Try the Lupus and Me site. I found it informative with lab results.
http://lupus-and-me.com/Lab-Tests.php
I know this is tough but we've got your back. Hugs, Kathy

Hi Shosta,
If you are not understanding what the doctor or nurse has explained, call the office back and ask to speak to the PA, or nurse and let them know you were there but you need them to please explain the information to you again.

Do not be afraid to let them know you do not understand. It is normal to be overwhelmed and there is a lot of information to take in, especially if you were crying and upset.

If you do not let them know, they think you got all the information.
If they say a word you don't understand, just say,
"Hold on, I'm not quite understanding what that means. Can you explain it to me another way so I can totally understand?"

If they do not take the time to explain things, after you let them know You Don't Understand; then I would try to find a Doctor that will be more attentive to your medical needs.

I am someone who never had a headache...them bam....one day I had them non stop...severe.
Turns out low red blood count will give severe headaches.

The ANA igenerally indicates presecence of some type of an Autoimmune disorder. Usually 1:80 is postive. It is diluted each time until autoantibodies (which are antibodies the body makes that attacks itself can't be meaursed). It usually goes like this (Phone number can only be seen by the question and answer creators), 1:1280 and beyond..... However, this test can be + in normal healthy people about 20 % of the time. However, this is usually at a low titer. At 1:320 only 3 % of the healthy population has this level. Yours is high and does support some type of Autoimmune in the presecence of meaningfull symptoms. I do not know if +ANA is cuased by fibro as I have not read much about fibro.

Followup testing is then done should the ANA be +. This is when the sepcific autoanitbodies are attempted to be identified called an ENA panel to tell the Dr, if it is SLE or Sclerederma, Sjogrens. In SLE commonly this is a + DS DNA and SM. There are many others ones. I think this is wat ur dr meant when he said ur Lupus tests are negative. However, it is still possible to have SLE without this specifc antigens being positive. The pattern refers to the shape being seen under the micrscope in a + sample. I believe the pattern was more signifigant in past times when lack of testing was availble.

ANA can be negative one day and positive the next then back to negative. It is hard to catch it. That is what the doc means by showing up positive later. Hope that helps.