Re: Lab results...FINALLY

[Guest guest]

the therapy sound great to me!!! the slowing down of inflammation will decrease

the erosion. I am sure at some point they will do xrays. If they don't

recommend it you could mention it at your next visit. good luck. rita

[ ] Lab results...FINALLY

Hi everyone,

I got a phone call a little while ago from my doctor's office to

inform me that they had my labs back and she wanted to talk to me

about it. My cholesterol was high...knew that it would be. She

suggested I get more exercise and walk 20 minutse a day....if only I

could. SED rate is 59. Tested negative for Lyme and Lupus. I asked

about the RA Factor and she said it was " high " ...I asked if that

meant positive and she said yes. I thought it was like a pregnency

test...either negative or positive. I didn't know there were numbers

associated with it. Do any of you know about a number associated

with this?

Also, they are going to put me on Pred. It's a 5 month thing...this

month 20 mil, 15 next month, 10 and then 5 and after 5 months of

taking that daily I am supposed to call them. I'm not a rocket

scientist but this isn't slowing my RA in any way. It's just helping

with inflamation. They aren't ordering x-rays or a bone scan....??

Don't I need a base line here? Every couple of days I'm less to do

what I was able to do a short time ago...how are they going to

regular this and measure it?? Is it me or does this sound about

right to any of you???

Take good care,

Sharon

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

No Cost - Get a month of Blockbuster Total Access now. Sweet deal for

users and friends.

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[Guest guest]

Honestly, I don't know anything about anything, but 5 months of

treatment with Prednisone alone would raise some questions for me. I

thought I had read that agressive treatment in the early stages can

affect a better outcome. I will be curious to read how others here

were treated at the beginning of their disease - those who were lucky

enough to get an early diagnosis, that is. Everyone is different,

and different treatments work differently on each person. Good luck

with whatever treatment plan is ultimately used. Ask questions, and

keep asking questions. It's the only way we have of becoming active

participants in our care.

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I got a phone call a little while ago from my doctor's office to

> inform me that they had my labs back and she wanted to talk to me

> about it. My cholesterol was high...knew that it would be. She

> suggested I get more exercise and walk 20 minutse a day....if only

I

> could. SED rate is 59. Tested negative for Lyme and Lupus. I

asked

> about the RA Factor and she said it was " high " ...I asked if that

> meant positive and she said yes. I thought it was like a pregnency

> test...either negative or positive. I didn't know there were

numbers

> associated with it. Do any of you know about a number associated

> with this?

>

> Also, they are going to put me on Pred. It's a 5 month

thing...this

> month 20 mil, 15 next month, 10 and then 5 and after 5 months of

> taking that daily I am supposed to call them. I'm not a rocket

> scientist but this isn't slowing my RA in any way. It's just

helping

> with inflamation. They aren't ordering x-rays or a bone

scan....??

> Don't I need a base line here? Every couple of days I'm less to do

> what I was able to do a short time ago...how are they going to

> regular this and measure it?? Is it me or does this sound about

> right to any of you???

>

> Take good care,

> Sharon

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sharon, sorry, do you see a rheumatologist? You're right that you need

something else to control the RA. The course of pred will help with

inflammation, but not over all disease management. As for the rheumatoid factor

(RF) test, I think the cut off for many labs is <20 is normal. When I was first

symptomatic my RF was 20. Then several years later it was much higher, I think

in the 50s. My rheum did do baseline xrays, I think that's pretty standard

practice. It did take me 3 visits to 3 different rheums before I found one I

liked, it might be good to try a 2nd opinion.

[ ] Lab results...FINALLY

Hi everyone,

I got a phone call a little while ago from my doctor's office to

inform me that they had my labs back and she wanted to talk to me

about it. My cholesterol was high...knew that it would be. She

suggested I get more exercise and walk 20 minutse a day....if only I

could. SED rate is 59. Tested negative for Lyme and Lupus. I asked

about the RA Factor and she said it was " high " ...I asked if that

meant positive and she said yes. I thought it was like a pregnency

test...either negative or positive. I didn't know there were numbers

associated with it. Do any of you know about a number associated

with this?

Also, they are going to put me on Pred. It's a 5 month thing...this

month 20 mil, 15 next month, 10 and then 5 and after 5 months of

taking that daily I am supposed to call them. I'm not a rocket

scientist but this isn't slowing my RA in any way. It's just helping

with inflamation. They aren't ordering x-rays or a bone scan....??

Don't I need a base line here? Every couple of days I'm less to do

what I was able to do a short time ago...how are they going to

regular this and measure it?? Is it me or does this sound about

right to any of you???

Take good care,

Sharon

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[Guest guest]

Sharon,

Did a rheumatologist order your labs? Sometimes Primary Care Doctors

don't test for the same tests that a rheumatologist would to confirm

a diagnosis for RA. SED rate is just to test for imflammation (reason

for the predisone), your RA factor is either positive or negative.

There are other tests such as an Anti-CCP (cyclic citrullinated

peptide) antibody test (helps confirm diagnosis and may show your

risk of having severe symptoms). Only a rheumatologist will give you

a diagnosis of RA (and prescribe you medication to avoid further

joint damage)...they will test for physical symptoms in your joints,

rheumatoid nodules etc. and more then likely will do x-rays on your

hands and feet.

For a list of labs that are normally ordered to r/o RA, you can go to

webmd.com...here is the link for RA exams and tests:

http://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/tc/rheumatoid-arthritis-

exams-and-tests.

Hope that helps. Let us know if there is anything else you have a

question about.

