. Posts: 2541 | From Northeast | Registered: Jan 2008
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
Dear Laura,
You can lead the horse to water......
Ask him to ask himself which may be worse?
Lupus or Lyme?
Prior to that answer remind him that steroids can cause irreperable damage to people with Lyme.
Maybe a trial run of antibiotics wouldn't hurt prior to "accepting" a Lupus diagnoisis.
Sorry. My husband swore his testosterone level was low.
It was Lyme. He isn't treating at the time.
I am afraid that I will be pushing him around in a wheelchair in a few years.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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Peacesoul
Unregistered
posted
I've had a + ANA for 14 yrs and was dx with Lupus last year and lyme last Aug.
Keep in mind, a + ANA doesn't mean illness. Many people have a + ANA with no illness.
I have a very high tiler but am sick.
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kelmo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8797
posted
My daughter has a positive ANA, as well.
Posts: 2903 | From AZ | Registered: Feb 2006
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Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
Me too, mine recently turned positive, and I have almost every symptom of lupus.
My LLMD feels lyme is behind the scenes in lupus anyway, well actually I think he thinks lupus IS lyme disease.
But I'm thinking i should probably get someone to write it down anyway, as it might possibly help my disability claim????
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
tracy, remember on SSDI, it's NOT OUR ILLNESSES WE HAVE,
it's how they affect us these ways:
can't sit, walk, lift, use your fingers for things, lift, bend, crawl, carry, etc.
that's where the emphasis is and for HOW LONG you can do it? 1 -2 hrs. 3-4 hrs. 6-8 hrs. 30 min.
i've had 3 positive ANAs for lupus; never treated, and 1 dr. told me i had lupus walking out of room with NO INFO AT ALL!
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posted
I had a positive ANA before my lyme diag. They said I had lupus. I know lupus does not go away, and neither does a positive ANA....... But funny thing, with lyme treatment my positive ANA went away.
I got lyme from a bite. My husband got it awhile later, I think from me. I have written about it here on this board search 'transmission husband' Sorry you are going through this. Von
My Doc believes the people who get lyme through sexual trasmission don't get as sick, and often go un noticed. They also tend to have higher lyme antibioties..... go figure.
I have heard that this is because their body does a better job at recognizing the bacteria. (no tick saliva with immune supressor)
Who knows
Posts: 258 | From Washington State | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
I also have a + ANA and a + RF and HIGH CRP
So in my case I have had the "Lupus" diagnosis as well as MANY other "Autoimmune" DX's
Here is my take on this and many people (including so very well respected scientists) believe that all "autoimmune" disease have an infectious etiology, weather it be Borellia, or some other bacteria.
If you type in "Lida Mattman" into google, you will see how she has cultured Borellia in it's L-form from people with Lupus, MS, Parkinsons, ETC.....
These "Autoimmine" illnesses are of "UNKNOWN" etiology....well SOMETHING has to be causing them, and SOMETHING has to be drving the immune system to work so hard....whats else but an infection would cause the immune system to start going haywire.
In fact the immune system is not attacking itslef...c;mon why would it do that? We have VERY intelligent bodies. What is happening is that when bacteria are not in it's classic form and turn into a cyst or L-form...As WE KNOW Lyme does. The immune system cannot find it, but it senses there is some foreign object in the body, so it starts going after things (tisues, bones, muscle etc..) to try and find this foreign body.
So I dont believe our immune systems are actually attacking ourselves, but actually trying to attack what is NOT supposed to be there in the first place. I think the "Autoimmune" theory is WAY outdated. They need to find better ways (like Lida Mattman) to culture this type of bacteria.
I mean C'mon, how MANY people with these DX's end up having Lyme????? OR even some other infection???? Think about it.....
I have been researching my but off since I became ill. Why would ANY previously healthy person wake up oneday in a heap of attacking antibodies and crazy immune system?? Well an Infection makes damn good sense.
I hope this helps, and look up Lida Mattman, you will be blown away.
-------------------- "You'll be surprised to know how far you can go from the point you thought it was the end" Posts: 946 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Apr 2008
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
Positive antinuclear antibodies AND lyme
They go togheter like milk and cookies.
The longer you have lyme the higher the ANA because the spirochetes use our dna as shields as not to be noticed then when the immune system recognises the invader it makes antibodies to attack the same spirochete that is using our dna which means our body made antibodies that attack the protiens it recognises as in the invaders which is our own DNA now in the spirochete.
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
posted
I had positive ANA in the beginning, and my rheumy prescribed steroids b/c I was having other auto-immune problems. It is amazing that I am not dead, but I was on steroids for a year or so. It allowed my Lyme to grow out of control, and I am sure I am much sicker today b/c of it. My LLMD said that the ONLY reason I am probably not dead is b/c I happen to be taking Abx at the same time for acne.
God works in mysterious ways.
I honestly think it is the first line of defense for a lot of ppl w/Lyme. Do NOT let them treat w/ steroids. Ducks love to give those out for everything.
But I would say chances are good it could be Lyme. That was my case.
Bunny
-------------------- 4 strong winds that blow lonely, 7 seas that run high.
All those things that don't change Come what may. Posts: 103 | From Dallas/ Fort Worth. TX | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
Dear Lauraj, Within two months I was tested with Labcorp (postive),Quest(negative) and Igenex,POSITIVE with 7 bands. It is so frustrating. My boyfriend just did Lyme test with Igenex,waiting on results. He has no symptoms,but I hear you can get it from sperm.So why should I be on IV if he has it in his sperm. So needless to say he did the best test(I feel) out there. Hope it all works out with you. Atheana
Posts: 196 | From from a far | Registered: Jan 2008
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Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
Funny how coincidentally they are finding that antibiotics help with Rhuematoid Arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis....
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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