Question:
{{{{{{Sherry}}}}} thank you. <sniffle, honk> :`-) *********************************** KCat – I am not a medical professional. The contents of this post are based soley on my experiences and opinions http://www.ghg.net/schwerpt/mypage.htm http://www.ghg.net/schwerpt/aslfaq20.htm ("`-”-/").___..–”"`-._ (`6_ 6 ) `-. ( ).`-.__.’`) (_Y_.)’ ._ ) `._ `. “-..-” _..`–’_..-_/ /–’_.’ ,’ (()),-” (()),’ (((.-’
Response:
<<As I’ve said, I’m going to get an arthritis panel done on her Tomorrow.>> I assume you’re taking about more antibody studies. Probably a good idea. << She is on Effexor at 75 mgs (to be raised probably tomorrow) in an effort to get her headaches under control. It’s just that I’m not sure that the original diagnosis of "tension-migraine" is the right answer anymore.>> Migraine headaches have always been a very prominent feature of my daughter’s lupus. Of course, not every headache is a symptom of lupus. Still, thrown in with all the other things you describe, it does sound suspicious. << She had a 1:80 ANA titre two or three years ago. Doc explained that in teens and younger ANA titres often run low despite obvious disease.>> That shows that you have a doctor who is knowledgeable. I’ve also heard this from several rheumatologists, including pediatric rheumatologists. << And of course, we know that in relatives of lupus patients, positive ANA titres can mean absolutely nothing. >> Well, maybe not nothing. A low positive titer is indeed common in children of people with lupus. However, there IS a certain amount of risk that can’t be ignored too. I think the key thing here is that she doesn’t just have an elevated ANA. She also has some symptoms very reminiscent of lupus or some related autoimmune disease. <<I guess I’m just worried. she called from school crying from the headache – When she gets home she’s going to take Fioricet and crater as that’s the only way she’s able to deal with this right now.>> I understand totally. With my daughter, another thing that has helped her headaches has been taking Neurontin at night. BTW, is your daughter sensitive to light? Florescent lights, such as those in schools, are a sure way to bring on a migraine in my daughter. << I guess if we get another positive ANA (and higher) than it’s time to see a rheumie.. (she doesn’t like mine so I suspect she’ll balk at that one).>> A better thing to be checking right now might be for any other positive antibodies, especially anti-dsDNA. My daughter’s ANA at the time of diagnosis was 1:160. She probably wouldn’t have been diagnosed with that ANA except she had other antibodies as well which were positive. The one that really cinched the diagnosis was anti-dsDNA because of the specificity for lupus. Shortly after diagnosis, her ANA did go up to 1:320. After a few months of treatment though with Cytoxan and Prednisone, her ANA and anti-dsDNA converted to negative. Sandra
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