The Medical Diary of an Emerging Wise Woman

I just came from my second rheumatologist visit today.  This is a new one, a much better, more respectful, more highly educated rheumatologist.  This started for me in in August of 2006 with a nasty bout of Epstein Barr virus.  Since then I am sick constantly.  What used to be an outstanding immune system seemed to me had gone to seed.  My primary doctor found that I have a fatty liver(love that name) and a cyst on my liver, high levels of remote Epstein Barr virus, high platelet count and an ANA titer of 1/80.  Now, before today I thought that having 1/80, although positive was nothing to worry about.   My new doctor said that it is indeed positive.  Anyting over 1/20 is considered positive. So I am at the top level of the low end of the positive ANA test.  I also saw the one rhematologist I did not like and he said I have vitamin d deficiency.  when I asked him about the other tests his nurse told me "they all looked pretty good"  Well I have to wonder what "pretty good" is.  That is a pretty subjective statement there.  My new doctor told me she thinks I probably have rheumatoid arthritis because the big clue was my extreme morning stiffness.  That coupled with the test results and the pain I experienced when she pushed on some of my joints brought her to that conclusion.  so I took blood tests, and x-rays and will be back in 2 weeks.  I also was recently diagnosed with gastritis that they did a biopsy on and I wilol find out that info on this wed.  jjust basic news I know but but its late and i better run for now.  irishbbookfariy.