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I got a phone call a little while ago from my doctor's office to

> inform me that they had my labs back and she wanted to talk to me

> about it. My cholesterol was high...knew that it would be. She

> suggested I get more exercise and walk 20 minutse a day....if only

I

> could. SED rate is 59. Tested negative for Lyme and Lupus. I

asked

> about the RA Factor and she said it was " high " ...I asked if that

> meant positive and she said yes. I thought it was like a pregnency

> test...either negative or positive. I didn't know there were

numbers

> associated with it. Do any of you know about a number associated

> with this?

>

> Also, they are going to put me on Pred. It's a 5 month

thing...this

> month 20 mil, 15 next month, 10 and then 5 and after 5 months of

> taking that daily I am supposed to call them. I'm not a rocket

> scientist but this isn't slowing my RA in any way. It's just

helping

> with inflamation. They aren't ordering x-rays or a bone

scan....??

> Don't I need a base line here? Every couple of days I'm less to do

> what I was able to do a short time ago...how are they going to

> regular this and measure it?? Is it me or does this sound about

> right to any of you???

>

> Take good care,

> Sharon

>

[Guest guest]

I asked my MD that just the other day, he said there is a number

associated with it but is just a range, so if it is over a certain #

it is positive, but he said the lab never sends him a number, just

positive or negative. For whatever reason my insurance requested I re-

test for it? Thats why I asked him.

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I got a phone call a little while ago from my doctor's office to

> inform me that they had my labs back and she wanted to talk to me

> about it. My cholesterol was high...knew that it would be. She

> suggested I get more exercise and walk 20 minutse a day....if only

I

> could. SED rate is 59. Tested negative for Lyme and Lupus. I

asked

> about the RA Factor and she said it was " high " ...I asked if that

> meant positive and she said yes. I thought it was like a pregnency

> test...either negative or positive. I didn't know there were

numbers

> associated with it. Do any of you know about a number associated

> with this?

>

> Also, they are going to put me on Pred. It's a 5 month

thing...this

> month 20 mil, 15 next month, 10 and then 5 and after 5 months of

> taking that daily I am supposed to call them. I'm not a rocket

> scientist but this isn't slowing my RA in any way. It's just

helping

> with inflamation. They aren't ordering x-rays or a bone

scan....??

> Don't I need a base line here? Every couple of days I'm less to do

> what I was able to do a short time ago...how are they going to

> regular this and measure it?? Is it me or does this sound about

> right to any of you???

>

> Take good care,

> Sharon

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

No, it was my internist who did the DX for me. She's the one who

ordere the labs. She told me initially that after she got the labs

back she would put me on Pred but I had no idea it would be for 5

months. I don't have a Rhuematologist...no insurance. I can't

imagine what it costs to go to one. I'll see what happens with the

Pred. I have a feeling I might try the clinic though and see if they

can get me an appointment with a Rhuematologist and then I wouldn't

have to pay for anything.

I've had this for a very long time. My Mother is a nurse and I first

notice my fingers actually turning about 3 years ago. I don't know

how long you have it before your joints begin to deform but I know

it's been a long time. I'm not new to this and while I don't know if

jumping into intense drugs are right either...I think there are

things that need to be done and I don't want to wait until August to

see my doctor again. If they don't do x rays they won't have

anything to compare to as time goes on. It doesn't make sense. I

may try the clinic...see where that gets me.

Thanks again .

Take care,

Sharon

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I got a phone call a little while ago from my doctor's office to

> > inform me that they had my labs back and she wanted to talk to me

> > about it. My cholesterol was high...knew that it would be. She

> > suggested I get more exercise and walk 20 minutse a day....if

only

> I

> > could. SED rate is 59. Tested negative for Lyme and Lupus. I

> asked

> > about the RA Factor and she said it was " high " ...I asked if that

> > meant positive and she said yes. I thought it was like a

pregnency

> > test...either negative or positive. I didn't know there were

> numbers

> > associated with it. Do any of you know about a number associated

> > with this?

> >

> > Also, they are going to put me on Pred. It's a 5 month

> thing...this

> > month 20 mil, 15 next month, 10 and then 5 and after 5 months of

> > taking that daily I am supposed to call them. I'm not a rocket

> > scientist but this isn't slowing my RA in any way. It's just

> helping

> > with inflamation. They aren't ordering x-rays or a bone

> scan....??

> > Don't I need a base line here? Every couple of days I'm less to

do

> > what I was able to do a short time ago...how are they going to

> > regular this and measure it?? Is it me or does this sound about

> > right to any of you???

> >

> > Take good care,

> > Sharon

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I looked up the number associate with the RA Factor and they said it

didn't have anything to do with the severity of RA..it's the amount

of it that is in your system or something. It didn't seem terribly

significant.

Take care,

Sharon in NJ

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I got a phone call a little while ago from my doctor's office to

> > inform me that they had my labs back and she wanted to talk to me

> > about it. My cholesterol was high...knew that it would be. She

> > suggested I get more exercise and walk 20 minutse a day....if

only

> I

> > could. SED rate is 59. Tested negative for Lyme and Lupus. I

> asked

> > about the RA Factor and she said it was " high " ...I asked if that

> > meant positive and she said yes. I thought it was like a

pregnency

> > test...either negative or positive. I didn't know there were

> numbers

> > associated with it. Do any of you know about a number associated

> > with this?

> >

> > Also, they are going to put me on Pred. It's a 5 month

> thing...this

> > month 20 mil, 15 next month, 10 and then 5 and after 5 months of

> > taking that daily I am supposed to call them. I'm not a rocket

> > scientist but this isn't slowing my RA in any way. It's just

> helping

> > with inflamation. They aren't ordering x-rays or a bone

> scan....??

