Hello,
Recently, I had two labs run ANA panels on me and they both came back as positive with a 1:160 titer result, Nucleolar pattern. However, everything else came back negative, including tests for anti-SCL 70, anti-SM AB, anti-RNP AB, anti-DS DNA AB by FARR, anti-RO AB (SS-A), and anti-LA AB (SS-B). My rheumatologist says I have either Scleroderma or Lupus, but I do not fit neatly into either one of those categories so he has decided to take a "wait and see" approach with me.
I have been having various weird things going on with me for the last 5-6 years. Those things have included: heart palpitations (60%-70% of the time), anxiety, malaise, occasional eye swelling (though not lately), lymph node swelling in my arm pit and temporomandibular joint (happened once in each location and I am currently experiencing myofacial pain in my tmj), all-over hair loss, occasional blurry vision, occasional cold and/or tingling sensation in my hands and feet (though no noticeable color changes occur), cystic acne, and mild joint pain in my knees, hips, fingers and lower back. I am also sometimes sensitive to touch or pressure (I bruise easily and my skin sometimes just hurts), as well as lights, smells, sounds, etc. Echo, EKG, standard blood work and full Thyroid panel present as normal. Fibromyalgia has been ruled out.
Recently, I was under a tremendous amount of stress (I'm am attorney) and so I had some sort of attack for about three weeks. During that time, I experienced a drunken feeling, especially when walking, palpitations, random muscle spasms (especially in my legs), tremors/trembling, chest tightness, fatigue, all-over weakness, and all-over shakiness.
I have since improved; however, the results of my ANA tests are now back and I am a bit overwhelmed. My ANA was tested at my own prompting after researching all my symptoms on the Internet.
I guess my questions are:
1) Are there any more tests to determine if I have one disorder as opposed to the other?
2) Is it a good idea to just wait and see what symptoms I develop over time in the event that I do have Scleroderma or SLE? (I have heard that early treatment of SCL can perhaps alter the course of the disease.)
3) Can a Nucleolar pattern ever mean anything else besides SCL or SLE?
4) Are there people out there with the Nucleolar pattern who never develop full-blown symptoms of SCL or SLE?
Thanks so much for your time.