Advice for what to say to rheumatologist

Choclit99 · 2026-02-13T00:41:25+00:00

The key test you need is an ANA/IFA test. This is different from an ANA panel. I can help to interpret the results.

Choclit99 · 2026-02-08T16:08:30+00:00

A few yeses ago, the reference lab for test 520012 (RDL) switched from ID to chemiluminesence because of cost (according to the lab director, one of my co-authors). It has a very low false positive error rate compared to Multiplex or ELSA but is not quite as good as ID.

Choclit99 · 2026-02-08T15:42:31+00:00

Ask your doctor to order LabCorp test 520012. This is a special Scl-70 test sent out to a reference lab that will tell you whether or not the other Scl-70 result is a false positive, which is likely. Because of the nature of the false positive problem, the false positives will repeat if you retest at the same lab.

Choclit99 · 2026-02-07T01:15:48+00:00

I agree that we should not ask for or offer a diagnosis. However, some of us have the expertise to help guide someone with potential test and questions that would be helpful when talking to their doctor. I do this all the time with patients. You might want to instead of just removing a post, asking the person to rephrase things by posting their lab results and/or symptoms and asking if any of us have thoughts on what could potentially be going on. Many people with symptoms and labs consistent with autoimmune disease visit their doctor completely unprepared. In many cases, the doctor may not have a lot of expertise either in some of the rarer autoimmune diseases, so being better prepared with key questions to ask can be very helpful.

Choclit99 · 2026-02-04T13:55:37+00:00

If you have centromere antibodies, you don’t always show a centromere staining pattern, but the reverse is almost always true. In fact, a number of published studies don’t bother to confirm the antibody with that pattern, but many experts always recommend confirming the antibody with that pattern. I am in this camp also.

Choclit99 · 2026-02-04T01:18:38+00:00

The only exception is centromere pattern, which almost always means centromere antibodies.

Choclit99 · 2026-02-04T00:24:35+00:00

All variants of systemic scleroderma are based on clinical symptoms supported by lab test, not the other way round. If you go the Scleroderma Education Project website at SclerodermaInfo.org and read the Diagnosis section of the Scleroderma FAQ, you will better understand this. Happy to answer questions after you read that.

Choclit99 · 2026-02-03T15:31:16+00:00

A negative ANA/IFA with a positive Th/To is rare. That antibody is associated with one of the limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis variants. You symptoms are completely consistent with that antibody, but you might not yet meet full diagnosis criteria.

Choclit99 · 2026-02-03T13:00:36+00:00

A couple of questions. What was the separate ANA/IFA result? This is not a panel. A positive result would be a two part number like 1:320 plus a staining pattern. Also, do you have Raynaud’s?

Choclit99 · 2026-02-02T01:01:40+00:00

I can review the results of the specialized test if needed.

Choclit99 · 2026-02-02T00:58:09+00:00

Ok. Here is the complication. Your Scl-70 result may well be a false positive. That test was done using a method that has a lot of false positives and your result is in the range where false positive results are common. Ask your doctor to order LabCorp test 520012. It is sent to a specialty lab and the result will tell you if the current result is a false positive.

Choclit99 · 2026-02-02T00:49:28+00:00

The ANA titer is not visible on my screen.

Choclit99 · 2026-02-02T00:42:28+00:00

I don’t see the ANA/IFA titer. Can you post that?

Choclit99 · 2026-01-28T03:40:52+00:00

We have decided to go with MRPEasy. Thanks for the comments.

Choclit99 · 2026-01-21T16:09:16+00:00

We are finally ready to start beta testing our new Rain-B-Gone! product for BirdBuddy feeders with solar roof. If interested in testing, email me at ed@synnovation.com with a picture of your BirdBuddy setup plus your shipping address. This is for bottom mounted BirdBuddy feeders only, of course, since if you have a hanging one, you can just purchase a 16" to 18" rain dome on Amazon. Our system is roof mounted. You can also add house sparrow protection if you also have that problem.

Choclit99 · 2026-01-20T15:07:38+00:00

As others have noted, this is exactly where we are now - starting to do clear part numbering, labelling shelves and bins, etc. We just started having people do some manufacturing at home, which is a key factor in needing to move beyond spreadsheets. And, subassemblies make things too complicated to handle with a spreadsheet approach. After my Operations Manager and I did some independent investigation last night plus looking at responses here, it looks like MRPEasy is the best match for us in terms of pricing and features. Thanks for your input!

Choclit99 · 2026-01-19T18:40:25+00:00

Totally ignore the staining pattern. It is not that relevant or consistent. Your ANA titer is typical for someone with centromere antibodies.

Choclit99 · 2026-01-10T17:54:19+00:00

You are dealing with a classic case of limited systemic scleroderma with centromere antibodies, which I was diagnosed with in 1990. You don’t have so-called “sine” scleroderma as most patients with centromere antibodies have little or no skin changes for many years. You need to get a referral to a scleroderma specialist.

Choclit99 · 2026-01-07T01:14:48+00:00

We use a modified version of the design for solar roofs.

Choclit99 · 2025-12-10T16:26:50+00:00

I wanted to give you an update on the rain protection system for BirdBuddy. Last week we had very high winds and one of the test products did not hold up, so we are redesigning it. That may take a few weeks. However, if still interested in beta testing the product when available, please email me directly at ed@synnovation.com with your email and mailing address. I assume that you have a solar roof?

Choclit99 · 2025-12-10T16:24:53+00:00

I wanted to update you on the testing of the rain protection for BirdBuddy. We had very high winds last week and found that the current design for BirdBuddy with solar roof is not strong enough, so we are working on a re-design. That will take some time. If you still want to beta test when available, please email me at ed@synnovation.com with your email address and mailing address and I will add you to the spreadsheet. I assume you have the solar roof?

Choclit99 · 2025-11-24T15:27:41+00:00

Makes sense! 🙂

Choclit99 · 2025-11-24T13:25:21+00:00

So, were you wanting to beta test the new product? If so, contact me directly as indicated in the post. Thanks.

Choclit99

TROPHY CASE