Re: Do I have RA????

[Guest guest]

hello Latisha

i know exactly how you feel..i also have been sick for

many years. i knew i was sick and the doctors told me

i had everything from they thought ms to its all in my

head..but a year ago i was finally diagnosed with ra

...i run fever for like a year none stop, the pain was

so terrible, and i was so fatigued..i kept on going

and really did wish it was all in my head at least i

would have a reason for feeling the way i did..so i do

understand where your coming from ..but if you get a

good rheumatologist he should be able to feel your

joints and find out whats going on...

anyway if you ever need to talk my email address is

simplymejmp@... am also new to this group and

am looking forward to getting support and being able

to talk to other people who are going thru some of the

same things i am...have a great day..

Jan

--- Latisha Vallone <latishavallone@...> wrote:

>

> Hello All,

> I have a question for everyone. I'll start from teh

> beginning. 5 years ago I was tested for Rh factor. I

> was negative. A year and a half ago I was postive

> for rheumatoid factor and went to a rheumy had a MRI

> was told I have damage and put on Remicade right

> away. Nothing else. I did that for 5 months and had

> very little relief. I moved to missouri tried to get

> into a rheumy someone from our group here referred

> me but that it would be 3 1/2 month wait. I could

> not wait and was in so much pain and made an apt.

> with a different doc and he did blood work confirmed

> I had RA and said that not everyone has text book RA

> but he believed I had it and put me on MTX. I did

> that for 3 months and quit using pain meds almost

> completely. I got sick and mt doc took me off it and

> wanted to change meds.Well my original apt with the

> other doc came up so I decided to go to him because

> I heard he was the best in St. Louis area. He did

> blood work and x-rays I went back to get my results

> and he said You do

> not have RA or anyother auto immune issues. You are

> healthy. My hubby being a RN said so you are telling

> us she has had a miracle healing and my wife still

> has pain. How can it be she had postive rh factor 3

> different times in a year and a half and now it is

> negative. The doc said it could have been a virus

> that caused a postive but we are thinking 3

> different time 3 different docs all the tests months

> apart. Has anyone had this and who do I believe????

> This Dr. said if I insist on being put on

> medication then I could take celebrex. So Im on day

> 3 of that. He did say that he could be wrong and to

> come back in 4 months. I asked him to look at my

> other docs records and Mri and he just changed the

> subject. Gave me a lecture about meds and to quit

> and didnt even take into consideration that I have

> severe scoliosis and have had chronic back pain

> since I was 13 and said NO PAIN MEDS EVER!!!! My

> husband was pretty mad. So now I dont know what to

> do. 5 years ago i was told i was fine

> and to put my kids in daycare and get a job i would

> feel better then i finally found out i have RA so it

> was a relief to know i was not imagining nothing and

> now im told again your fine. I would have felt

> better if he would have sent me to mental health

> then at least something would be wrong...lol Can

> rheumatoid factor just disappear like that?? Well i

> guess it can it happened. I just dont understand.

> and the MRI Dr. said is too perfect and cant

> be used to detect damage because it picks up

> everthing it could just be that my bones and joints

> have been like that always. Im 31 my joints and

> bones should look ok right. Im just cried in the

> docs office. I didnt know if I should be praising

> God that im healed and be thankful this guy says im

> fine. I dont want RA but something is wrong with me.

> My husband told me to write you all and not our

> family and friends what this doc said because people

> may not believe im am in pain. PLEASE HELP!!!!

> thanks Latisha

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

hello Latisha

i know exactly how you feel..i also have been sick for

many years. i knew i was sick and the doctors told me

i had everything from they thought ms to its all in my

head..but a year ago i was finally diagnosed with ra

...i run fever for like a year none stop, the pain was

so terrible, and i was so fatigued..i kept on going

and really did wish it was all in my head at least i

would have a reason for feeling the way i did..so i do

understand where your coming from ..but if you get a

good rheumatologist he should be able to feel your

joints and find out whats going on...

anyway if you ever need to talk my email address is

simplymejmp@... am also new to this group and

am looking forward to getting support and being able

to talk to other people who are going thru some of the

same things i am...have a great day..

Jan

--- Latisha Vallone <latishavallone@...> wrote:

>

> Hello All,

> I have a question for everyone. I'll start from teh

> beginning. 5 years ago I was tested for Rh factor. I

> was negative. A year and a half ago I was postive

> for rheumatoid factor and went to a rheumy had a MRI

> was told I have damage and put on Remicade right

> away. Nothing else. I did that for 5 months and had

> very little relief. I moved to missouri tried to get

> into a rheumy someone from our group here referred

> me but that it would be 3 1/2 month wait. I could

> not wait and was in so much pain and made an apt.