> > Don't I need a base line here? Every couple of days I'm less to

do

> > what I was able to do a short time ago...how are they going to

> > regular this and measure it?? Is it me or does this sound about

> > right to any of you???

> >

> > Take good care,

> > Sharon

> >

>

[Guest guest]

HI Rita,

I won't see the doctor until August. That seems like a long way off.

I did mention x rays today but it seemed to fall on deaf ears. How

do you know what you're really working with unless you have them?

I'll see what happens.

Take good care,

Sharon

>

> the therapy sound great to me!!! the slowing down of inflammation

will decrease the erosion. I am sure at some point they will do

xrays. If they don't recommend it you could mention it at your next

visit. good luck. rita

>

>

>

> [ ] Lab results...FINALLY

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I got a phone call a little while ago from my doctor's office to

> inform me that they had my labs back and she wanted to talk to me

> about it. My cholesterol was high...knew that it would be. She

> suggested I get more exercise and walk 20 minutse a day....if only

I

> could. SED rate is 59. Tested negative for Lyme and Lupus. I asked

> about the RA Factor and she said it was " high " ...I asked if that

> meant positive and she said yes. I thought it was like a pregnency

> test...either negative or positive. I didn't know there were

numbers

> associated with it. Do any of you know about a number associated

> with this?

>

> Also, they are going to put me on Pred. It's a 5 month thing...this

> month 20 mil, 15 next month, 10 and then 5 and after 5 months of

> taking that daily I am supposed to call them. I'm not a rocket

> scientist but this isn't slowing my RA in any way. It's just

helping

> with inflamation. They aren't ordering x-rays or a bone scan....??

> Don't I need a base line here? Every couple of days I'm less to do

> what I was able to do a short time ago...how are they going to

> regular this and measure it?? Is it me or does this sound about

> right to any of you???

>

> Take good care,

> Sharon

>

>

>

>

>

>

______________________________________________________________________

______________

> No Cost - Get a month of Blockbuster Total Access now. Sweet deal

for users and friends.

> http://tc.deals./tc/blockbuster/text1.com

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

That's what I was thinking too...I don't see how 5 months of Pred

will help to control anything. I told the doctor how long I've had

this...it's nothing new for me. It's been years!!! Every few days I

run into another situation where I find something else I can no

longer do. I constantly drop things...it's starting to hurt to hold

the steering wheel on the car...my hips are getting involved and

becoming painful now too....my hands are getting so bad that typing

is become hard. I'm not new to this at all!! I might see if I can

see a Rhuematologist at the clinic and see what happens with that.

Also, I just thought about this...if you're on Pred...what can you

take for pain? She has no pain medication for me. I heard you can

only take a Tylenol. I have morphine pain and I can only take

Tylenol?

Take care,

Sharon

>

> Hi Sharon, sorry, do you see a rheumatologist? You're right that

you need something else to control the RA. The course of pred will

help with inflammation, but not over all disease management. As for

the rheumatoid factor (RF) test, I think the cut off for many labs is

<20 is normal. When I was first symptomatic my RF was 20. Then

several years later it was much higher, I think in the 50s. My rheum

did do baseline xrays, I think that's pretty standard practice. It

did take me 3 visits to 3 different rheums before I found one I

liked, it might be good to try a 2nd opinion.

>

> [ ] Lab results...FINALLY

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I got a phone call a little while ago from my doctor's office to

> inform me that they had my labs back and she wanted to talk to me

> about it. My cholesterol was high...knew that it would be. She

> suggested I get more exercise and walk 20 minutse a day....if only

I

> could. SED rate is 59. Tested negative for Lyme and Lupus. I

asked

> about the RA Factor and she said it was " high " ...I asked if that

> meant positive and she said yes. I thought it was like a pregnency

> test...either negative or positive. I didn't know there were

numbers

> associated with it. Do any of you know about a number associated

> with this?

>

> Also, they are going to put me on Pred. It's a 5 month

thing...this

> month 20 mil, 15 next month, 10 and then 5 and after 5 months of

> taking that daily I am supposed to call them. I'm not a rocket

> scientist but this isn't slowing my RA in any way. It's just

helping

> with inflamation. They aren't ordering x-rays or a bone

scan....??

> Don't I need a base line here? Every couple of days I'm less to do

> what I was able to do a short time ago...how are they going to

> regular this and measure it?? Is it me or does this sound about

> right to any of you???

>

> Take good care,

> Sharon

>

>

>

>

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> Never miss a thing. Make your home page.

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[Guest guest]

From my understanding, a positive RAFactor is over 80. If it is on the low end

of high it usually indicated lupus or another autoimmune illness. RA is suppose

to be significantly higher. I don't know if I believe that, but that is what

some say. My RAFactor is 340. Usually the ANA is done as well, the lab I use

has the normal under 40, mine is 80 and a speckled pattern, indicative of RA.

I know many doctors like to start on prednisone, but with the options

available now, it scares me to think that prednisone is the first option. Yes,

it works like a charm, but it is hell to get off of. When I was diagnosed, it

was only a year or so before the biologics. I was started on prednisone and

plaquenil initially. Twelve and a half years later I have never been able to

get off of it. Personally, I would see if there was another medication to be

put on before resorting to pred. Luckily I am just on 4mg.

Slowing RA is a bit of a misnomer, and some may disagree with me. The point

of all the medication is to reduce the inflammation, some just go through a

different way of doing so. I feel that biologics do make people feel better and

it can delay destruction but I don't think it necessarily slows the disease.

