Hi there ~

I understand your concerns for your husband and the brief history that you have provided here. I hope your husband is better with the pneumonia at the present time. I also am glad that he is lost weight for health reasons, however losing more than 10% body weight over a period of one month may not be healthy and might need more medical attention. Dizziness can be a result of dehydration or a deficiency in the autonomic system which you relate, and may be related to his having the autoimmune condition. I am glad that your husband does not smoke, as this is one modifiable condition that you have out of the way, good for you and your husband.

An XXXXXXX test detects antinuclear antibodies in your blood. Your immune system normally makes antibodies to help you fight infection. In contrast, antinuclear antibodies often attack your body's own tissues — specifically targeting each cell's nucleus.

In most cases, a positive XXXXXXX test indicates that your immune system has launched a misdirected attack on your own tissue — in other words, an autoimmune reaction. But some people have positive XXXXXXX tests even when they're healthy.

Your doctor may order an XXXXXXX test if he or she suspects you have an autoimmune disease such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or scleroderma. The presence of any antinuclear antibodies is a positive test result. But having a positive result doesn't mean you have a disease. Many people with no disease have positive XXXXXXX tests — particularly women older than 65.

Mononucleosis is one type of infection that has been associated with the development of antinuclear antibodies. Some blood pressure lowering drugs and certain anti-seizure medications may trigger antinuclear antibody formation as well.

If your doctor suspects you have an autoimmune disease, he or she is likely to order a number of tests. The result of your XXXXXXX test is one piece of information your doctor can use to help determine the cause of your signs and symptoms.

Double-stranded (ds, native) DNA (dsDNA) antibodies of the IgG class are an accepted criterion (American College of Rheumatology) for the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). dsDNA antibodies are detectable in approximately 85% of patients with untreated SLE, and are rarely detectable in other connective tissue diseases. Weakly-positive results caused by low-avidity antibodies to dsDNA are not specific for SLE and can occur in a variety of diseases.

Testing for IgG antibodies to dsDNA is indicated in patients who have a positive test for antinuclear antibodies (ANA) along with signs and symptoms that are compatible with the diagnosis of SLE. If the XXXXXXX test is negative, there is no reason to test for antibodies to dsDNA.

The levels of IgG antibodies to dsDNA in serum are known to fluctuate with disease activity in lupus erythematosus, often increasing prior to an increase in inflammation and decreasing in response to therapy.

There is currently no cure for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, treatments are available that can help ease your symptoms and minimise the effect the condition has on your daily life.

Protecting yourself from the sun.

Some medicines you may need if you have SLE are described below.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Commonly prescribed NSAIDs for SLE include:
ibuprofen
naproxen
diclofenac
piroxicam

Hydroxychloroquine:
You will usually have to take hydroxychloroquine for 6–12 weeks before you notice any benefit.

Corticosteroids:
Corticosteroids are a type of medicine that help reduce inflammation quickly. They are very effective but usually only prescribed if you have severe SLE.
If you have severe symptoms of SLE, or if you are experiencing a flare-up, you may be given a large dose of corticosteroids to help bring your symptoms under control. As your symptoms ease, your dosage can gradually be reduced.
When prescribing corticosteroids, the lowest effective dosage is always given. This is because high doses or long-term use of corticosteroids can cause side effects. These may include:
thinning of your bones
thinning of your skin
weight gain
high blood pressure (hypertension)
Corticosteroids are a safe and effective form of treatment provided they are taken correctly and under the supervision of your GP or specialist. They will tailor the steroid dose to your disease activity to minimise side effects while effectively controlling the condition.

Immunosuppressants
Immunosuppressants are a type of medicine that suppress your immune system. They can help improve your symptoms of SLE by limiting the damage your immune system causes when it attacks healthy parts of your body.
Commonly prescribed immunosuppressant medicines include:
azathioprine
mycophenolate mofetil
cyclophosphamide
Rituximab

Immunosuppressant medication is usually only prescribed if you have severe SLE. This is because this type of medication is very powerful and can cause side effects such as:
loss of appetite
vomiting
diarrhoea
swollen gums
bruising or bleeding more easily
convulsions
headache
acne
extra hair growth
weight gain

Suppressing your immune system increases your risk of developing infections. Immunosuppressants can also sometimes cause liver damage. For these reasons, you will need regular check-ups and blood tests when taking immunosuppressant medication.
Report any symptoms of an infection to your GP immediately, because you may need prompt treatment to prevent serious complications.

Your husband seems to have REM sleep behavior disorder (RSBD) which is very common and it can be cured with medications. I hope you visit with a sleep specialist for the same - to run investigations and prescribe medications. Using long acting sedatives will improve his sleep patterns.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a lovely day!

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Hi there ~

I am sorry that I was misunderstood by you. You did not mention that your husband was tall and I thought that you were mentioning in his history that he is "pretty healthy until the pneumonia a few months ago and lost alot of weight now that is all better he is still very fatigued all the time and very dizzy!". I have just taken that from your own description. Thank you for clarifying that you are not very happy with the weight loss and I am sorry for that.

I am sorry you selected the wrong category as you yourself mention that he does not fit either a doctor for lupus or a doctor for dizziness. For your clarification an oncologist does not specialize in rheumatology problems. What you might really need is a geneticist, who can tell you for sure after taking samples from different parts of his body whether he has cancer or not. For all that you might just be anxious about something that is a treatable condition. I hope this helps. Take care and have a lovely day!

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