Exploring Autoimmune Disease Possibility

[BarbiePetals]

I had a bloodtest for ANA. It came out normal. Does this dismiss the possibility of Autoimmune disease? I also had a another thryoid test (I went hyperthyroid in January) and now my thryoid is going hyopthyroid. I'm wondering if this is not what is causing all my twitching with my levels going up & down. Just curious if anyone had any insight on this. ~Leslie

 

[MeaganGranger]

I still think I have thyroid problems even though I have tested negative for them many many times! As for the ANA, I don't necessarily think that has to be positive for you to have auto-immune problems, but I actually don't know. I DO know that just because you have a positive ANA, doesn't necessarily mean you have auto-immune problems, so I suppose it could work the other way around too. I know its hard, because I think the same way you do, but the best thing to do is just trust what your doctors are telling you now, and get any new symptoms checked out.

 

[Krackersones]

I have seen twitching associated with both hyper and hypo thyroid in articles. I had two EXTREMELY high ANA tests (weeks apart and a few months after the twitching started). I have since had three normal ANA tests over many months yet the twitching still continues. Every doctor I have seen including a rheumotologist (sp?), gives little meaning to the ANA tests by themselves. They seem to help them speculate about things but are never really diagnostic without a bunch of other findings that continue over time.This post reminds me of an exchange with the third neurologist I saw. This neurologist did my second EMG and said he saw nothing unusual and was actually very cold in demeanor. When he dismissed me with a report saying he saw no evidence of any problem, I asked him why I was twitching. He responded with, "lots of things effect the nervous system." I was very annoyed at the time because it seemed like he did not even want to help me. Now after all I've gone through and researched on my own I understand his comment a little better. I think there are a lot of things that can effect the nerves and could theoretically cause twitching but pinning it down is just so hard because of all the fluctuations in blood tests and the complete complexity of the human body. You do not understand how much grey area there is in medicine until you have something like unexplained twitching.Krackersones

 

[DonJose]

Hi leslie, for autoimmune thyroid, like Hashimoto's disease, you need to ask your doc for a TPO blood test to see what your antibody levels are. Yes, thyroid disease can cause twitching and muscle pain. I have Hashimotos and my twitching started when I swung from hypo to hyper thyroid. Feel free to PM me, if you want to discuss further.Linda