> with a different doc and he did blood work confirmed

> I had RA and said that not everyone has text book RA

> but he believed I had it and put me on MTX. I did

> that for 3 months and quit using pain meds almost

> completely. I got sick and mt doc took me off it and

> wanted to change meds.Well my original apt with the

> other doc came up so I decided to go to him because

> I heard he was the best in St. Louis area. He did

> blood work and x-rays I went back to get my results

> and he said You do

> not have RA or anyother auto immune issues. You are

> healthy. My hubby being a RN said so you are telling

> us she has had a miracle healing and my wife still

> has pain. How can it be she had postive rh factor 3

> different times in a year and a half and now it is

> negative. The doc said it could have been a virus

> that caused a postive but we are thinking 3

> different time 3 different docs all the tests months

> apart. Has anyone had this and who do I believe????

> This Dr. said if I insist on being put on

> medication then I could take celebrex. So Im on day

> 3 of that. He did say that he could be wrong and to

> come back in 4 months. I asked him to look at my

> other docs records and Mri and he just changed the

> subject. Gave me a lecture about meds and to quit

> and didnt even take into consideration that I have

> severe scoliosis and have had chronic back pain

> since I was 13 and said NO PAIN MEDS EVER!!!! My

> husband was pretty mad. So now I dont know what to

> do. 5 years ago i was told i was fine

> and to put my kids in daycare and get a job i would

> feel better then i finally found out i have RA so it

> was a relief to know i was not imagining nothing and

> now im told again your fine. I would have felt

> better if he would have sent me to mental health

> then at least something would be wrong...lol Can

> rheumatoid factor just disappear like that?? Well i

> guess it can it happened. I just dont understand.

> and the MRI Dr. said is too perfect and cant

> be used to detect damage because it picks up

> everthing it could just be that my bones and joints

> have been like that always. Im 31 my joints and

> bones should look ok right. Im just cried in the

> docs office. I didnt know if I should be praising

> God that im healed and be thankful this guy says im

> fine. I dont want RA but something is wrong with me.

> My husband told me to write you all and not our

> family and friends what this doc said because people

> may not believe im am in pain. PLEASE HELP!!!!

> thanks Latisha

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

thanks Jan, I go to my other doc the one who had me on MTX tomorrow and I will

ask him about the other docs results and sees what he thinks now. I think im

early in the RA so maybe it is difficult in the early stages. Thanks Latisha

j pey <simplymejmp@...> wrote:

hello Latisha

i know exactly how you feel..i also have been sick for

many years. i knew i was sick and the doctors told me

i had everything from they thought ms to its all in my

head..but a year ago i was finally diagnosed with ra

...i run fever for like a year none stop, the pain was

so terrible, and i was so fatigued..i kept on going

and really did wish it was all in my head at least i

would have a reason for feeling the way i did..so i do

understand where your coming from ..but if you get a

good rheumatologist he should be able to feel your

joints and find out whats going on...

anyway if you ever need to talk my email address is

simplymejmp@... am also new to this group and

am looking forward to getting support and being able

to talk to other people who are going thru some of the

same things i am...have a great day..

Jan

--- Latisha Vallone wrote:

>

> Hello All,

> I have a question for everyone. I'll start from teh

> beginning. 5 years ago I was tested for Rh factor. I

> was negative. A year and a half ago I was postive

> for rheumatoid factor and went to a rheumy had a MRI

> was told I have damage and put on Remicade right

> away. Nothing else. I did that for 5 months and had

> very little relief. I moved to missouri tried to get

> into a rheumy someone from our group here referred

> me but that it would be 3 1/2 month wait. I could

> not wait and was in so much pain and made an apt.

> with a different doc and he did blood work confirmed

> I had RA and said that not everyone has text book RA

> but he believed I had it and put me on MTX. I did

> that for 3 months and quit using pain meds almost

> completely. I got sick and mt doc took me off it and

> wanted to change meds.Well my original apt with the

> other doc came up so I decided to go to him because

> I heard he was the best in St. Louis area. He did

> blood work and x-rays I went back to get my results

> and he said You do

> not have RA or anyother auto immune issues. You are

> healthy. My hubby being a RN said so you are telling

> us she has had a miracle healing and my wife still

> has pain. How can it be she had postive rh factor 3

> different times in a year and a half and now it is

> negative. The doc said it could have been a virus

> that caused a postive but we are thinking 3

> different time 3 different docs all the tests months

> apart. Has anyone had this and who do I believe????

