Re: My RA test was negative

[Guest guest]

> Hi everyone,

> I found out today my test for RA was negative so now the MD will

> explore the possibility of Fibro. I feel I should probably leave

the

> group now that I know I do not have RA. I enjoyed learning here

and

> wish you all a healthy, Merry Christmas and Happiest of Holidays.

> Blessings,

> a

a,

Hi! When you say your test was negative...do you mean there was no

RA factor present in your blood? I have a negative serum, but, have

an elevated RA factor.

Holly

[Guest guest]

a,

You don't have to leave!! You should know that you can test negative for

the rheumatoid factor, and still have RA. My GP tested me before I started

on prednisone, and I tested positive for RA. The rheumatologist tested me

after I started prednisone and I tested positive for Lupus, and negative for

RA. These tests are not conclusive, as you can see. So, I'm being treated

for symptoms of RA (17.5 mg. weekly methotrexate, Celebrex 2x daily, and 10

mg. prednisone). Still have some pain and occasional bad flares, but my SED

rate has remained in normal range for several months. Very mysterious, but

I'm responding to RA meds, and am much better than before I started the

increased dosage of methotrexate. And rheumatologist says the numbers were

so low for lupus that he doesn't find them worrisome. But it's good your

doctor is investigating.

Hugs, in Western NY

----- Original Message -----

From: " angelic1us " <angelic1us@...>

<Rheumatoid Arthritis >

Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2003 3:12 PM

Subject: My RA test was negative

> Hi everyone,

> I found out today my test for RA was negative so now the MD will

> explore the possibility of Fibro. I feel I should probably leave the

> group now that I know I do not have RA. I enjoyed learning here and

> wish you all a healthy, Merry Christmas and Happiest of Holidays.

> Blessings,

> a

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks I will stay and by the way I did not know that you could have

a negative test but and elevated RA. That is confusing and lol--I

have Kaiser insurance which makes it more confusing. My md did state

that I did show no definate signs of RA in my hand xrays but I do

show some type of post traumatic stress injury. What the heck does

that mean? lol ...well, I guess I will just have to be a little pest

and call him to find out. Thanks for the info.

angel hugs,

a

[Guest guest]

You are welcome any time. i hope the test is correct, but i used to test negative according to MDs' several times in the past 40 years but a rheumy who didn't think i had it ran several tests and came out positive in some of them, but he still wasn't sure until I reacted so favorably to the prednisone. he had never seen me in a real flare so was quite sceptical at first. you know how that is, you can have a really bad flare but by the time you can get an appointment, it has cooled off and not a lot of physical evidence. my right hand is half again larger than my left from repeated flairs the past 4 years, so i think even the MD's would agree there is a problem with RA. <grin!>

love.. granny lee

----- Original Message -----

From: angelic1us

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2003 2:12 PM

Subject: My RA test was negative

Hi everyone,I found out today my test for RA was negative so now the MD will explore the possibility of Fibro. I feel I should probably leave the group now that I know I do not have RA. I enjoyed learning here and wish you all a healthy, Merry Christmas and Happiest of Holidays.Blessings,a

[Guest guest]

Hi e

I have had RA for nearly 25 yrs now and I never tested positive for RA for about the first 5 years.I was treated by my symptoms

good luck

Joyce

xxxxxxxxxx

[Guest guest]

Sorry I'm late in replying to this. I thought you might like to look at the criteria that the American College of Rheumatology uses to diagnose RA. There are seven criteria, one of which is a positive RA factor. However, any four of the criteria being positive supports a diagnosis of RA. No lab tests can either prove or disprove RA. The ACR criteria are about halfway down in the attached link. http://www.arthritisinsight.com/medical/disease/ra/ra.html Good luck and God bless.

----- Original Message -----

From: angelic1us

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2003 12:12 PM

Subject: My RA test was negative

Hi everyone,I found out today my test for RA was negative so now the MD will explore the possibility of Fibro. I feel I should probably leave the group now that I know I do not have RA. I enjoyed learning here and wish you all a healthy, Merry Christmas and Happiest of Holidays.Blessings,a

[Guest guest]

a,

I too had a negative RA factor but was still diagnosed with RA

because of certain other key inflamation factors that point to ra,

plus my bone scan and positive ANA. I would get a second opininion

if I were you. 20% of patients with RA never have a positive RA

factor. It can be very frustrating getting a correct diagnosis. I

thought I would be relieved when they finally figured out what was

wrong but now I am going through the frustration of getting the right

combination of meds. I started out on Humira biweekly, switched to

weekly along with methotrexate, prednisone and Plaquinil. Then they

took me off of the methotrexate and put me on Arava and I went into a

terrible flare. Now I am being switched to Remicade and back onto

the Methotrexate with a combo med of FolicAcid and something to

protect my stomach from the metho. I am hoping and praying this

works. I know it is hard, but try to find a Rheumotologist who isn't

dismissive just because your RA negative. You could very well still

have RA. My thoughts and prayers are with you and everyone else on

this board. I hope everyone has a joyous holiday regardless of which

one you celebrate and as painfree of one as possible.

(smiles too all) Jen