Enough/ the right NSAID, DMARDS, pred dose could slow the disease just as well

for the right person...just like biologics don't always work. It boils down to

what works for you. However, I think beginning treatment with anything more

than a prednisone dose pack is silly. But I am not a doctor...

Shandi

Sharon <Fotograffa@...> wrote:

Hi everyone,

I got a phone call a little while ago from my doctor's office to

inform me that they had my labs back and she wanted to talk to me

about it. My cholesterol was high...knew that it would be. She

suggested I get more exercise and walk 20 minutse a day....if only I

could. SED rate is 59. Tested negative for Lyme and Lupus. I asked

about the RA Factor and she said it was " high " ...I asked if that

meant positive and she said yes. I thought it was like a pregnency

test...either negative or positive. I didn't know there were numbers

associated with it. Do any of you know about a number associated

with this?

Also, they are going to put me on Pred. It's a 5 month thing...this

month 20 mil, 15 next month, 10 and then 5 and after 5 months of

taking that daily I am supposed to call them. I'm not a rocket

scientist but this isn't slowing my RA in any way. It's just helping

with inflamation. They aren't ordering x-rays or a bone scan....??

Don't I need a base line here? Every couple of days I'm less to do

what I was able to do a short time ago...how are they going to

regular this and measure it?? Is it me or does this sound about

right to any of you???

Take good care,

Sharon

---------------------------------

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

[Guest guest]

i see my dr every 8 weeks and get blood work every 4. however, when i was first

diagnosed i got only labs. as soon as i was feeling better they did baseline

xrays. however you do have to understand that my flair was so bad that i could

not lay on a xray table at the time. i think the degree you are at the time,

the doctor, your other factors that i don't know may be playing into your drs

plan. that is what is so good about america if you don't like your dr you can

change. but when i was first diagnosed i was so sick that i could not lie on a

xray table unless sedated. since i have had back fusions and it took them 6

hours to intubate me. i did not know until the surgery that the ra had invaded

my lungs, trachea, throat and esophagus. i had to be pediatricaly

intubation with fibre optic. i would use the pednisone until i was stable, talk

to dr and go from there. but i do share the pain that sometimes you are not

able for a full body ra evaluation. it took several months for all my baselines

to be done and evaluated. i was even sent to a specialist to evaluate my heart

and respiration when getting in and out of a chair because i was in such pain

and it could not be detected on an xray. after all these evaluations that took

many months, i worked with my ra dr and a few other specialists for the correct

treatment. had i been given a biologic right off the bat with the restrictive

lung disease that the ra had caused i would have most likely died. trust your

doctors. everyones body is different. but after you start feeling better and

dont agree with the time frame that your doctor is working on talk with her or

better yet switch doctors. love and hugs rita

[ ] Lab results...FINALLY

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I got a phone call a little while ago from my doctor's office to

> inform me that they had my labs back and she wanted to talk to me

> about it. My cholesterol was high...knew that it would be. She

> suggested I get more exercise and walk 20 minutse a day....if only

I

> could. SED rate is 59. Tested negative for Lyme and Lupus. I asked

> about the RA Factor and she said it was " high " ...I asked if that

> meant positive and she said yes. I thought it was like a pregnency

> test...either negative or positive. I didn't know there were

numbers

> associated with it. Do any of you know about a number associated

> with this?

>

> Also, they are going to put me on Pred. It's a 5 month thing...this

> month 20 mil, 15 next month, 10 and then 5 and after 5 months of

> taking that daily I am supposed to call them. I'm not a rocket

> scientist but this isn't slowing my RA in any way. It's just

helping

> with inflamation. They aren't ordering x-rays or a bone scan....??

> Don't I need a base line here? Every couple of days I'm less to do

> what I was able to do a short time ago...how are they going to

> regular this and measure it?? Is it me or does this sound about

> right to any of you???

>

> Take good care,

> Sharon

>

>

>

>

>

>

____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _

____________ __

> No Cost - Get a month of Blockbuster Total Access now. Sweet deal

for users and friends.

> http://tc.deals. / tc/blockbuster/ text1.com

>

>

[Guest guest]

I think it's the SED rate and not the RA Factor that might indicate

another illness like Lupus. I also had an ANA and I was negative

for Lupus.

sharon in NJ

> Hi everyone,

>

> I got a phone call a little while ago from my doctor's office to

> inform me that they had my labs back and she wanted to talk to me

> about it. My cholesterol was high...knew that it would be. She

> suggested I get more exercise and walk 20 minutse a day....if only

I

> could. SED rate is 59. Tested negative for Lyme and Lupus. I asked

> about the RA Factor and she said it was " high " ...I asked if that

> meant positive and she said yes. I thought it was like a pregnency

> test...either negative or positive. I didn't know there were

numbers

> associated with it. Do any of you know about a number associated

> with this?

>

> Also, they are going to put me on Pred. It's a 5 month thing...this

> month 20 mil, 15 next month, 10 and then 5 and after 5 months of

> taking that daily I am supposed to call them. I'm not a rocket

> scientist but this isn't slowing my RA in any way. It's just

helping

> with inflamation. They aren't ordering x-rays or a bone scan....??

> Don't I need a base line here? Every couple of days I'm less to do

> what I was able to do a short time ago...how are they going to

> regular this and measure it?? Is it me or does this sound about

> right to any of you???

>

> Take good care,

> Sharon

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile.

