Just wondering if any of you have ideas of what I should be asking about on a follow-up visit with my GP.
I am 33 and I had baby #2 six and a half months ago and have been having joint pain EVERYWHERE since about 2 weeks post partum. It gets worse as time goes on and keeps me from sleeping well. I am stiff in the morning and after I have been sitting for more than 10 minutes. My fingers and toes are stiff and sore too. I also have a moveable small (cyst??) on my index finger which may or may not be related.
My OB suggested an RA work up and I waited until the typical 6 months recovery time to go get it done and the results came back normal except an elevated SED rate of 30.
The lab sheet shows only ANA, ASO, RA Latex Turbid and Anti-DNA and SED rate.
Should I ask for other blood tests? Hormone levels? X-rays?
The phone call I got from a nurse was: You have inflamation but it's not auto-immune so keep taking NSAIDs.
That was it so I asked for a follow up visit and a copy of the lab sheet.
What now? Do these tests rule out RA completely? What other questions should I be asking??
I sure wish they did. My blood work is completely normal even my SED rate but I have had RA for 33 years - I have sero negative RA.
15-20% of the people who have RA never test positive for it. Non the less RA can still destroy your joints. Ask to be refered to a rhuematologist. The earlier it is treated the better. Treatment prevents permanent damage. Those treated aggressively in the early stages stand a better chance of going into a remission.
Same here. All negative labs but oh such painful and inflamed joints.
Take care.
Ditto. Negative labs -- sero negative RA.Same here. Sero negative; but mine came on very simular to yours after the birth of my daughter. Your OB or GP aren't likely to consider it being RA until an RD confirms it.
My seds rate is the only thing that ever shows high with me.....but after 13 years with it I have MRIs & X-rays that confirm the damage. It's not dramatic because I've been on a good DMARD treatment for close to 13 years now. Without treatment it's likely I wouldn't have faired so well.
Hang in there. The early years are the hardest. Well; I don't know.....Some days I don't exactly believe that myself. lol
Welcome to AI....hope to see more of you as you begin your quest. You'll be amoung great company here.
I'm with the others. Ask for a referal to a rheumatologist. If you don't need a referal, find one and make an appointment!
A rheumatologist will diagnosis you based on symptoms and blood work whereas a GP will probably only diagnose RA with a positive RF factor. As you can see on this board, there are so many people who never test positive but still have RA.
Good luck and keep posting!
And don't forget to get life insurance all purchased before you get thedid you have your thyroid checked?
post partum thyroid problems can have similar symptoms