Demoted from Sjogrens to UCTD

I’m finding out firsthand how nonlinear the diagnostic process can be, something I think can be pretty unique to autoimmune diseases.

I was diagnosed with Sjogrens during the summer/fall based on a low-positive ANA and substantially positive SSA tests. After having not much, if at all, improvement from a course of prednisone, my doctor switched my diagnosis to UCTD, suspected sjogrens.

If I understood his reasoning correctly, it’s because my symptoms don’t neatly fit the sjogrens criteria, and even though he thinks it probably is sjogrens, I could have something else going on too. He started me on hydroxychloroquine and now I’m patiently waiting a few months to see if that helps. I’m not overjoyed about the prospect of possibly having multiple autoimmune diseases, so I’m just trying to take everything in stride.

I do want to say that I am very grateful to have a good rheumatologist! Rheums catch a lot of flack here and on other autoimmune subs, and I think some of that arises from the ‘unique’ back-and-forth diagnostic process, which can cause confusion and frustration. I would love to have a clear answer, but I’m very glad my doctor isn’t just trying to push an easy diagnosis, and is taking all of my symptoms and experiences into account. I really lucked out with this being my first rheum, so thank you Dr. M for being awesome!