Re: Do -2's Affect Rh Factor?

[Guest guest]

, he certainly sounds like the Rheumatologist from H*ll to me,

LOL. Hopefully you won't encounter another one like him, ever. Nothing

he told you makes any sense to me.

I don't know if the -2 will have an effect on your RH factor or not.

Maybe or a can help out with that. But a good rheumy will not

base a diagnosis on just the blood work. He will listen to what you

have to say about the symptoms you've been having. He can also tell

something by examining you. Only about 80% of people with RA have a

positive RH factor, so this is NOT a pre-requisite.

After your experience with that quack, I can understand why you'd be

apprehensive. Surely you'll be luckier this time. Sue

On Thursday, March 10, 2005, at 08:59 PM, wrote:

>

> I have an appointment with a new rheumatologist in about 3 weeks. I

> am wondering if taking a -2 between now and then will affect my Rh

> factor in blood tests? Does anyone know?

>

> The reason for this question is that I had a bad experience with one

> rheumatologist. I explained this below, but it's long. Another

> question for anyone who wades through it...Is this a normal

> rheumatologist, or some weird quack?

[Guest guest]

, he certainly sounds like the Rheumatologist from H*ll to me,

LOL. Hopefully you won't encounter another one like him, ever. Nothing

he told you makes any sense to me.

I don't know if the -2 will have an effect on your RH factor or not.

Maybe or a can help out with that. But a good rheumy will not

base a diagnosis on just the blood work. He will listen to what you

have to say about the symptoms you've been having. He can also tell

something by examining you. Only about 80% of people with RA have a

positive RH factor, so this is NOT a pre-requisite.

After your experience with that quack, I can understand why you'd be

apprehensive. Surely you'll be luckier this time. Sue

On Thursday, March 10, 2005, at 08:59 PM, wrote:

>

> I have an appointment with a new rheumatologist in about 3 weeks. I

> am wondering if taking a -2 between now and then will affect my Rh

> factor in blood tests? Does anyone know?

>

> The reason for this question is that I had a bad experience with one

> rheumatologist. I explained this below, but it's long. Another

> question for anyone who wades through it...Is this a normal

> rheumatologist, or some weird quack?

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

I'm pretty sure that -2s will not have any effect on your rheumatoid factor.

As for your experience with your first rheumy, that's terrible, but

unfortunately there are rheumies like that out there and you were unlucky. But

there are also some great rheumies, as you will know from this group, so better

luck next time. I don't know why people like that become doctors, or maybe they

weren't always like that and something happened that made them bitter and

twisted - who knows? My first rheumy was lousy and I should have ditched him

much sooner than I did - like at day 1. My second and third rheumies were both

great and I love them both dearly.

Good luck with your appointment, and let us know how you get on.

n

France

[ ] Do -2's Affect Rh Factor?

I have an appointment with a new rheumatologist in about 3 weeks. I am

wondering if taking a -2 between now and then will affect my Rh factor in

blood tests? Does anyone know?

The reason for this question is that I had a bad experience with one

rheumatologist. I explained this below, but it's long. Another question for

anyone who wades through it...Is this a normal rheumatologist, or some weird

quack?

Reason for the question:

