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Hello, I really hope that you guys can help me a bit with following problem: One year ago I went to my rheumatologist because I had stiffness in my fingers and pain (in the morning and also in the night). It always gets worse in summer when It gets warmer (it is somehow also linked to sweating). There were days when I could barely write because my hands felt puffy, started to sweat a lot and were extremely stiff. My doctor found out that I have scl 70 antibodies, my ANAs have been always negative (I do regular check ups), no rheumatoid factor, all other Blood values are good. My doctor said that he doesn’t believe I have scleroderma but I am not imagining to have pain and the stiffness; when I am stressed or did a lot of physical activity the pain and stiffness spreads to my feet. I have the symptoms of my hands for 4 years now and nobody seems to understand it or is willing to help. I am a medical student so I did a bit of research and found out that scl 70 is mostly specific for the diffuser type, I went to a lot of doctors and got my organs checked, everything is fine until now, I don’t have lung involvement, my heart is fine (apart from a mild congenital regurgitation) and I do not have Raynaud's syndrome (I did a capillary bed examination). My rheumatologist said that I should not worry and he doesn’t want me to come again because, as I said, he doesn’t believe I have scleroderma. I am really worried and afraid. Even though I am mostly fine and "just“ have the symptoms of my hands, I worry that soon it might get worse and affect my organs.. well, sooner or later it will because I have the antibodies. My question is if I should do regular check ups of my organs (each year) and if some of you have had similar symptoms at the beginning and how long it took in your case until the disease spread? Oh and I have hashimotos disease, I don’t know if that’s relevant. Thanks in advance

What does antinuclear scleroderma 7O antibodies mean? My score is 6.9. I am so scared. I cannot see a specialist until March 8th. I have respiratory, intestinal and skin symptoms.