I don't understand it. I have stiffness in the mornings and pain all over sometimes from stiffness. My knees, I can't even bend down to play with my daughter without having difficulty getting up. My back hurts, hand hands hurt and are stiff. Rheumatoid factor is a 16 the expected range says normal is under 15. in the comments is reads "results flagged abnormal high. I know it isn't elevated that much but the doctor's nurse called and said my labs are normal. HOw can this be, should I seek a 2nd opinion? OR is this in the normal range. I'm so confused. And this weather isn't helping anything.
Thanks for you insight.
Hi Katina,
I'm so new to all this that I may be out of my league in responding, but I would consider your result normal too....just like mine has been! However, it doesn't mean you may not have RA. My rheumatologist has classified mine as seronegative RA, meaning it doesn't show up in the blood tests. With your number being just 1 point over normal, it really isn't high, but something like 20% have RA that doesn't show up on the tests. Keep asking questions and get in to see your rheumatologist for some answers. If you can't, or you don't get an answer you're satisfied with, a second opinion couldn't hurt. Being seronegative, peace of mind is harder to come by. I think it's in our nature to want proof and something tangible! :-)
Is your doc saying that they aren't going to do anything because the labs show normal? Or is he going to go ahead and look at some diagnoses possibilities even though the labs aren't too bad?
If you don't feel confident in what your doc said, take the lab results to another doc and get a second opinion.