The reason I am concerned about this is that I have not gone to a

rheumatologist since being diagnosed 2 years ago. I was in an HMO then and my

PCP referred me after telling me my lab tests and symptoms showed RA. The plan

assigned me to a rheumatologist who told me my Rh factor was not high enough for

him to formally diagnose. He also told me that none of the symptoms I reported

counted, because he had to see them over a period of 6 months, and he personally

had to observe RA symptoms; it could not be by patient report. He said he could

not treat for RA until the 6 months were up, and he gave me a big narcotic

prescription, but nothing to stop inflammation or joint deterioration (which

were my main concerns besides pain control). I asked for Celebrex or Vioxx that

I could take during work, and he said he couldn't prescribe that because he had

not diagnosed RA yet. He also wanted to put me on disability the first day I

saw him. I left work a couple of times when I had

bilateral joint swelling and pain...he told me it was not enough swelling, so

those visits didn't count toward the symptoms. I told him I cannot take off

work constantly just so he can look at swelling, especially if it would " not

count " toward diagnosis. He then whipped out disability forms and told me that

is why I needed to go on disability. He then left the room, leaving my door and

the door of the next room open, so I heard him telling a man 10 years younger

than me (I heard him ask the age) that after two years he could finally diagnose

him with RA, but unfortunately since the man's hands were so deteriorated, even

though now he could start treatment, he could never work in his trade as a

carpenter again. I never went back, and I returned to my PCP and got a

prescription for an NSAID. The HMO would not let me switch rheumatologists. I

have a PPO now, so I'm plunging back in again. But, I don't want to have new

blood t ests that " aren't enough " again, so I'm trying not to

take any meds until my appointment if they will affect the tests. I have

copies of my old lab reports, which I will take with me.

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

I'm pretty sure that -2s will not have any effect on your rheumatoid factor.

As for your experience with your first rheumy, that's terrible, but

unfortunately there are rheumies like that out there and you were unlucky. But

there are also some great rheumies, as you will know from this group, so better

luck next time. I don't know why people like that become doctors, or maybe they

weren't always like that and something happened that made them bitter and

twisted - who knows? My first rheumy was lousy and I should have ditched him

much sooner than I did - like at day 1. My second and third rheumies were both

great and I love them both dearly.

Good luck with your appointment, and let us know how you get on.

n

France

[ ] Do -2's Affect Rh Factor?

I have an appointment with a new rheumatologist in about 3 weeks. I am

wondering if taking a -2 between now and then will affect my Rh factor in

blood tests? Does anyone know?

The reason for this question is that I had a bad experience with one

rheumatologist. I explained this below, but it's long. Another question for

anyone who wades through it...Is this a normal rheumatologist, or some weird

quack?

Reason for the question:

The reason I am concerned about this is that I have not gone to a

rheumatologist since being diagnosed 2 years ago. I was in an HMO then and my

PCP referred me after telling me my lab tests and symptoms showed RA. The plan

assigned me to a rheumatologist who told me my Rh factor was not high enough for

him to formally diagnose. He also told me that none of the symptoms I reported

counted, because he had to see them over a period of 6 months, and he personally

had to observe RA symptoms; it could not be by patient report. He said he could

not treat for RA until the 6 months were up, and he gave me a big narcotic

prescription, but nothing to stop inflammation or joint deterioration (which

were my main concerns besides pain control). I asked for Celebrex or Vioxx that

I could take during work, and he said he couldn't prescribe that because he had

not diagnosed RA yet. He also wanted to put me on disability the first day I

saw him. I left work a couple of times when I had

bilateral joint swelling and pain...he told me it was not enough swelling, so

those visits didn't count toward the symptoms. I told him I cannot take off

work constantly just so he can look at swelling, especially if it would " not

count " toward diagnosis. He then whipped out disability forms and told me that

is why I needed to go on disability. He then left the room, leaving my door and

the door of the next room open, so I heard him telling a man 10 years younger

than me (I heard him ask the age) that after two years he could finally diagnose

him with RA, but unfortunately since the man's hands were so deteriorated, even

though now he could start treatment, he could never work in his trade as a

carpenter again. I never went back, and I returned to my PCP and got a

prescription for an NSAID. The HMO would not let me switch rheumatologists. I

have a PPO now, so I'm plunging back in again. But, I don't want to have new

blood t ests that " aren't enough " again, so I'm trying not to

take any meds until my appointment if they will affect the tests. I have

copies of my old lab reports, which I will take with me.

[Guest guest]

Hi again, ,

when I first had RA (15 years ago), I had nodules on ly forearms. Once we had

the RA under control, they disappeared. Then last year I had to stop MTX

because of side-effects + loss of efficacy and I developed a string of nodules

like a rosary on the back of my left hand on the tendon which extends the 5th

finger. Once I stated on Enbrel and got the RA under control again the nodules

diminished and finally disappeared.