Try it now.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Rita...I don't know what's going on at this point. We can change

doctors in America and if you don't have insurance it's next to

impossible to get one... If I were just coming into all of this and

just DX today I guess playing the waiting game wouldn't be so bad but

that's not the case. I explained all this to the doctor when I saw

her on the 13th. I thought she was taking it all in. I don't even

have flairs anymore. I'm like this all the time now. I think she

could be a tad more aggressive than just Pred. Laying on an x ray

table would be torture for me too but I think it needs to be done in

my case. Seriously, I'm going to the doctor's office on Monday to get

a copy of my labs and maybe have a chance to talk to someone...I'll

try the Pred and see what happens. No matter how wonderful she said

I'll feel on it...it's not going to slow the progression. I'll see

what happens.

Take care,

Sharon in NJ

>

> i see my dr every 8 weeks and get blood work every 4. however,

when i was first diagnosed i got only labs. as soon as i was feeling

better they did baseline xrays. however you do have to understand

that my flair was so bad that i could not lay on a xray table at the

time. i think the degree you are at the time, the doctor, your other

factors that i don't know may be playing into your drs plan. that is

what is so good about america if you don't like your dr you can

change. but when i was first diagnosed i was so sick that i could

not lie on a xray table unless sedated. since i have had back

fusions and it took them 6 hours to intubate me. i did not know

until the surgery that the ra had invaded my lungs, trachea, throat

and esophagus. i had to be pediatricaly

> intubation with fibre optic. i would use the pednisone until i was

stable, talk to dr and go from there. but i do share the pain that

sometimes you are not able for a full body ra evaluation. it took

several months for all my baselines to be done and evaluated. i was

even sent to a specialist to evaluate my heart and respiration when

getting in and out of a chair because i was in such pain and it could

not be detected on an xray. after all these evaluations that took

many months, i worked with my ra dr and a few other specialists for

the correct treatment. had i been given a biologic right off the bat

with the restrictive lung disease that the ra had caused i would have

most likely died. trust your doctors. everyones body is different.

but after you start feeling better and dont agree with the time frame

that your doctor is working on talk with her or better yet switch

doctors. love and hugs rita

>

>

>

> [ ] Lab results...FINALLY

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I got a phone call a little while ago from my doctor's office to

> > inform me that they had my labs back and she wanted to talk to me

> > about it. My cholesterol was high...knew that it would be. She

> > suggested I get more exercise and walk 20 minutse a day....if

only

> I

> > could. SED rate is 59. Tested negative for Lyme and Lupus. I

asked

> > about the RA Factor and she said it was " high " ...I asked if that

> > meant positive and she said yes. I thought it was like a

pregnency

> > test...either negative or positive. I didn't know there were

> numbers

> > associated with it. Do any of you know about a number associated

> > with this?

> >

> > Also, they are going to put me on Pred. It's a 5 month

thing...this

> > month 20 mil, 15 next month, 10 and then 5 and after 5 months of

> > taking that daily I am supposed to call them. I'm not a rocket

> > scientist but this isn't slowing my RA in any way. It's just

> helping

> > with inflamation. They aren't ordering x-rays or a bone

scan....??

> > Don't I need a base line here? Every couple of days I'm less to

do

> > what I was able to do a short time ago...how are they going to

> > regular this and measure it?? Is it me or does this sound about

> > right to any of you???

> >

> > Take good care,

> > Sharon

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _

> ____________ __

> > No Cost - Get a month of Blockbuster Total Access now. Sweet deal

> for users and friends.

> > http://tc.deals. / tc/blockbuster/ text1.com

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi Sharon,

In my opinion, I think the Doctor put you on the prednisone to see if

it works...if it does, than she knows it is definitely RA...sometimes

there can be other reason for a raised count or a false positive but

if the prednisone works and the pain is gone, then she knows it is RA

for sure...does that makes sense to you? You are right, prednisone

is not the only treatment for the inflammation.

Hope you are feeling better...be careful with the prednisone...it is

a powerful and tricky medication with lots of side effects...

I would suggest getting yourself to a good Rheumatologist as quickly

as possible...I think you said she was your family doctor...

Diane

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I got a phone call a little while ago from my doctor's office to

> inform me that they had my labs back and she wanted to talk to me

> about it. My cholesterol was high...knew that it would be. She

> suggested I get more exercise and walk 20 minutse a day....if only

I

> could. SED rate is 59. Tested negative for Lyme and Lupus. I

asked

> about the RA Factor and she said it was " high " ...I asked if that

> meant positive and she said yes. I thought it was like a pregnency

> test...either negative or positive. I didn't know there were

numbers

> associated with it. Do any of you know about a number associated

> with this?

>

> Also, they are going to put me on Pred. It's a 5 month

thing...this

> month 20 mil, 15 next month, 10 and then 5 and after 5 months of

> taking that daily I am supposed to call them. I'm not a rocket

> scientist but this isn't slowing my RA in any way. It's just

helping

> with inflamation. They aren't ordering x-rays or a bone

scan....??

> Don't I need a base line here? Every couple of days I'm less to do

> what I was able to do a short time ago...how are they going to

> regular this and measure it?? Is it me or does this sound about

> right to any of you???

>

> Take good care,

> Sharon

>

[Guest guest]

Is that generally true? That if your symptoms are relieved with prednisone,

then RA is indicated?

Judy

Diane wrote:

Hi Sharon,

In my opinion, I think the Doctor put you on the prednisone to see if

it works...if it does, than she knows it is definitely RA...sometimes

there can be other reason for a raised count or a false positive but

if the prednisone works and the pain is gone, then she knows it is RA

for sure...does that makes sense to you? You are right, prednisone

is not the only treatment for the inflammation.

