Just curious | Arthritis Information

 

I was wondering if anyone had a diagnosis without being tested positive for RH factor? My family doctor diagnosed me as haveing RA and now I am bing sent to a rheumatologist. He always thought I had arthritis, but never really knew what type because I was at the early stages.

I saw my results of my recent blood tests, but back in 2001 I had a positive RH factor. Now, I don't. But this time my CRP is very high (it was always normal in other times he tested me). My ANA is high speckled or atypical. My Anti-ds-DNA is normal. My sed rate is high. I am just wondering. Without the RA factor positive, I might not have RA. If I don't, then why go through another doctor that will tell me nothing is wrong....

That is only one of many tests used in getting dxed with RA. I have never tested positive for RF, yet have been told by two different drs that I have RA.

You can test positive for RF and not have RA and you can test negative for RF and have RA.

Hope this helps.

It helps plenty. Thank you. I guess I have been so frustrated in the past with finding out what is going on. I am finally realizing why it is so hard to diagnose in most people. There really is no clear cut test. And tests change over time. Dar, I've been doing so much reading on RA, it makes my head spin.  I still don't have an official diagnosis.  But I have read many times, that you can be RF negative, sed normal, etc and still have RA.  My logical mind says that in the beginning, sometimes even years, all those are normal, then something just sends all the blood work whacko!   I'm sero-negative. But my doctor said over time, most sero-negs turn positive. The goal is to start treatment BEFORE it shows up in your blood so you can prevent as much damage as possible.

A big question is, do you have all the symptoms - the joint swellings that respond to prednisone - the pain that either doesn't go away or lasts for an hour or more in the morning. Pain the comes back if you rest too long. Pain on both sides of your body.
Yes, I have all the symptoms. That is what my doctor first thought when he told me inflamitory RA. I have severe swelling in both my ankles, knees, wrists. I am stiff in the morning for a long time. I can't go down the stairs to the kitchen without taking the steps one at at time and holding on to the rail. Before my flare, I noticed during my breaks at work, even the 15 minute ones, I had a hard time getting up from my sitting position. When I walk around a bit, the stiffness goes away. I can't sleep at night. My joints hurt then. Not when I am running around at work, though, they do swell up a lot during the day. At one point, I couldn't even pull the covers up over me when I was cold... my wrists and elbows hurt way too much. For the first time in years though, my doctor actually saw swelling. Usually, it would happen, then go away by the time I my appointment would come. You are describing me to a tee with the exception of swollen joints.  I have them but they're not particularly noticable except sometimes in my knees. I think you can have ra for years without the bloodwork showing anything,at least that was my experience. My GP thought I had an autoimmune for years but it took 8 years of misdiagnosis and trips to many specialists  including a rheumatologist before I was formally diagnosed because of a positive rheumatoid factor. Now that I'm on heavy medication, the r factor is normal again but I've been diagnosed with RA, Sjogren's, fibromyalgia, and Oa. I could also have lupus. If you have one autoimmune disease you have a higher probability of having others. You just have to hang in there knowing you are sick but not necessarily knowing wich disease.  A lot of the medications are good for several diseases anyway so it usually works out in the end.I guess my frustration and problem is that I am scared to go see a specialist. We have little choice in who we can see where I am from. So, more than likely, I will have to see someone my family doctor sent me to in the past... and I didn't have a good experience with them. I didn't have the swelling I do know though, but still. I have seen two, and after thought no matter what, I am not putting myself through that again. I felt so terrible. Like I was wasting their time. I am sure they liked getting paid for my time though! lol Yesterday I decided to go where ever my family doctor sends me and I will hope to find an answer for this. Maybe things will be different now. I am older. I am sure I will open my mouth more and give them my opinion this time around.
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