I just cannot imagine why with all these typical symptoms and signs Dr H was

reluctant to make the diagnosis. Perhaps he likes to see people suffer - what a

b*****d !

n

France

Re: [ ] Do -2's Affect Rh Factor?

I actually had a positive Rh factor on my blood tests...it just was not very

high. It took so long to get approval for Dr. H*ll, and then I had to wait a

month for an appointment, that the really bad part of the flare had started to

subside. I also had a lot of antibodies, was anemic, and had an elevated SED

rate...including every symptom of RA, including the pea-like bumps around the

elbow. Do those ever go away, by the way?

I have not done too badly with the Celebrex for the past year or so...it's

just that now even at max dosage every day, I still have stiffness and some

joint pain.

LOL when I went back to my PCP, Dr. H*ll had given me a sealed letter to give

him. My PCP read it and asked, " Does this guy speak English? " He had written

to my MD, " This patient does not meet the criteria for Lupus. " Which is

interesting, because at every appointment he kept telling me I did have Lupus,

even though he would then point out how puzzling it was that none of my tests

for Lupus were positive.

Sue <marysue@...> wrote:

, he certainly sounds like the Rheumatologist from H*ll to me,

LOL. Hopefully you won't encounter another one like him, ever. Nothing

he told you makes any sense to me.

I don't know if the -2 will have an effect on your RH factor or not.

Maybe or a can help out with that. But a good rheumy will not

base a diagnosis on just the blood work. He will listen to what you

have to say about the symptoms you've been having. He can also tell

something by examining you. Only about 80% of people with RA have a

positive RH factor, so this is NOT a pre-requisite.

After your experience with that quack, I can understand why you'd be

apprehensive. Surely you'll be luckier this time. Sue

[Guest guest]

Hi again, ,

when I first had RA (15 years ago), I had nodules on ly forearms. Once we had

the RA under control, they disappeared. Then last year I had to stop MTX

because of side-effects + loss of efficacy and I developed a string of nodules

like a rosary on the back of my left hand on the tendon which extends the 5th

finger. Once I stated on Enbrel and got the RA under control again the nodules

diminished and finally disappeared.

I just cannot imagine why with all these typical symptoms and signs Dr H was

reluctant to make the diagnosis. Perhaps he likes to see people suffer - what a

b*****d !

n

France

Re: [ ] Do -2's Affect Rh Factor?

I actually had a positive Rh factor on my blood tests...it just was not very

high. It took so long to get approval for Dr. H*ll, and then I had to wait a

month for an appointment, that the really bad part of the flare had started to

subside. I also had a lot of antibodies, was anemic, and had an elevated SED

rate...including every symptom of RA, including the pea-like bumps around the

elbow. Do those ever go away, by the way?

I have not done too badly with the Celebrex for the past year or so...it's

just that now even at max dosage every day, I still have stiffness and some

joint pain.

LOL when I went back to my PCP, Dr. H*ll had given me a sealed letter to give

him. My PCP read it and asked, " Does this guy speak English? " He had written

to my MD, " This patient does not meet the criteria for Lupus. " Which is

interesting, because at every appointment he kept telling me I did have Lupus,

even though he would then point out how puzzling it was that none of my tests

for Lupus were positive.

Sue <marysue@...> wrote:

, he certainly sounds like the Rheumatologist from H*ll to me,

LOL. Hopefully you won't encounter another one like him, ever. Nothing

he told you makes any sense to me.

I don't know if the -2 will have an effect on your RH factor or not.

Maybe or a can help out with that. But a good rheumy will not

base a diagnosis on just the blood work. He will listen to what you

have to say about the symptoms you've been having. He can also tell

something by examining you. Only about 80% of people with RA have a

positive RH factor, so this is NOT a pre-requisite.

After your experience with that quack, I can understand why you'd be

apprehensive. Surely you'll be luckier this time. Sue

[Guest guest]

,

I am very glad that you are going to another rheumatologist. I've

heard a lot of doctor horror stories, but I think yours takes the

cake. It doesn't sound like he knows anything about rheumatology, and

I don't understand how he continues to practice medicine.

