I think that’s why so few docs in Australia give out email addresses 
@Jen75 hey hun. That’s sad for you. Most doctor offices here in America nowadays have patients portals. It’s not the doctor’s personal email but it does provide a way for patients to contact their physician. I’m thankful for that.
Hey y’all!
I need some advice. I’m supposed to get an ANA blood test Tues. I’m not exactly sure what that is for but I read it measures a type of antibody that’s produced when a person has certain autoimmune diseases. Are there any other blood tests that would help identify exactly which autoimmune disease or diseases and conditions that I have?? The rheumatoid arthritis test was negative. So I know I don’t have that but there’s so many left and most can’t be diagnosed with a blood test, like PsA. Oh and btw my rhuemy doesn’t think that I have PsA. He doesn’t think what is affecting my toenails and fingernails is psoriasis. But he hasn’t referred me to a dermatologist yet. He has mentioned it but hasn’t actually done it yet. Anyway, if y’all know of any other blood tests that I need to have done, please let me know. I’ll make sure I tell him that I want those tests along with the ANA. Thanks in advance! God bless!
They don’t tend to in the UK either but I ask for them!
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I’ve tried after reading about you guys. They still claim they have no email system and use fax, with a dedicated portal for bloods. It’s not so bad for me because my Rheumy will do a same day callback, even for a pretty inconsequential question, but I’ve heard of people waiting for weeks and months, till next available appointment to get a response 
Autoimmune disease are so very sublime. There are lots of blood tests you can do, but none of them are terribly definitive unless they are sky high. Even 20% of people eventually diagnosed with RA do not have an RF response at onset.
Some people like to do HLA-B27 as the proportion of people who have this gene and also have SpA is higher than the healthier population who have this gene - but it’s all proportions and statistics. I’ve personally found that most Rheumys are ok at ordering all the standard tests.
Additional ones, which are not diagnostic (just help tweak complentary treatment), and better done by your PCP, which might be useful would be vitamin D and vitamin B.
But I can hear your frustration RE the dermy, and you are right, you should have that referral and get resolved if it is psoriasis or not.
I feel like a broken record, but I’ll say it again - even if your skin or nails appears perfectly healed and there is no appearance of current psoriasis, if they do a biopsy, there are lasting changes in psoriasis that remain in the tissues and CAN definitively identify it if it is, or was, present.
I was amazed they could see it in a biopsy of what looked to me to be perfectly healed skin on my knee, months after the psoriasis was gone.
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Hey y’all. I had to reschedule my appointment last Tuesday because of hurricane Michael. It’s tomorrow at 12pm. Praying I’ll be able to get up early enough to get there on time! I’m not a morning, especially early morning, person. Lol I’ll update later tomorrow.