RE: [SPAM] What Do You Think?

[Guest guest]

RA Criteria (Any 4 qualify for positive diagnosis)

1. Morning stiffness, lasting for at least an hour, present daily for

at least 6 weeks

2. Arthritis of 3 or more joints, lasting for at least 6 weeks

3. Arthritis of the hand joints, lasting for at least 6 weeks

4. Symmetric arthritis, lasting for at least 6 weeks

5. Rheumatoid nodules

6. Positive rheumatoid factor (blood test)

7. Joint changes on x-ray

The list above is based on the criteria

developed by the American

College of Rheumatology

for diagnosing RA. Only one of the seven criteria is related to blood tests so

those alone cannot either prove or disprove RA. Your tests are not high and

could be a number of other things instead of RA, but could also be RA. You

should see a board-certified rheumatologist because few other doctors are

really capable of diagnosing or treating RA. God bless.-

From: Rheumatoid Arthritis [mailto:Rheumatoid Arthritis ] On Behalf Of Peg

Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2007

8:21 PM

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Subject: [sPAM]

What Do You Think?

Hi Everyone,

I just got some more results of my RA tests and was wondering what to

make of it.

My ANA came back negative and my ESR (Sedimentation Rate) is 24. 30

is the norm.

But, my C-reative Protein (1st test) was 0.9 and (2nd test) 0.7 The

norm is 0.5 or less

Also my RF (Rheumatoid Factor) 1st test was 59 and 2nd test was 48.

The norm is 43 or less

I'm anemic, have asthma, and I'm usually really fatigued. My neck

and spine have flare ups occasionally

which causes pain. I use Motrin for swelling and a heating pad to

relax the muscles around my spine.

Anyone think I have RA?

Are those elevated numbers just trivial or something more?

Please let me know what you think. Maybe some of you have experience

with this?

Huggers,

Peg