Confused, worried..

Yes, I am worried. Not that we couldn't deal with it, or that it would be 'unfair' that we would have to deal with it, or that it is worse for her than.. Wait, you don't even know what I am talking about..

Yesterday Dr Maddox called about the results from the blood tests we had done on Amanda. Everything looked good, except.. Her ANA levels. Were high.. 1:320.

A negative test would be under 1:80. So not really just borderline high..

Now, what does this mean? Sometimes 'nothing'. We are hoping for 'nothing'. But it is also a possible 'something'.

And since Sophia most likely has Lupus, Lupus in Amanda is something we need to consider.

And the one thing that indicated that Sophia might have Lupus, was the high ANA level. With Sophia, we also had the goiter and no thyroid production, the sore joints, the fatigue, the red lupus butterfly cheeks. But to be honest, we really had only noted the cold hands and feet when we took Sophia to the Doctor.

With Amanda, we only have the headaches. And autoimmune diseases can cause headaches.

5% of the population will test positive for ANA, so it doesn't have to mean anything, but with Sophia to consider.. We have decided to retest. The Dr will send new lab slips, and also for urine analysis. To make sure it is not a lab mistake.

I guess Dr Maddox had consulted one of the rheumatologists at the Children's Hospital in Denver. A colleague of Dr Hollister, who treats Sophia. But had not mentioned the little detail of the sister having Lupus. (well, most likely having lupus).

I feel good about the retesting. I understand that the high ANA might mean 'nothing', and that even if she might have lupus, it may not act the same way in Amanda, as it does in Sophia. Meaning, it may not attack the thyroid, etc. It is all a big unknown right now. So we will wait, and see what the next set of tests might show us.

To be sure, Dr Hollister treats Sophia as if she has Lupus, but does not CALL it lupus. Yet. The meds seams to help her, so it is most likely Lupus, but at this point, it is not officially CALLED lupus, in her papers and such. But when we come in to see Dr Hollister, the appointment is for her Lupus, the meds are to treat lupus and she does have at least three symptoms that would indicate Lupus.

It is a very tricky situation. So if Amanda also has Lupus, we will not find out for a while.