i got a letter from my doctor the other day saying that i was seropositve can any tell me in english (not gobaldigook doctor talk) what this means
This is a good website that explains (not in Doctorish!
would you know what diffrence having a positive rf factor mite make
Hearing many people discuss their RF I have come to the conclusion that a positive one justs gets a rheumy's attention much quicker. Some older people have a positive RA with no RA. It is just one of the many markers Dr's use. I have moderate to severe RA and as of last April negative for the RF. I have heard from so many with a negative RF and they cannot get a Dr to pay attention to them even with swelling and redness and I was one of them. Thank God that there are still good Dr's out there.
Take care
Bonny,
That's a really interesting topic. I had a high positive RF (330) as well as Anti-CCP (376) and I don't think my RD believes me when I tell him I'm experiencing pain because I have NO swelling. I never swell. He'll move a joint, I'll gasp from the pain, and then at the end of the appointment, he'll tell me I look good. Duh. I don't care how I look. I care how I feel.
I have read so many posts like yours with neg or pos RF. Swelling does not always accompany RA as in your case. Then if the person is also sero-neg Dr's think there is no problem You are so right that how we feel is what's important not how we look but how do we get Dr's to understand that?I have just the opposite problem,. I am sero negative but have a TON of visible swelling and pain but my doctor says I am cured! Surely you don't believe him Michele. I sure wish someone would give you real answers.I'm seronegative and have tons of visible swelling and pain. My rheumy winces when he bends my knee, I think it's worse for him than it is for me. Maybe it's the crunching sound,
Good Rheumys can be hard to find. It took me four tries before I found a keeper.
I once had a orthopedic surgeon gasp audibly when he look at my x-ray and I laughed so hard I almost fell off the examining table.