Hope you are feeling better...be careful with the prednisone...it is

a powerful and tricky medication with lots of side effects...

I would suggest getting yourself to a good Rheumatologist as quickly

as possible...I think you said she was your family doctor...

.___

[Guest guest]

No.

Response to a course of prednisone can lend weight to the theory that an

inflammatory process is at work, but it doesn't necessarily mean that RA is

the culprit.

Not an MD

> Re: [ ] Re: Lab results...FINALLY

>

> Is that generally true? That if your symptoms are relieved with

prednisone, then RA

> is indicated?

>

> Judy

>

> Diane wrote:

>

> Hi Sharon,

> In my opinion, I think the Doctor put you on the prednisone to see if

> it works...if it does, than she knows it is definitely RA...sometimes

> there can be other reason for a raised count or a false positive but

> if the prednisone works and the pain is gone, then she knows it is RA

> for sure...does that makes sense to you? You are right, prednisone

> is not the only treatment for the inflammation.

> Hope you are feeling better...be careful with the prednisone...it is

> a powerful and tricky medication with lots of side effects...

>

> I would suggest getting yourself to a good Rheumatologist as quickly

> as possible...I think you said she was your family doctor...

> .___

[Guest guest]

Sharon,

The rheumatoid factor (RF) test is not like a pregnancy test.

Despite its name, rheumatoid factor production is not specific to RA. There

are many possible reasons for a positive RF, even simply aging.

In addition, there is no one standard test for RF, so the way the results

are determined, reported, and interpreted will vary from lab to lab.

I suspect that your physician is not sure of the diagnosis and wants to see

how you do on prednisone; however, watching and waiting for five months is

not a good idea.

It would be wise to find a rheumatologist for a second opinion.

Not an MD

> [ ] Lab results...FINALLY

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I got a phone call a little while ago from my doctor's office to

> inform me that they had my labs back and she wanted to talk to me

> about it. My cholesterol was high...knew that it would be. She

> suggested I get more exercise and walk 20 minutse a day....if only I

> could. SED rate is 59. Tested negative for Lyme and Lupus. I asked

> about the RA Factor and she said it was " high " ...I asked if that

> meant positive and she said yes. I thought it was like a pregnency

> test...either negative or positive. I didn't know there were numbers

> associated with it. Do any of you know about a number associated

> with this?

>

> Also, they are going to put me on Pred. It's a 5 month thing...this

> month 20 mil, 15 next month, 10 and then 5 and after 5 months of

> taking that daily I am supposed to call them. I'm not a rocket

> scientist but this isn't slowing my RA in any way. It's just helping

> with inflamation. They aren't ordering x-rays or a bone scan....??

> Don't I need a base line here? Every couple of days I'm less to do

> what I was able to do a short time ago...how are they going to

> regular this and measure it?? Is it me or does this sound about

> right to any of you???

>

> Take good care,

> Sharon

[Guest guest]

None of these tests - sedimentation rate ( " sed " rate, ESR), rheumatoid

factor (RF), antinuclear antibodies (ANA) - is specific for any one

condition.

Not an MD

> [ ] Re: Lab results...FINALLY

>

> I think it's the SED rate and not the RA Factor that might indicate

> another illness like Lupus. I also had an ANA and I was negative

> for Lupus.

> sharon in NJ

[Guest guest]

When I had my first flare before finding out that I had RA I was put on

Prednisone, celebrex and Percocets. After still being swelled up my pcp finally

sent me to see a Rheumy. She took me off the celebrex, kept me on the

prednisone raised the dose to 20mg then added in MTX even before doing blood

work. She then sent me for lab work. My SED was high, My Vit D was extremely

low, but I had a normal RF and a normal ANA. I was diagnosed with sero-negative

Rheumatiod Arthritis. I'm guessing the Rheumy knew what I had even before the

labs came back to give me the MTX. I started out on 4 pills a week then when I

was raised to 6 pills I became extremely nausated and sick. She took me off of

that and put me on enbrel. Enbrel as been a mircle drug for me. Recently she

has added back the MTX but in injectables. I am not to happy about it. I took

the MTX for about a month, I have now since stopped the injections and realized

that it was not helping me either way with the RA. So I'm refusing to take it

again until I get New Insurance. I have enough enbrel to last me until my

medical assistance kicks in. It take 30 days here to get it.

I did find out that if you have Medicare you can get Medical assistance here in

land. It is something for you all to check into at social services if you

are having issues paying the high costs of medical issues. We also have here

something called Pharmacy assistance as well.

[ ] Lab results...FINALLY

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I got a phone call a little while ago from my doctor's office to

> inform me that they had my labs back and she wanted to talk to me

> about it. My cholesterol was high...knew that it would be. She

> suggested I get more exercise and walk 20 minutse a day....if only

I

> could. SED rate is 59. Tested negative for Lyme and Lupus. I

asked

> about the RA Factor and she said it was " high " ...I asked if that

> meant positive and she said yes. I thought it was like a pregnency

> test...either negative or positive. I didn't know there were

numbers

> associated with it. Do any of you know about a number associated

> with this?

>

> Also, they are going to put me on Pred. It's a 5 month

thing...this

> month 20 mil, 15 next month, 10 and then 5 and after 5 months of

> taking that daily I am supposed to call them. I'm not a rocket

> scientist but this isn't slowing my RA in any way. It's just

helping

> with inflamation. They aren't ordering x-rays or a bone

scan....??

> Don't I need a base line here? Every couple of days I'm less to do

> what I was able to do a short time ago...how are they going to

> regular this and measure it?? Is it me or does this sound about

> right to any of you???