Many people have what is called sero-negative RA, where there is NO

rheumatoid factor at all in the blood. I am sero-negative, as are

many people here. So him saying he can't formally diagnose you

because you don't have levels of RF high enough is completely absurd.

He needs to go back to school.

Most doctors try very hard to keep you functioning and OFF disability.

They don't encourage disability unless they feel your disease is

severe enough, yet he won't even diagnose you! How does he expect you

to get disability without the diagnosis?

Giving you a big narcotic prescription is something that many

rheumatologists also shy away from. First they try to control the

pain with anti-inflammatory medications and with DMARD's. Some

doctors will NEVER prescribe narcotics, which I personally don't agree

with, but other doctors have no problems treating pain with narcotics.

But this is done in conjunction with the treatment plan.

But the biggest shock was for him to say that there isn't enough

swelling to diagnose RA. I have little swelling. To look at me, I

look fine if you don't look at surgical scars from joint replacements.

Although I have little swelling, x-rays show a different story. I

have severe erosion of my joints caused by RA. Many times there is

little swelling, but erosion is evident on x-ray. X-rays can be very

valuable to diagnosing and monitoring treatment in RA. Not everyone

has erosion. Some people have severe inflammation and no erosion.

RA cannot be diagnoses strictly with blood tests. I wouldn't worry

about your doing anything to alter them. A good rheumatologist will

diagnose based on all of your symptoms, not a blood test. Good luck

with your new rheumatologist. I hope you get better care with this

one. Early treatment is important in RA so it is important to get a

proper diagnosis.

a

> [ ] Do -2's Affect Rh Factor?

>

>

>

>

> I have an appointment with a new rheumatologist in about 3 weeks. I am

> wondering if taking a -2 between now and then will affect my Rh factor in

> blood tests? Does anyone know?

>

> The reason for this question is that I had a bad experience with one

> rheumatologist. I explained this below, but it's long. Another question

> for anyone who wades through it...Is this a normal rheumatologist, or some

> weird quack?

>

> Reason for the question:

>

> The reason I am concerned about this is that I have not gone to a

> rheumatologist since being diagnosed 2 years ago. I was in an HMO then and

> my PCP referred me after telling me my lab tests and symptoms showed RA.

> The plan assigned me to a rheumatologist who told me my Rh factor was not

> high enough for him to formally diagnose. He also told me that none of the

> symptoms I reported counted, because he had to see them over a period of 6

> months, and he personally had to observe RA symptoms; it could not be by

> patient report. He said he could not treat for RA until the 6 months were

> up, and he gave me a big narcotic prescription, but nothing to stop

> inflammation or joint deterioration (which were my main concerns besides

> pain control). I asked for Celebrex or Vioxx that I could take during work,

> and he said he couldn't prescribe that because he had not diagnosed RA yet.

> He also wanted to put me on disability the first day I saw him. I left work

> a couple of times when I had

> bilateral joint swelling and pain...he told me it was not enough

> swelling, so those visits didn't count toward the symptoms. I told him I

> cannot take off work constantly just so he can look at swelling, especially

> if it would " not count " toward diagnosis. He then whipped out disability

> forms and told me that is why I needed to go on disability. He then left

> the room, leaving my door and the door of the next room open, so I heard him

> telling a man 10 years younger than me (I heard him ask the age) that after

> two years he could finally diagnose him with RA, but unfortunately since the

> man's hands were so deteriorated, even though now he could start treatment,

> he could never work in his trade as a carpenter again. I never went back,

> and I returned to my PCP and got a prescription for an NSAID. The HMO would

> not let me switch rheumatologists. I have a PPO now, so I'm plunging back

> in again. But, I don't want to have new blood t ests that " aren't enough "

> again, so I'm trying not to

> take any meds until my appointment if they will affect the tests. I have

> copies of my old lab reports, which I will take with me.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

I am very glad that you are going to another rheumatologist. I've

heard a lot of doctor horror stories, but I think yours takes the

cake. It doesn't sound like he knows anything about rheumatology, and

I don't understand how he continues to practice medicine.

