New and waiting blood test results *update*

Hello!

I am a 40 year old woman living in the NY/NJ metro area and am new to the RA boards....

After lots of testing and specialists I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia two years ago. I wasn't completely satisfied that fibro was all, but I needed a break from all the tests..... a few months ago my knuckles began swelling and now my ankles, wrists feet and shoulders are hurting aching and burning. The cold is making it all worse. The pain is different from the usual fibro pain which causes me to have muscle spasms and aches all over. The joint pain has existed for a while but is now overshadowing the other aches and pains.

All the specialists have tested me for RF and it has always been negative. I am only recently learning many folks with RA test negative for RF....no doc ever told me this....

I am stiff every morning, waddling through the house trying to start my day. My joints swell and ache, I get beyond tired, pain and stiffness affect my daily functioning, my sed was 50 last test, I have been chronically anemic.....so my doc ordered new bloodwork and I am waiting to see what's next. This time he requested all the assessments to diagnose RA...

Just wondering if I will need to get xrays also??? Is that common or indicated???

Thank you for listening!

*UPDATE*

So I have my labs but am waiting on my doctor to call me to discuss them. 

My RF was still negative but higher than 2 months ago.  My CRP and CCP were also negative and I am still anemic.  White blood cells are fine.

My physical symptoms are worse than last week when I saw the Rheumy last.  The knuckles on my right hand are still swollen as is my wrist and my fingers are stiff/ weak/ hurt.  My left hand is now puffy at the knuckles and stiff/ weak/ hurt.

Both shoulders and ankles hurt.  My feet feel a little better.  Still stiff in the morning.  Stiff neck wakes me at night....

These pains are completely different than my regular fibro pains, and I know fibro doesn't cause swelling....

So now I wait to hear wait my Rheumy says next...so sick of testing, can't believe I am still doing this after all these years.

Thanks for listening!

Post Edited (graceful1) : 2/15/2011 10:37:57 AM (GMT-7)

I got base line xrays of the hands and feet when they decided it was RA. I am seronegative- never positive with RF and since I have been on MTX (well I am actually on a self inposed hiatus) my ESR and CRP are normal despite how I feel.

Has anyone put you on prednisone? That was my first course of action and part of the way they DX'd the RA. Also visually- red, hot, swollen joints symmetrical in nature. I lost 23 lbs. in 2 weeks...I was a very sick little woman.

If you have RA it is important that you get on a DMARD (Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug) ASAP.

If you are feeling really bad- call the Rheumatologist's office and ask to be put on a cancellation list. You'll get in a lot quicker if you can be flexible with your schedule. I was so bad my GP called the first RD I used and got me right in. She was horrible so I got on the waiting list for my 2nd RD.

I wish you all the best!