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Trying to figure out my pain

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Posted 5/25/2014 7:03 AM (GMT 0)
I have been struggling with a swollen finger and chest pains for 2 years. The first year I had shooting pains and now just a heart palpitation. I came back with abnormal ccp in my bloodwork so the doctors diagnosed me with rheumatoid arthritis. I am 29 years old and I have no other symptoms(ra does not exist in my family)even my inflammatory markers are very low and no degeneration in the very swollen finger joint. I got tested for lyme and it only came back positive for one marker so my doctor suspects a false positive. I have been on ra meds for 10 months with no results. I live in rolling hills, ca but am unable to find any lyme literate doctor in all of Los Angeles . I just don't know what else to do. Thank you for any advice.
Posted 5/25/2014 12:10 PM (GMT 0)
Strugglingwithasmile, you say you don't have any other symptoms, is that in relation to RA or are you saying the totality of your symptoms are swollen finger, shooting pains, chest pains, and heart palps? You can check out the "New to Lyme" post and it has a long list of symptoms that can be indicators of Lyme and various coinfections. You can also post asking for a lymes literate doctor recommendation in So Cal and someone may be able to help you. It is common for people to be misdiagnosed with having rheumatological issues. I have been diagnosed with RA and PA. You might want to consider traveling if necessary to rule Lymes out. The tests can be 50% ineffective at detecting lymes and the various coinfections especially as the infections progress.
If there is one thing I wish I would have done sooner it is to find a lymes literates MD that I trusted with my care.
Posted 5/25/2014 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
I suggest you travel and find a llmd in CA. If you are having heart palps you are dealing with later disseminated stages of the disease. I doubt what you had was a false positive and you should prob have an expert take a closer look. Good luck.
Posted 5/26/2014 9:02 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Strugglingwithasmile,

Welcome to the forum!

The other members already adviced you to go through the 'New to Lyme?... Start here!' thread, and to post a new thread asking for a llmd. If you decide to post a thread like that, you will have to make sure to enable your email address (My Profile, Edit Profile, click on Show my Emailaddress), cause we are not supposed to publish dr's names on the forum. Our members will then send you the requested info by pm.

A good llmd will be able to diagnose not only based on test results, but also based on clinical findings.


If you have any other questions, or in need of venting, don't hesitate to come on, this is a great place!

Good luck,

MarieLS

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