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I recently went to 2 rheumatologists who told me something completely different from one another so now I do not know which one's advice I should follow. I have a very low positive rheumatoid factor 1:8, all other labs are negative, ANA, CCP, CRP, Sjogerns antibodies. My sed rate is slighly elevated at 21. My 1st rheumy said start Methotrexate,PlaQUENIL AND fOLIC ACID. The second opinion said something is going on auto immune but he is not convinced that I have RA. My feet and hand x rays were also negative. I aklso have nodules on my hands and elbows. I have no swelling only slight pain and stiffness that does not last long. The second rheumy says he thinks he should observe myself only and see him in 4 months. Does anyone have any advice for me? I am new to this and confused. The reason the 2nd doc thinks I have something autoimmune is because in 2007 I had ITP (platelets low). Thanks for any advice. Sorry so long.Hmmm.  There is no harm whatsoever in trying plaquenil, it is very well tolerated.  Methotrexate less so, but it is commonly used for RA.  How much pain are you in?  It takes a while for damage to show up on x-rays.  I was diagnosed with everything negative except CRP was 5.6 and SED 56.  But I went from "wow this is annoying" to really swollen joint in no time, a couple of months.  And once my wrist got that swollen, it took over a year to get the swelling under control (although I avoided steroids).

 
Anyway, I am sorry that it isn't clearer for you.  Normally you might say well just wait 4 months, but a lot could happen in that time.  Sorry I'm not much help.  I had 100% fine labs in October, when I was feeling miserable, and then everything flared up (well CRP, SED and wrist) 3 months later.
 
I can say, however, that it is interesting because my sister had ITP when she was 5.  She recovered and she doesn't have RA.  I have Raynaud's too, and my dad has Addison's (all autoimmune).
 
Definitley start taking fish oil too, that should help with autoimmune stuff generally, and make sure you are getting enough Vitamin D!
Hello and welcome!  No apologies for length needed here!  Gosh!  What a dilemma!  Could you go to your PCP and have a consult?  Maybe he could put the 2 opinions in perspective for you, even formulate some questions to ask to head you in the right direction. 

I really can not tell you much as far as the labs go but in my experience, I went a good many years with doctors telling me I showed no damage on my x-rays and there was no doubt I had RA.  Not so lucky now, I have plenty of damage today!

The only other advice I will give is to research RA and the drugs used to treat it.  Be prepared when you do your consult and I believe it helps to take an advocate with you.  DH is mine, he helps to jog my memory and remember all said at the visit.

Good luck to you and keep posting so we know how things go for you!


Thanks for your responses. I also have Raynauds. Maybe I will ask to start just the Plaquenil and see if they agree.

Hello 4leeann........ sorry you needed to be here... glad you found this site..
It's loaded w the best of your information.
search here for more information.
if your RF is not a false positive then sadly you will manifest the symptoms of RA in short time.
 
It's a hard call. I am sero-negative with only high ESR and CRP but I overnight went from healthy to crippled with pain. and extreme swelling. What brought you to a Rhuemy in the first place?  My primary care doc sent me because of my positive rheumatoid factor. I did not know what 1:8 meant but the rheumy told me that is very low.
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