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Just diagnosed...what should I expect

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 11/28/2018 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
I've just been diagnosed with R.A. via a blood test. I have not been in to see a rheumatology doctor yet, for the earliest I could get an appointment was for January. Any information regarding the illness, doctors, medicine would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Posted 11/29/2018 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Keribeth, sorry to read about your recent diagnosis. This forum tends to run slow at times, so I wanted to pop on & say hello.

Was your lab work ordered by your pcp? My experience has been the rheumatologist will order his own particular labs at the first appt. An exam & physical history will also be done at this time. Depending on what is determined after getting all of your info together, the dr will decide what path to take treatment wise. I do not have RA, I do have other AI's issues & have seen rheummies for treatment.

A good site you should check out is arthritis.org. You will find accurate information, there is so much inaccurate information on the web. An educated patient makes the best patient & it will help you make good decisions.

Take care.
Posted Today 2:30 AM (GMT 0)
Not sure what prompted a blood test for RA

I am seronegative RA made a horrific presentation 10 years ago- was very sick for 3 months, moderately sick for 2 years and now am fully functioning withe small flares every few weeks that do not slow me down

All my best
Weary
Posted 12/10/2018 6:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hi I also wonder what type of blood tests were done to suggest RA as you can have esr due to inflammation and some have positive or negative RF. I have Positive RF
you should keep a diary of pain or issues and when they occurred Also write down Any Questions you may have - Yes even the silly ones and take it to your Rheumatologist appointment
Unfortunately you can speak to 10 different people and get 10 different versions of RA as it effects people differently depending on their conditions
usually what takes us to the Doctor is: Fatigue ,Joint Pain with or without swelling, Body Aches etc
Good Luck and keep posting
Posted 2/11/2019 12:36 AM (GMT 0)
I posted a couple of months ago that I had just been diagnosed with RA. That test was done by my primary care physician because the pain in my joints was increasing. I saw a rheumatoligist last month who informed me that the test done by my primary care really doesn't mean anything and did her own testing. The results came back negative. My question is does anybody know the difference between the two tests? And what test results should I believe? Thanks!
Posted 2/17/2019 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
I just happened to see your recent post. To answer your question, there is not one blood test that can diagnose RA. Rheumatologist will order more extensive blood testing, anti-CCP checking for antibodies, ESR or CRP looking for any inflammation in the body. Even with elevated ESR or CRP, that is not used to make a diagnosis. Also a physical exam & xrays may be ordered. It is a combination of things to arrive at a diagnosis. It would be terribly wrong for any dr to make this diagnosis based on one lab test.

I suggest that you obtain copies of all your lab test reports because you need to know what has been ordered & look at the results. Rheumatologists are the specialists to diagnose & treat people with RA. Personally, no, I would not ever to rely on my pcp to make a diagnosis of RA, that is out of his realm of care. I have been with my pcp for over 20 years. While he knows my history quite well, if something unusual ever pops up, he immediately refers me to a specialist.

Get copies of all of your records & consider getting a 2nd opinion with another rheumatologist. I know it can be frustrating when there is conflict with drs, this is why I suggest a 2nd opinion. Good luck & take care.
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