I Am 69 Years Old In Good General And Cardiovascular

Posted on Sat, 14 Mar 2020

Question: I am 69 years old in good general and cardiovascular health. My ANA screen has come positive after being negative for 8 years. My ds dna antibodies keeps creeping up and is now 28 ( above 10 is positive per the lab). I have slight pain and discomfort in my lower left stomach for 1 year. I have taken nexium daily and am now taking 40 mg pepcid daily with reasonable diet. It is not getting cured though it is stable. I also have eczema in just the ankle area of each leg for 20 years.
My younger sister(58 years old) was just diagnosed with crohns disease. My other sister who is 73 years old had this disease for 10 plus years.My mother and elder brother had severe rhematic arthritis.
I played very competetive tennis from the age of 37 to the age of 60. Since then I have done cardio exercise 4 times a week. My calcium score was zero at the age of 60. My carovascular fitness is very good.
However I am concerned about the immune problems. Already ds dna antibodies is high. Also stomach discomfort is not getting fixed and may be due to immune issues. Please advise how I should proceed and what tests I should do to understand my health better.
Thanks for your detailed guidance.

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (0 minute later)

I am 69 years old in good general and cardiovascular health. My ANA screen has come positive after being negative for 8 years. My ds dna antibodies keeps creeping up and is now 28 ( above 10 is positive per the lab). I have slight pain and discomfort in my lower left stomach for 1 year. I have taken nexium daily and am now taking 40 mg pepcid daily with reasonable diet. It is not getting cured though it is stable. I also have eczema in just the ankle area of each leg for 20 years.
My younger sister(58 years old) was just diagnosed with crohns disease. My other sister who is 73 years old had this disease for 10 plus years.My mother and elder brother had severe rhematic arthritis.
I played very competetive tennis from the age of 37 to the age of 60. Since then I have done cardio exercise 4 times a week. My calcium score was zero at the age of 60. My carovascular fitness is very good.
However I am concerned about the immune problems. Already ds dna antibodies is high. Also stomach discomfort is not getting fixed and may be due to immune issues. Please advise how I should proceed and what tests I should do to understand my health better.
Thanks for your detailed guidance.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Get done ultrasound abdomen, upper and lower GI scopy.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
I have gone through the detailed history you have given.
I don't think your pain and discomfort in left lower stomach area is because of auto immune diseases.
But with the background of strong family history of crohns disease, I would suggest you to consult gastroenterologist and get done clinical examination, ultrasound abdomen, upper and lower GI (gastrointestinal) scopy.
If these are negative for crohns disease then it is mostly gastritis related symptoms.
Please let me know if you have ever consulted gastroenterologist or undergone these reports.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (0 minute later)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)

Thank you for your response.

I have been seeing a gastro doctor for 1 year.

I had a very similar problem about 8 years back. At that time, I was seeing the same doctor and I took Dexilant for 9 months and then switched to zantac for 6 months. My stomach got completely fixed. I had endoscopy and also colonoscopy. They were fine except endoscopy showed slightly reddish stomach lining. Colonoscopy was perfect and suggested to be redone after 10 years.
About 15 months back, I got this problem again due to excessive regular magnesium intake ( for constipation), stresses and over drinking. My primary care doctor thinks endoscopy will not help looking at results of endoscopy 8 years back. Suggests colonoscopy. I did have a simple MRI for left kidney cyst. Did not show anything.
I am seeing my gastro doctor in a month.I am concerned is it auto immune gastritis. Since discomfort is in lower left stomach, should I go for colonoscopy or ultrasound first. How will they know if auto immune factors are involved?
Also how can I reduce my ds dna antibodies?

Thanks.

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (0 minute later)

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
For this Upper GI scopy and biopsy are needed.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
To confirm whether it is autoimmune gastritis or not, you need to first get done upper GI scopy and if it shows inflammation or ulcer or any pathological changers then biopsy should be taken.
Ultrasound is needed to rule out other abdominal causes for pain and discomfort.
I think you should discuss these to your gastroenterologist.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (0 minute later)

Note: For further information on diet changes to reduce allergy symptoms or to boost your immunity, Ask here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana