Hello everyone. It's been awhile since I posted. I thought that I would give it a while to see how my arthritis symptoms played out. As for now, everything is basically the same: migrating joint pain without swelling. The only lab indicator is a positive anti-ccp that is increasing. At first, the anti-ccp level was 18, now it's a 54. I haven't been diagnosed with RA, which I think is weird. I guess the doctor is waiting for me to swell up and be unable to walk before I get a diagnosis. He told me that he cant diagnose RA off of a blood test, and that I need to have swollen joints (not tender). Anyway, my question revolves around hayfever. I have read an article that states the following:
"Rheumatoid Arthritis. Interestingly, research is finding that people with allergic rhinitis are less likely to have rheumatoid arthritis and vice versa. Patients who have both conditions tend to have less severe arthritic symptoms. Experts suggest that the immune response in one disorder may tend to neutralize the other."
From your experience, do you guys feel this is true?
Do you have hayfever, and if so, is your RA severe?
That's really interesting! Could you share the article title, author? I'd love to read it.
I've had allergies since my late teens (35 years or so now). My RA symptoms are not as severe as many others here suffer from. Hard to know why though. I had some bad flares in the beginning, but the drugs seem to be working well for me for the past year or so. Interesting idea about the allergies though.