Lab Tests

, That sounds incredibly frustrating. Unfortunately, for so many, getting a lupus diagnosis is a long and complex process. While I don't have experience with your specific situation, I will share a link from a video created by one of our patient leaders about their long and complicated diagnosis journey: https://lupus.net/video/diagnosis-struggle I hope this helps while we wait for others in the community who can relate to chime in. Sending gentle hugs your way!
Gabby (team member)

It's so hard to get a firm diagnosis. Along with the blood tests, the doctor will most likely look at the criteria and your family history. It can take so long to get a firm diagnosis. I had some negative ANA test but everything else was out of control. So, it's totally possible to have a negative ana and still have lupus and have a positive ana and not. I've asked doctors very specific questions to get them to work a little different for me. https://lupus.net/video/doctor-communication
It can be a process of being a detective and working together to get full answers to what's going on. I hope that helps a little. I know it can be so frustrating trying to convince a doctor that what you are feeling is real and needs to be looked at more stringently. ~Racquel~ lupus.net team member

It took several years before I got lupus diagnosis. First it was fibromyalgia but I kept going back to Dr believing it was something more. Then I had a positive ANA. Referred to Rhuematologist who ran a full autoimmune panel. Diagnosis started as undifferentiated mixed connective tissue disease,evolved to Mixed.
Lupus, RA, some symptoms of Scleroderma.
I was shocked bc even though my daughter was diagnosed with lupus at age 11 I never thought it would happen to me. I was shocked that it was her diagnosis to begin with. I've went on to be diagnosed with Left Bundle Branch Block, pulmonary hypertension, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, hypothyroid, etc, etc. Then my oldest daughter was diagnosed with lupus in her 30s. So we as a family have been dealing with Autoimmune Disease for the past 27 years. Every day is a new day..not quite sure what will pop up next. But for me I just keep moving forward even though at times it's most difficult.

Caligirl, If you go through the research you can find online, you will also see that there have been cases of people who have sero-negative SLE. It is said to be uncommon, but in reality, if it's not being diagnosed or people are not believed, I have to wonder if the statistics are accurate.
Educating and advocating are two of the biggest takeaways from this--and neither one is easy--particularly the latter. Where I live there are only two practices available and they are an hour from where I live. When the first Dr. refused to believe me despite some positive tests, a strong familial link, and very definite symptoms, I contacted the other office and was told that the first available appointment would be 18 months out. I asked about a waiting list and the woman sort of chuckled because that list was so enormous. I *had* no choice but to go back to my regular rheumy and I tried very respectfully presenting him with all the paperwork I'd collected- and since he'd told me the first time that I had "too much hair to have lupus", I showed him the hair had that either broken off or been pulled off in brushing for less than a week. He became offended and said that he was sorry I didn't believe he cared for his patients, which was not my point at all.
I believe he was at the point of dismissing me from the practice from disagreeing with him. Luckily, there was a weekend and on Monday he wrote me an email stating he was sorry for "flying off the handle" at me. I told him that I no longer wanted to take the chemo regimen they had changed me to, as I didn't feel it was doing me any good. I asked to be put back on the Plaquenil and Prednisone that I had been on when I came to him, 10 years before.
Last month for the first time, my liver functions, chemistries and CRP were all in line! He still won't admit it to me, slowly I think he's coming around.
Whatever you do, don't give up on researching and advocating until or unless you are definitively proven wrong! Best of luck!