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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 11/8/2020 1:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hello and good day everyone!

I was diagnosed with early seronegative RA 2 weeks ago by a rheum after having gone through many appointments and finally being referred from sports surgeon and orthopedic (pain started in right ankle and one elbow, so we thought it was a torn tendon).

This past 2 weeks have been really rough and anxiety-filled, to the point that I think all my dreams and goals in life are not reachable anymore.

I was just wondering if there's a chance or possibility that what I'm experiencing isn't RA. Because after researching and reading some articles about the disease, the only symptom that's present for me is joint pain. No swelling, no morning stiffness, fatigue or flu-like symptoms. My ESR, CRP, RF lab results are all normal except for Anti-Streptolysin (ASO), result was over 200. I never got a test for Vitamin D and B12 as well, but I'm sure that I have vitamin D deficiency since I haven't gone out of the house for almost 5 months thanks to quarantine.

What bothers me a lot too is that no one in the family has RA. I don't smoke as well. And I'm 23, male. So more or less, I should have low risk factors. Right now the rheum has only prescribed prednisone for 2 weeks, and I will have another ESR, CRP, and CCP test in the 23rd. I'm also scared to take methotrexate, especially if there's a chance that what I'm experiencing isn't RA.

Post Edited (Koyoko) : 11/8/2020 6:49:24 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/8/2020 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, Koyoko!

I understand all of your concerns. Your ESR, CRP and RF are normal, you have no symptoms. Your ASO is over 200 and this is what I've googled: "Generally, an ASO test value below 200 is considered normal. In children under the age of 5, the test value should be less than 100. Results will vary by laboratory. If your results show that you have an elevated ASO value, you may have a post-streptococcal complication".

I would wonder, too, if you do not have RA, but no one in my family had it either, I am not a smoker or drinker, and I do have it (with sero-positive results on ESC, CRP and RF). If I were you, I would take my results and go for a second opinion. You have every right and reason to wonder if your diagnosis is correct.
Posted 11/9/2020 9:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hey, SwollenSue!

I appreciate the fast response. And I hear you, I can't imagine how shocking or life-changing it was for you having been diagnosed with that too despite the low risk factors.

I've also googled the same, and a lot of the articles lead to the same answer about having a recent streptococcal infection, which if left untreated would lead to Rheumatic fever, and then to other diseases like Rheumatic heart disease and so on.

I want to raise that to my rheumatologist, but I fear that she might think that I'm questioning her judgement or knowledge or that I know more than her.
Posted 11/13/2020 12:06 AM (GMT 0)
Koyoko, if your rheumatologist has an attitude because you are asking a legitimate question? GET A NEW rheumatologist. I can't tell you how many times I have heard what you are saying here. We need to find doctors who are not so full of themselves (OR so insecure) that they can't answer a simple question. You can just say the truth, that you read something online and want to run it past her for her opinion. But if you leave the appointment with more unanswered than answered questions... it's okay to get a second opinion.

I am SO much happier with my second rheumatologist than I was with my first.
Posted 1/30/2021 12:47 AM (GMT 0)
I agree, get a second opinion. You need to be able to trust your doctor, and your case doesn’t seem clear-cut!
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