>

> Take good care,

> Sharon

>

>

>

>

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>

__________________________________________________________

______________

> Never miss a thing. Make your home page.

> http://www./r/hs

>

>

[Guest guest]

I too have read that the RF factor is no longer

relevant in determining how severe RA is or can be.

There are many patients with seronegative RA. It used

to be thought that if one didn't have the RF factor

then they would have a less progressive/less severe

case of RA, but this is not true according to doctors

I have seen either.

--- Sharon <Fotograffa@...> wrote:

> I looked up the number associate with the RA Factor

> and they said it

> didn't have anything to do with the severity of

> RA..it's the amount

> of it that is in your system or something. It

> didn't seem terribly

> significant.

> Take care,

> Sharon in NJ

>

>

>

> > >

> > > Hi everyone,

> > >

> > > I got a phone call a little while ago from my

> doctor's office to

> > > inform me that they had my labs back and she

> wanted to talk to me

> > > about it. My cholesterol was high...knew that

> it would be. She

> > > suggested I get more exercise and walk 20

> minutse a day....if

> only

> > I

> > > could. SED rate is 59. Tested negative for

> Lyme and Lupus. I

> > asked

> > > about the RA Factor and she said it was

> " high " ...I asked if that

> > > meant positive and she said yes. I thought it

> was like a

> pregnency

> > > test...either negative or positive. I didn't

> know there were

> > numbers

> > > associated with it. Do any of you know about a

> number associated

> > > with this?

> > >

> > > Also, they are going to put me on Pred. It's a

> 5 month

> > thing...this

> > > month 20 mil, 15 next month, 10 and then 5 and

> after 5 months of

> > > taking that daily I am supposed to call them.

> I'm not a rocket

> > > scientist but this isn't slowing my RA in any

> way. It's just

> > helping

> > > with inflamation. They aren't ordering x-rays

> or a bone

> > scan....??

> > > Don't I need a base line here? Every couple of

> days I'm less to

> do

> > > what I was able to do a short time ago...how are

> they going to

> > > regular this and measure it?? Is it me or does

> this sound about

> > > right to any of you???

> > >

> > > Take good care,

> > > Sharon

> > >

> >

>

>

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

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[Guest guest]

Hi Sharon!

I have FMS and seronegative RA. I rarely ever am

prescribed Prednisone due to my age (I'm 36), as it

can be rough on the bones. It's used as a very last

resort for me. I've only been given it for the RA 1

to 2 times. However, I was also taking NSAIDS,

DMARDS, my sleeping medication, and all of my other

medications, plus the Ultram that I use for pain for

my FMS. Perhaps they would be willing to give you

something like that.

--- Sharon <Fotograffa@...> wrote:

> Hi ,

>

> That's what I was thinking too...I don't see how 5

> months of Pred

> will help to control anything. I told the doctor

> how long I've had

> this...it's nothing new for me. It's been years!!!

> Every few days I

> run into another situation where I find something

> else I can no

> longer do. I constantly drop things...it's starting

> to hurt to hold

> the steering wheel on the car...my hips are getting

> involved and

> becoming painful now too....my hands are getting so

> bad that typing

> is become hard. I'm not new to this at all!! I

> might see if I can

> see a Rhuematologist at the clinic and see what

> happens with that.

> Also, I just thought about this...if you're on

> Pred...what can you

> take for pain? She has no pain medication for me.

> I heard you can

> only take a Tylenol. I have morphine pain and I can

> only take

> Tylenol?

> Take care,

> Sharon

>

>

>

>

> >

> > Hi Sharon, sorry, do you see a rheumatologist?

> You're right that

> you need something else to control the RA. The

> course of pred will

> help with inflammation, but not over all disease

> management. As for

> the rheumatoid factor (RF) test, I think the cut off

> for many labs is

> <20 is normal. When I was first symptomatic my RF

> was 20. Then

> several years later it was much higher, I think in

> the 50s. My rheum

> did do baseline xrays, I think that's pretty

> standard practice. It

> did take me 3 visits to 3 different rheums before I

> found one I

> liked, it might be good to try a 2nd opinion.

> >

> > [ ] Lab results...FINALLY

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I got a phone call a little while ago from my

> doctor's office to

> > inform me that they had my labs back and she

> wanted to talk to me

> > about it. My cholesterol was high...knew that it

> would be. She

> > suggested I get more exercise and walk 20 minutse

> a day....if only

> I

> > could. SED rate is 59. Tested negative for Lyme

> and Lupus. I

> asked

> > about the RA Factor and she said it was " high " ...I

> asked if that

> > meant positive and she said yes. I thought it was

> like a pregnency

> > test...either negative or positive. I didn't know

> there were

> numbers

> > associated with it. Do any of you know about a

> number associated

> > with this?

> >

> > Also, they are going to put me on Pred. It's a 5

> month

> thing...this

> > month 20 mil, 15 next month, 10 and then 5 and

> after 5 months of

> > taking that daily I am supposed to call them. I'm

> not a rocket

> > scientist but this isn't slowing my RA in any way.

> It's just

> helping

> > with inflamation. They aren't ordering x-rays or

> a bone

> scan....??

> > Don't I need a base line here? Every couple of

> days I'm less to do

> > what I was able to do a short time ago...how are

> they going to

> > regular this and measure it?? Is it me or does

> this sound about

> > right to any of you???

> >

> > Take good care,

> > Sharon

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > <!--

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=== message truncated ===

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

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[Guest guest]

From what my doctors tell me, the ESR (Sed Rate), anti

ccp, and westgren all can indicate RA if elevated.

