Results in - ugh!

Deanna in CO · Post by **Deanna in CO** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 1:59 pm

Well, the results of my testing earlier this week are back, and I'm not very happy with them.

1) They found "sludge" in my gallbladder. The doctor says that can cause the gallbladder symptoms I'm having, and she referred me to surgery. Reading about it online, it seems the sludge can be a precursor to stones. So I have an appointment with the surgeon for an evaluation next Thursday. I'm guessing he will recommend surgery. (I HATE the thought that I could end up with "chronic diarrhea" - or worse problems with my MC - as a result - but I don't want to risk ending up with an emergency situation, either.)

2) My ANA went up. A month ago, my titer was 1:160; this week it's 1:320. So my doctor also referred me to a rheumatologist. I'm hoping this will be a positive thing, since rheumatologists seem to have a better understanding of the whole picture of autoimmune disease than most other docs. (Well, one can always hope, right?) I have an appointment with rheumatology for Wednesday next week.

So I am understandably not very happy today. :-(

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 3:04 pm

so sorry :(

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 3:50 pm

Rheumatologists, in my experience, are looking for full-blown autoimmune diseases that they can treat with heavy-duty immune system modulating drugs. They are medication managers. They have no interest in keeping people well or practicing prevention, so don't be surprised if a rheumy is bored with your 1:320 ANA. He will surely do a full blood work up, but if other antibodies don't add up to a slam dunk diagnosis, he'll send you on your way. But it doesn't hurt to know what your other antibodies may be doing -- you'll end up researching them like I do!!

Deanna in CO · Post by **Deanna in CO** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 5:31 pm

Zizzle,

You're probably right. And they've already done most of the blood work for antibodies, and it's all negative. And since I've got obvious inflammation both in my intestines and in my gallbladder (and since he's Kaiser), I don't expect much.

I'm just figuring the 1:320 ANA is an indication that I am in fact in a flare with my MC. Still I figure I should have him check it out - he may uncover something helpful, you never know!

:-)

Deanna

maestraz · Post by **maestraz** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 5:54 pm

Zizzle, although I personally liked the rheumatologist I saw briefly while trying to make sure no other AI conditions were present, I agree with you-- mostly she wanted to shoot my hips up with steroids (which I let her do one time because I had pretty severe bursitis but in the future will use acupuncture) and prescribe heavier duty pain meds like Tramadol, which I have never needed to take since going GF.