Many people have what is called sero-negative RA, where there is NO

rheumatoid factor at all in the blood. I am sero-negative, as are

many people here. So him saying he can't formally diagnose you

because you don't have levels of RF high enough is completely absurd.

He needs to go back to school.

Most doctors try very hard to keep you functioning and OFF disability.

They don't encourage disability unless they feel your disease is

severe enough, yet he won't even diagnose you! How does he expect you

to get disability without the diagnosis?

Giving you a big narcotic prescription is something that many

rheumatologists also shy away from. First they try to control the

pain with anti-inflammatory medications and with DMARD's. Some

doctors will NEVER prescribe narcotics, which I personally don't agree

with, but other doctors have no problems treating pain with narcotics.

But this is done in conjunction with the treatment plan.

But the biggest shock was for him to say that there isn't enough

swelling to diagnose RA. I have little swelling. To look at me, I

look fine if you don't look at surgical scars from joint replacements.

Although I have little swelling, x-rays show a different story. I

have severe erosion of my joints caused by RA. Many times there is

little swelling, but erosion is evident on x-ray. X-rays can be very

valuable to diagnosing and monitoring treatment in RA. Not everyone

has erosion. Some people have severe inflammation and no erosion.

RA cannot be diagnoses strictly with blood tests. I wouldn't worry

about your doing anything to alter them. A good rheumatologist will

diagnose based on all of your symptoms, not a blood test. Good luck

with your new rheumatologist. I hope you get better care with this

one. Early treatment is important in RA so it is important to get a

proper diagnosis.

a

> [ ] Do -2's Affect Rh Factor?

>

>

>

>

> I have an appointment with a new rheumatologist in about 3 weeks. I am

> wondering if taking a -2 between now and then will affect my Rh factor in

> blood tests? Does anyone know?

>

> The reason for this question is that I had a bad experience with one

> rheumatologist. I explained this below, but it's long. Another question

> for anyone who wades through it...Is this a normal rheumatologist, or some

> weird quack?

>

> Reason for the question:

>

> The reason I am concerned about this is that I have not gone to a

> rheumatologist since being diagnosed 2 years ago. I was in an HMO then and

> my PCP referred me after telling me my lab tests and symptoms showed RA.

> The plan assigned me to a rheumatologist who told me my Rh factor was not

> high enough for him to formally diagnose. He also told me that none of the

> symptoms I reported counted, because he had to see them over a period of 6

> months, and he personally had to observe RA symptoms; it could not be by

> patient report. He said he could not treat for RA until the 6 months were

> up, and he gave me a big narcotic prescription, but nothing to stop

> inflammation or joint deterioration (which were my main concerns besides

> pain control). I asked for Celebrex or Vioxx that I could take during work,

> and he said he couldn't prescribe that because he had not diagnosed RA yet.

> He also wanted to put me on disability the first day I saw him. I left work

> a couple of times when I had

> bilateral joint swelling and pain...he told me it was not enough

> swelling, so those visits didn't count toward the symptoms. I told him I

> cannot take off work constantly just so he can look at swelling, especially

> if it would " not count " toward diagnosis. He then whipped out disability

> forms and told me that is why I needed to go on disability. He then left

> the room, leaving my door and the door of the next room open, so I heard him

> telling a man 10 years younger than me (I heard him ask the age) that after

> two years he could finally diagnose him with RA, but unfortunately since the

> man's hands were so deteriorated, even though now he could start treatment,

> he could never work in his trade as a carpenter again. I never went back,

> and I returned to my PCP and got a prescription for an NSAID. The HMO would

> not let me switch rheumatologists. I have a PPO now, so I'm plunging back

> in again. But, I don't want to have new blood t ests that " aren't enough "

> again, so I'm trying not to

> take any meds until my appointment if they will affect the tests. I have

> copies of my old lab reports, which I will take with me.

>

>

>

>