Re: Early Treatment Benefits Patients...

[Guest guest]

The way I was dx so quickly was because I asked for the blood test. I

went on the internet and typed in thumb and knee pain. It popped up

with sites about RA and told that there was a blood test that you

could have done to see if you had it. When I went to the dr. for

my " stiff " neck, he said that there was probably an underlying reason

why my neck hurt so often. That's when I told him that I wanted the

blood test. He did it that day and I found out 2 days later. If I

hadn't went to the dr and asked for it, who knows how long I would

have went without knowing what was causing all my pain.

Bobbi

[Guest guest]

Bobbi,

That is great that your rheumatoid factor came back positive. But what

about those of use with RA and negative rheumatoid factor(sero-negative RA)? I

am one of those people.

There is a criteria for RA diagnosis...and blood work is NOT a definative

diagnosis. Please keep in mind that you can have sero-postive RF and still NOT

have RA as well as have sero-negative RF and still HAVE RA.

There are other factors that go into the diagnosis which is one of the

reasons so many people have such a difficult time getting a timely diagnosis.

I too being a person that likes things in black in white...and when my RF

was negative more than once I started to ignor my docs advice on meds and such.

Learned that he was right and I was wrong. I do have RA and I also learned

that RF is just in indicator for some how active the disease is. My RF has

been positve since my diagnosis...then again when my RA is very quiet you can

test me and my RF is negative.

So I caution you and others to accepting negtive blood work as NO disease.

Toni in Texas

In a message dated 11/17/2005 7:38:49 A.M. Central Standard Time,

writes:

Date: Wed, 16 Nov 2005 17:37:33 -0000

From: " Bobbi " <mom2triplets@...>

Subject: Re: Early Treatment Benefits Patients...

The way I was dx so quickly was because I asked for the blood test. I

went on the internet and typed in thumb and knee pain. It popped up

with sites about RA and told that there was a blood test that you

could have done to see if you had it. When I went to the dr. for

my " stiff " neck, he said that there was probably an underlying reason

why my neck hurt so often. That's when I told him that I wanted the

blood test. He did it that day and I found out 2 days later. If I

hadn't went to the dr and asked for it, who knows how long I would

have went without knowing what was causing all my pain.

Bobbi

[Guest guest]

Toni:

You are exactly right. I am very new to this, but I do remember

reading that some people have RA but their blood tests do not show

it. Looking at it from your prospective, I can see how awful that

would be. To be in so much pain, and have the dr.'s thinking you are

crazy because your tests came back fine. I guess that will be my

silver lining. It sucks that my test came back positive, but at least

it helps with the dx. Thanks for clearing this up. Hope I didn't

offend you in my ignorance of this new nightmare I am in! I am

learning more everyday from you all.

Bobbi

PS I'll be a pro before my Rheumy appt on Dec. 5th

[Guest guest]

Bobbi,

I am also sero negative, and like Toni I didn't take the meds for

quite a while because I was in denial.

Part of me is STILL in denial and I've had this disease for 30 years.

Then there are the people that

test positive for the rheumatoid factor and get a diagnoses of RA and

they don't have RA. Some doctors

diagnose RA based on blood tests alone, which I don't understand

since all the literature is quite clear

that it should NOT be diagnosed based on blood tests alone. I hope

soon they will devise a test that

clearly is diagnostic so proper treatment can be given.

So please don't YOU feel bad about not being educated about this

disease when there are doctors

that don't even understand it. Hang around here long enough and

you'll learn more about RA then maybe

you want. LOL! It's a good idea to write down questions for your

rheumy. So many times we have questions

and once we're face to face with the doctor, we tend to forget (at

least I do). It's great that you're reading

and learning about this disease. I think people that are proactive in

their care tend to do better.

a

On Nov 17, 2005, at 12:20 PM, Bobbi wrote:

> Toni:

> You are exactly right. I am very new to this, but I do remember

> reading that some people have RA but their blood tests do not show

> it. Looking at it from your prospective, I can see how awful that

> would be. To be in so much pain, and have the dr.'s thinking you are

> crazy because your tests came back fine. I guess that will be my

> silver lining. It sucks that my test came back positive, but at least

> it helps with the dx. Thanks for clearing this up. Hope I didn't

> offend you in my ignorance of this new nightmare I am in! I am

> learning more everyday from you all.

>

> Bobbi

> PS I'll be a pro before my Rheumy appt on Dec. 5th

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

a:

I have a list started already of questions to ask the Rheumy because

I KNOW I will forget them all when I get there. I predict I'll be

crying my eyes out before the appt. is over.

My sisters hands have been swollen for a while, she has a little

pain in her fingers, mostly pain in her back. She went to Dr. and

because of my blood test asked for the RF test as well. Hers came

back negative. I told her to pay attention to her body and keep

track of her symptoms. That way if/when she goes back to the dr.

for the same thing she'll have more to tell him. Is this all she

can do? Or is there another test of some kind she should do to rule

out RA? She is also under ALOT of stress so I printed out the

earlier post about stress and what all it can cause. She has been

very stressed for the past year or so, that COULD be it, but I want

her to be sure.

I have learned so much, and yes TOO much at times. Everyday I get

on here I tell myself I'm not coming back until after my Rheumy

appt, but I keep coming back. I also read article after article on

this disease. When I find something I want to tell my dr. about I

copy it and paste it in my word document list of questions for my

doc. He's going to look at that paper and want to run! LOL LOL

Bobbi

[Guest guest]

Bobbi,

No I am not offended at all. This whole thing is confusing at times. Trust

me I know how you feel. I am a black and white person. I do not like gray!

LOL I was pissed when the doc said yes you have RA and I asked to have a copy

of my labwork to find my RF was negative. But my sed rate was over a 100.

Later I wanted to have another RF done and my doc said no...no need since I

had one that was positive in the past. I asked when and he could not show me

the proof. So on the way to the lab I checked the box anyway...I know...that

was not the " right " thing to do but I did it anyway. Now that time I felt

pretty good and the RF was positive. Ah ha!!! Since then it has been negative

again...go figure.

I was lucky cause after over a year with a quack GP I finally self referred

myself to a rheummy based on advice of a co-worker with RA. She was right.

The rheummy knew exactly what was wrong with me. A refer of my old GP lab

work shows I had elevated sed rates for the past two previous years and my

stupid GP ignorred it!!! He was more concerned with my cholesterol!!!! Of

course

I changed GPs immediately!!!

Good luck with your rheummy appnt. I hope he can shed some light and

clarity on the situation.

Toni

In a message dated 11/17/2005 1:10:48 P.M. Central Standard Time,

writes:

Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 17:20:13 -0000

From: " Bobbi " <mom2triplets@...>

Subject: Re: Early Treatment Benefits Patients...

Toni:

You are exactly right. I am very new to this, but I do remember

reading that some people have RA but their blood tests do not show

it. Looking at it from your prospective, I can see how awful that

would be. To be in so much pain, and have the dr.'s thinking you are

crazy because your tests came back fine. I guess that will be my

silver lining. It sucks that my test came back positive, but at least

it helps with the dx. Thanks for clearing this up. Hope I didn't

offend you in my ignorance of this new nightmare I am in! I am

learning more everyday from you all.

Bobbi

PS I'll be a pro before my Rheumy appt on Dec. 5th