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question....i may have RA

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 2/28/2011 12:43 AM (GMT 0)
Hello,
I was diagnosed with fms last year. I have recently went back to my MD for bloodwork. He did a RA factor and it was 24. Normal is 20 or less. I am still waiting on an Ana, esr,cbc and cmp. I do ache in my joints, and basically all over. My question is has anyone's RA factor came back just slightly elevated and was positive for rheumatoid arthritis? Just wondering cause I been feeling sick too, nauseated, dizziness headaches. I don't know if that's fms or if RA can do this. Thanks for your help.
KL
Posted 2/28/2011 1:25 AM (GMT 0)
KL,
I am in that boat. Started out with dx : FM and then got dx of OA as well, last August. My levels for crp, ana, RA all slightly elevated. I have extreme pain and stiffness in my neck, elbows, hands knees, balls of my feet. It hurts to get up from a chair, bed, the floor. I drop things very often. My hands used to cramp up so i would drop things. I get severe migraines. My Rhuemy did a bone scan since my levels were just somewhat elevated and it came back with and showed extreme(his words) inflammation. I said well FM does not cause actual inflammation so what are we dealing with. I haven't gotten an actual dx. but he is treating me for Ra with predisone, and plaquenil along with something for pain. My pr. dr. mainly takes care of the OA although he thinks it's all the RA. My meds. had been helping until around the middle of January now the stiffness and pain is coming back with a vengeance. I go back in a week and he is suposse to finally put everything together. He said he may just have to go with the scan and symptoms for dx. We will see. I posted the other day about how frustrated i am just waiting. I want to know what is attacking my body. I need some sort of control. I say hang in there. It is a lengthy process. You don't want to not be treated in time but the meds are harsh on your body so you don't want to be treated for it if it's not RA. Good luck and take care!! Heather
Posted 2/28/2011 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
RA affects the small bones of the small joints usually the hands and feet first and sometimes later can affect the neck vertebrae. It's a harsh and real reality. It helps to know there are people who understand and you can vent to. And knowledge is a way you can gain some control over your disease !!
Posted 2/28/2011 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the RA forum Klambert smilewinkgrin

I would get a referral to a Rheumatologist for a diagnosis -  they should run scans/xrays which will better determine whats happening.

I never trust my bloodworks as they can come back fine while I am in the flare from hell eyes

Good luck and keep us posted on how you are doing.

Take care

Jo

Posted 2/28/2011 4:55 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Jo

I have a rheumy, but I don't like him. I don't think he believes in fms. My GP is excellant! But I am going to find another rheumatologist, they are hard to find close in my area.

Mama6, it is a very confusing thing to deal with, you wonder if its your fms, or ra, or what if it's because my b12 is so low, and it's no telling how long it's been like that, I have never had a md to check it until now. I feel the same way, I want to know what is attacking my body, cause I look fine on outside but I feel soooo old and worn down on inside. Im in my 30s, thought this would hold off until I was older...haha!! RA does run in the family though. I also have a severe degenerated disk in back at l5-s1, with osteoarthritis around that. My rheumy told me I had burstitis in both hips, but I think it's either fms or RA. Who knows, sometimes I think mds just don't know either. lol

Thanks to you all,
Hugs,
KL
Posted 2/28/2011 3:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi KL, My rh factor also came back slightly elevated, but my rheumy wanted it sent to Mayo clinic (which the lab did not do!) because he said almost every rh factor was coming back from University Hospital where they sent it. So I had lab redrawn and it came back negative from Mayo Clinic. However, my rheumy still thinks I may have RA based on my symptoms. Like mama6, I have FM and OA too, but this newer more acute episode was nothing like those symptoms. I am also frustrated since I do not have a firm dx either. Just trying to get through one day at a time. Agree I would like some kind of controll too.
Posted 2/28/2011 8:53 PM (GMT 0)
Songwriter is right my symptoms from the "RA" were something completely different from the FM and OA. You do not get actual inflammation, tightening feeling in the skin, stiffness that is symettrial and last longer than an hour from FM. You are probably right that something auto-immune is going on. I would get a referral to a Rheumatologist, like JO said. Some Rhuemy's don't require referral's. I got out the phone book when I wanted a second opinion from my original Rhuemy and started calling til I found one I din't need a referral for. He ended up being one that a friend was seeing and she liked. Well that's who i have now. Although the process has been slow, he has been treating me while he orders more test, tries other meds. He listens and is very reassuring. Best decision i ever made, and I got the advice from friends from this forum!! Take care of yourself. Heather
Posted 3/3/2011 5:47 AM (GMT 0)
i just had the test my ra facter 420 i am scared
Posted 3/3/2011 5:55 AM (GMT 0)
i just had the test my ra facter 420 i am scared
Posted 3/3/2011 6:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Belle,

I am new here but not to RA. I've had it all my life but didn't get it checked out until I was really,really bad. It sounds like you are in the diagnosis stage? Have you seen a Rhuematologist? If you haven't, make an appointment ASAP because they can take quite a while to get into. I know it can be scary, but try not to panic because there are alot of new treatments and research now that is giving us "gimps" lots of options to lead a better quality of life. If you read the arthritis threads you will see some of the most awesome people and will get alot of information and emotional support from their experiences that you can relate to. I've always said that most everyone with RA is really cool!!! It seems that is true here at healingwell for sure!!

There are lots of people here with way more info than me so keep asking questions and they will do a great job answering them! Hang in there, you are not alone.

Hugs, Suzee
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