Hello, I am new to the forum, have been browsing and found it very helpful and wondered if anyone has experienced the same as me. I went to my GP with headaches and dizzy spells which I thought would be hypertension, he did some blood tests and when I went back for my results he said that my RF count was the highest he had ever encountered (223) he ordered re-tests and I got the results last week (200) he insists that I must be in agonising pain with a count that high but I am not, my fingers are sometimes a little stiff but that is all. Is 200 really a very high count? My GP wouldnt discuss the results with me any further saying that I wouldnt understand the implications. I am to go back in a month for another round of tests and he will decide what to do from there, meanwhile he has prescribed Ibuprofen 600mg three times a day. At the moment I am totally confused as to what is going on, have I got RA or not, is there another condition that would cause the RF count to be that high? Any help and advice would be gratefully received.http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/index.html
Hi silverwings, and welcome to the boards. Take a look at that site. I have found it to be invaluable in regards to deciphering labtests. There are other reasons for a high RF than RA. Many of us here are RF negative, or sero-negative, yet have RA. It's not the only tool to diagnosing RA or any other disease or disorder for that matter.
Search the internet, ask questions and fill yourself with as much knowledge as possible. Keep a list of questions to ask your Dr.
*hugs* T
The count can literally go into the thousands, mine has been over 500 at one time, I was told by my doc that it can change with amount of inflammation in your system etc. I have had over 100, 200 and 500 in different tests.
Isn't it interesting how your count can be high like that and you have no pain to complain about.....and others with horrible pain have no RF factor at all?
This stuff gets more confusing everyday!!
Hope you get things figured out soon. Welcome to AI.
Hi everyone, thanks for the replies, I have found them very useful. Has anyone any views on helping the condition with diet, food supplements etc.? I have been reading on the net that some experts recommend a wheat free and dairy free diet. I have to go back to my GP in 4 weeks and if my RF count is still the same hopefully he will refer me to a specialist, till then I am trying to keep positive about things, I feel a little less panicky now!Silverwing~
you won't hear too much about anyone here controling their RA through diet alone. A healthy diet won't hurt one bit; don't get me wrong, but there are few I've heard of that can actually control the life long damage that can occur through their diet.
Now if you are only talking about bringing your RF levels down; maybe. I'm not sure about that. A little more research on the subject might be helpful I suppose.
Considering you haven't been dx'ed with RA I wouldn't think that looking into diet options would hurt you. If you aren't in any pain as you mentioned I'd recommend not taking the high doses of IUB. I might be wrong; but do you need to take it if you aren't experiencing any pain or inflamation? I'd want a better explanation for that prescription if I was you. It certainly sounds harmless enough; but IUB can be pretty rough on the liver, kidneys and stomach and unless you know of a good reason to be taking it I'd wait for better answers I it was me.
GLad you've joined us.