Hi all I saw my rheumy this past Monday. As of a year ago I had sero-negative RA and he is re-checking my blood work one more time. Also took an x-ray of my worse ankle and I go back this Monday for these results.
He is not happy with the Enbrel so far but is going to wait until the 2 month mark. He would like me to change to injectible MTX since 20mg MTX in pill form did help to keep the swelling down some and he said that sometimes we don't get all of the benefit of the pill form.
He is also leaning more toward PA at this time which really doesn't matter much since the treatment is the same and is also checking for Lupus.
One comment that he made got my attention. It was 2 yrs this past January since the onset of symptoms and he said "we" (rheumatoligists), like to wait for 1 1/2 to 2 yrs before documenting a firm Dx since many RA symptoms go away on their own. This is not to say that they don't treat it since early treatment is necessary but if RA, PA, Lupus etc. is documented in our medical files we are branded for life regarding the purchase of life and health insurance just to mention a few negatives.
On another board there was a post from someone trying to purchase life insurance and they were branded by the RA Dx. This discussion is for us sero-negative patients in the event that it turns out to be Reactive Arthritis or some other arthritis that goes totally away on its own. He was not talking about medical remission but a total lifetime remission and continuing to have the brand RA getting in the way.
Just thought that it was interesting since even I wanted a clear Dx early on and now I see the reasons against it. Unfortunately after over 2 years I now have my brand.
Take care.
My husband's doctor is with holding the diabetes brand from him for the same reason. Just because you've had a high blood sugar after fasting one time does not make you a diabetic.