I was wondering if anyone out there has questioned the dx of RA, I mean vs. Lupus or anything else with similar symptoms. If so, what other symptoms were you having, what were you tested for, and how was it ruled out? What I am curious about is how do I know for sure that I have RA and not something else? On one hand I want a definitive answer so that I can get a solution to my problem, but on the other hand, this is not an acute illness we are talking about and I am not sure if I can just accept it laying down
It might seem quite a different dx but I share the RA symptoms and it is treated with pretty much the same meds. That's my experience in brief; I think it's just difficult for the doctors too sometimes. I hope you get the answer you want soon though. Best wishes, Moonie I feel the same way crunchy. I was dx with RA in Aug. Only on plaquenil. Doing better but not100%. I go to rhuemy tomorrow and want to ask to cut back on med. All my blood work came back neg which Iknow doesn't mean you don't have it. I wish something would come positive just to say ok now I have to deal with this. It's a real roller coaster ride isn't it.
Merry & crunchy Thanks for the info. I was to go to Dr today but feel crappy and didn't want to drive 45 min to office so I cancelled. Have to wait a month for another appt. Oh Well.. Pat thoght I would bump this one too pin cushion, Tick fever can bring on RA. I work with two girls who both had tick fever and developed RA. Trish
I do have a red area on my left cheek but no one has mentioned Lupus since the blood work came back neg.
My docs use RA/FMS/OA for insurance purposes and for my disability claim and I am grateful as I have heard people say that their rheumys don't believe that we cannot work with RA, lol. They should try to work with it and the many other problems that come with an auto-immune disease.
I do agree that it is difficult for docs to dx since some of us can be sero-neg for a while or forever.
I question mine. I had a positive RF (330) and Anti-CCP (370). I also had elevated CRP and ESR, however, I don't have typical symptoms of RA. Of all the flares I've had, I've only swelled twiced. The pain I experience when I don't swell is much more severe than when I have swelled. I feel like it's more in my tendons. Like they are going to literally snap if I move my joint. My flares were migratory when this all started. A joint would hurt for a couple of days before moving to another. Now, the flare pretty much stays in one or two joints for anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of months, but still no swelling. The only normal symptom I have is feeling like I'm on the verge of getting the flu - I feel so sick. My RD says I'm "atypical" - hmmmm, probably more ways than one. Just kidding. Sometimes, I think I sound more like I have Palindromic Rheumatism than RA. [QUOTE=pin cushion] I question my dx as I had tick bite fever and this can