There are additional tests that I have had done to

rule out Lupus which was some kind of double stranded

DNA test.

--- Sharon <Fotograffa@...> wrote:

> I think it's the SED rate and not the RA Factor that

> might indicate

> another illness like Lupus. I also had an ANA and

> I was negative

> for Lupus.

> sharon in NJ

>

>

>

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I got a phone call a little while ago from my

> doctor's office to

> > inform me that they had my labs back and she

> wanted to talk to me

> > about it. My cholesterol was high...knew that it

> would be. She

> > suggested I get more exercise and walk 20 minutse

> a day....if only

> I

> > could. SED rate is 59. Tested negative for Lyme

> and Lupus. I asked

> > about the RA Factor and she said it was " high " ...I

> asked if that

> > meant positive and she said yes. I thought it was

> like a pregnency

> > test...either negative or positive. I didn't know

> there were

> numbers

> > associated with it. Do any of you know about a

> number associated

> > with this?

> >

> > Also, they are going to put me on Pred. It's a 5

> month thing...this

> > month 20 mil, 15 next month, 10 and then 5 and

> after 5 months of

> > taking that daily I am supposed to call them. I'm

> not a rocket

> > scientist but this isn't slowing my RA in any way.

> It's just

> helping

> > with inflamation. They aren't ordering x-rays or a

> bone scan....??

> > Don't I need a base line here? Every couple of

> days I'm less to do

> > what I was able to do a short time ago...how are

> they going to

> > regular this and measure it?? Is it me or does

> this sound about

> > right to any of you???

> >

> > Take good care,

> > Sharon

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > ---------------------------------

> > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all

> with Mobile.

> Try it now.

> >

> > [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

> >

>

>

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

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[Guest guest]

I was advised of this too. If my SED Rate, Westgren,

anti ccp were elevated and if I responded to the

treatment then they knew inflammatory arthritis was

present.

--- J Acciarito <jacyone@...> wrote:

> Is that generally true? That if your symptoms are

> relieved with prednisone, then RA is indicated?

>

> Judy

>

> Diane wrote:

>

> Hi Sharon,

> In my opinion, I think the Doctor put you on the

> prednisone to see if

> it works...if it does, than she knows it is

> definitely RA...sometimes

> there can be other reason for a raised count or a

> false positive but

> if the prednisone works and the pain is gone, then

> she knows it is RA

> for sure...does that makes sense to you? You are

> right, prednisone

> is not the only treatment for the inflammation.

> Hope you are feeling better...be careful with the

> prednisone...it is

> a powerful and tricky medication with lots of side

> effects...

>

> I would suggest getting yourself to a good

> Rheumatologist as quickly

> as possible...I think you said she was your family

> doctor...

> .___

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

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[Guest guest]

,

I was wondering what other inflammatory processes might be at work?

Originally, an MRI showed the bilateral joint knee effusions. Then

there were times, my knee joints would be red and very warm to the

touch. Gout and infections were and have been ruled out anytime they

aspirate the joint. I didn't test positive for the RF factor but had

elevated ESR/Sed, Westgren and Anti CCP. Not extremely large

elevations but they were elevated. I responded to the Prednisone,

then awhile later was put on Plaquenil as my doctor had stated I could

be in early stages of RA. Then this year, Sulfasalzine was added and

my next step is Enbrel. For the longest time, my diagnosis was 716.9

which is inflammatory arthritis with no known cause. When I was at

the liver clinic, and they were going over my diagnosis with me, it

was written as seronegative RA. Do you know where I can find a

listing of inflammatory arthritis? In my search that I have done

before I only seem to find RA or Psoriasis, but it states that there

are over 100 different types of arthritis.

> >

> > Hi Sharon,

> > In my opinion, I think the Doctor put you on the prednisone to

see if

> > it works...if it does, than she knows it is definitely

RA...sometimes

> > there can be other reason for a raised count or a false positive but

> > if the prednisone works and the pain is gone, then she knows it

is RA

> > for sure...does that makes sense to you? You are right, prednisone

> > is not the only treatment for the inflammation.

> > Hope you are feeling better...be careful with the prednisone...it is

> > a powerful and tricky medication with lots of side effects...

> >

> > I would suggest getting yourself to a good Rheumatologist as quickly

> > as possible...I think you said she was your family doctor...

> > .___

>

[Guest guest]

I've been taking Prednisone since 1990 at around the 10mg level. Before

that, I was getting relief from APC's (aspirin), and hadn't found an

anti-inflammatory that worked. I'm still taking Pred and have added Morphine

a few years ago after having the quack Rummy take me off almost all meds.

The MS Contin does a good job, but still doesn't do any good for

breakthrough pain. Also, I almost never get any reports of blood tests. For

me, no news is good news.

Dennis in eastexas

[ ] Re: Lab results...FINALLY

> Hi ,

>

> That's what I was thinking too...I don't see how 5 months of Pred

> will help to control anything. I told the doctor how long I've had

> this...it's nothing new for me. It's been years!!! Every few days I

> run into another situation where I find something else I can no

> longer do. I constantly drop things...it's starting to hurt to hold

> the steering wheel on the car...my hips are getting involved and

> becoming painful now too....my hands are getting so bad that typing

> is become hard. I'm not new to this at all!! I might see if I can

> see a Rhuematologist at the clinic and see what happens with that.

> Also, I just thought about this...if you're on Pred...what can you

> take for pain? She has no pain medication for me. I heard you can

> only take a Tylenol. I have morphine pain and I can only take

> Tylenol?

> Take care,

> Sharon