When dx'd in May '07 my RF was 20 U/ML. Had it rechecked this week, 5 months later, and now its 35 U/ML. (I was told that anything above 10 U/ML is positive -- and that my numbers are low positive). Should I be concerned that the numbers are going up? How high can they go? Does this mean that I have a less sever kind of RA? So far, I am only having achiness and stiffness in fingers, wrists, elbows, knees, ankles and feet. No noticable swelling occuring at this moment. (In May I went to the doctor because my feet were so swollen I couldn't wear shoes --that's when the surpise dx came back as RA). Are there different degrees of RA? Is it possible to have a mild case of it? Have you had an anti-ccp test? ask your doctor about it? That could answer some of your questions for you. WELCOMEThank you for the suggestion. My general doc did the original dx, but I will be seeing a rheumy soon. Perhaps the rheumy will do an anti-ccp test if it's available in Panama where we are living now. So far, I am only taking Celebrex 200 mg 1-2 times a day. All it seems to do is knock the edges off the achiness, and doesn't seem to do anything for the stiffness. That may be the best I can hope for. It will be interesting to hear what the rheumy says. The regular doc said there was no doubt it's RA --so guess Ive joined the club too. It's just that I read a lot of the messages on this board and feel so sorry for all the suffering so many of you are going through. Can't help feeling embarrassed every time I complain even a little when I think of my situation in comparison. I sure do enjoy this board and all the good advice and stories everyone shares. It is very helpful to us newbies.
Don't feel embarassed! We go through ranges of this stuff. Someone you see in terrible shape today, may have been where you are last month, and may get back there again.This can be a very strange disease, but crappy none-the-less. If it bothers you, it bothers you!
As far as the numbers go....I wouldn't worry too much. I've seen people with numbers in the triple digits, who don't display as badly as someone who doesn't even test positive. RA really can be a tricky disease.
I've never tested positive on anything, and I've gone from terrible, to great, and everything inbetween. So some time those just don't mean a whole lot. It's more of a guideline than anything.
I think seeing the RD will help clear up some of the mystery for you. I hope you are ok until then. Start researching now, because he/she will probably start with a DMARD, and you want to be prepared for that. Take care and rest those achy parts as much as you can.
What does it mean if you have a higher RF? That you have a more aggressive RA?
Link - don't quote me here........but I don't think so? It's just a way to tell if it's "out of control" or not?
I THINK. Hopefully someone else who actually knows can answer that....
There are 2 different methods for actually performing the test. One is not more accurate than the other but will yeid vastly different values. That is why comparing your numbers to someone else is difficult unless you know the testing method and the specific lab ranges.
Supposedly people who have signifigently high rheumatoid factors at the time of diagnosis have a potentially more severe case of RA. This is not always the case especially with the new treatment options. Joint count , inflammation markers, and response to treatment are far more clinically important than the rheumatoid factor once diagnosis has been made. In fact once you have a dx of Ra there really isn't any reason to run the factor test again. The number has no influence on treatment choices
Thanks Buckeye!