Had the follow up with the RD today and the anti-ccp was negative at 3 + still no swelling for him to see. So he gave me a shot of pred., but am to see him again in January. Meanwhile, I am to go off the Celebrex for the time being, and use Tylenol as needed until he sees me next. So, for the time being, no dx of RA. My GP said "there was no doubt it's RA" --so don't know what to think. What is the anti-ccp range for RA, just curious?
sorry you didn't get any specific answers today
you might keep a daily symptom diary until your next appt. record everything you can pain levels, joint inflammtion, stiffness levels, diet, sleep, stress levels, anything that you can think of. The patterns are often what finalizes a diagnosis
good luck
Hi Lcarter, I think you can still have RA with RF and CCP both negative. My CCP is positve at 10 -- the range is <5 = negative. I think some on this board have had CCP results over 100.
I really appreciate you all for the excellent support and advice. I feel pretty frustrated tonight as I still have very achy joints and now a slight headache to go with it. Although, I imagine the headache is from all the stress today. There was so much going on, plus I was worried about the RD apt. Finally, broke down and took 2 Tylenol a few min, ago. I have been reading that the cortisone shot can take a few days to do its work, and that it is mostly to relieve inflammation, not pain. If the RD didn't see any inflammation, then why did he give it to me? He mentioned osteo and fibro as other possibilities but I don't have any muscle involment that I am aware of, only joints. Some of you have said that it took months to get a dx. It looks like I am in that group too. It seems strange to me that if it is osteo, why is it so symmetrical, why are only the usual RA joints achy (feet, ankles, knees, hands, wrists, and elbows), and why do I feel like something’s invading my body? I really don't expect anyone to answer that, I am just venting out of frustration. I was so hoping for an easy answer. Will just have to wait and see if the swelling comes back. Keep after him with new symptoms. An anti ccp is supposed pick up RA at three to six minths of onset. I guess that dose not hold true for everyone. And don't let him leave you in pain. If you hurt say i am sorry but i am hurting. And should you start to swell or anything new tell him. He will give you your dx without the blood work i hope he just needs to see you more probably. If you had swelling and was gone before you got to specialist that is frustrating. I have an anti-ccp of 100 and i am RF positive. But i have been in your shoes for a long time. I never showed up before on the RF and they did not have anti-ccp last time or times i was tested. I am 44. First time i was tested i was 23 i remember thinking i must have ms or something when i was 19 years old. I have a relative with ms so that was were i came up with that one. But i was taken naproxen and flexeril at 23 and couldn't get off the couch and my joints hurt and made popping noises and my doc sent me to a reume all the way back then. So wow i here where you are coming from. I really don't want to pray for your swelling to come back. I will pray for you to get some help and some answers. Tell your gp you are frustrated and in pain also.lcarter - I suspect you were given a shot as an attempt to try to do something for you, anything, and see if you respond. Medical doctors only have two things they can try: drugs and/or surgery. I hope the shot works for you, and best of luck with the diagnosis. I haven't had mine pinned down for almost 17 months now, but since the treatment seems to be close on all rheumatic conditions, I have decided getting an exact "diagnosis" isn't worth looking for. I just want medical treatment, and my doctors have given up on an exact diagnosis. At least I am responding well to the standard basic starting medications for RA or lupus or rhupus or whatever I have. Good luck. Cathy