> This Dr. said if I insist on being put on

> medication then I could take celebrex. So Im on day

> 3 of that. He did say that he could be wrong and to

> come back in 4 months. I asked him to look at my

> other docs records and Mri and he just changed the

> subject. Gave me a lecture about meds and to quit

> and didnt even take into consideration that I have

> severe scoliosis and have had chronic back pain

> since I was 13 and said NO PAIN MEDS EVER!!!! My

> husband was pretty mad. So now I dont know what to

> do. 5 years ago i was told i was fine

> and to put my kids in daycare and get a job i would

> feel better then i finally found out i have RA so it

> was a relief to know i was not imagining nothing and

> now im told again your fine. I would have felt

> better if he would have sent me to mental health

> then at least something would be wrong...lol Can

> rheumatoid factor just disappear like that?? Well i

> guess it can it happened. I just dont understand.

> and the MRI Dr. said is too perfect and cant

> be used to detect damage because it picks up

> everthing it could just be that my bones and joints

> have been like that always. Im 31 my joints and

> bones should look ok right. Im just cried in the

> docs office. I didnt know if I should be praising

> God that im healed and be thankful this guy says im

> fine. I dont want RA but something is wrong with me.

> My husband told me to write you all and not our

> family and friends what this doc said because people

> may not believe im am in pain. PLEASE HELP!!!!

> thanks Latisha

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

thanks Jan, I go to my other doc the one who had me on MTX tomorrow and I will

ask him about the other docs results and sees what he thinks now. I think im

early in the RA so maybe it is difficult in the early stages. Thanks Latisha

j pey <simplymejmp@...> wrote:

hello Latisha

i know exactly how you feel..i also have been sick for

many years. i knew i was sick and the doctors told me

i had everything from they thought ms to its all in my

head..but a year ago i was finally diagnosed with ra

...i run fever for like a year none stop, the pain was

so terrible, and i was so fatigued..i kept on going

and really did wish it was all in my head at least i

would have a reason for feeling the way i did..so i do

understand where your coming from ..but if you get a

good rheumatologist he should be able to feel your

joints and find out whats going on...

anyway if you ever need to talk my email address is

simplymejmp@... am also new to this group and

am looking forward to getting support and being able

to talk to other people who are going thru some of the

same things i am...have a great day..

Jan

--- Latisha Vallone wrote:

>

> Hello All,

> I have a question for everyone. I'll start from teh

> beginning. 5 years ago I was tested for Rh factor. I

> was negative. A year and a half ago I was postive

> for rheumatoid factor and went to a rheumy had a MRI

> was told I have damage and put on Remicade right

> away. Nothing else. I did that for 5 months and had

> very little relief. I moved to missouri tried to get

> into a rheumy someone from our group here referred

> me but that it would be 3 1/2 month wait. I could

> not wait and was in so much pain and made an apt.

> with a different doc and he did blood work confirmed

> I had RA and said that not everyone has text book RA

> but he believed I had it and put me on MTX. I did

> that for 3 months and quit using pain meds almost

> completely. I got sick and mt doc took me off it and

> wanted to change meds.Well my original apt with the

> other doc came up so I decided to go to him because

> I heard he was the best in St. Louis area. He did

> blood work and x-rays I went back to get my results

> and he said You do

> not have RA or anyother auto immune issues. You are

> healthy. My hubby being a RN said so you are telling

> us she has had a miracle healing and my wife still

> has pain. How can it be she had postive rh factor 3

> different times in a year and a half and now it is

> negative. The doc said it could have been a virus

> that caused a postive but we are thinking 3

> different time 3 different docs all the tests months

> apart. Has anyone had this and who do I believe????

> This Dr. said if I insist on being put on

> medication then I could take celebrex. So Im on day

> 3 of that. He did say that he could be wrong and to

> come back in 4 months. I asked him to look at my

> other docs records and Mri and he just changed the

> subject. Gave me a lecture about meds and to quit

> and didnt even take into consideration that I have

> severe scoliosis and have had chronic back pain

> since I was 13 and said NO PAIN MEDS EVER!!!! My

> husband was pretty mad. So now I dont know what to

> do. 5 years ago i was told i was fine

> and to put my kids in daycare and get a job i would

> feel better then i finally found out i have RA so it

> was a relief to know i was not imagining nothing and

> now im told again your fine. I would have felt

> better if he would have sent me to mental health

> then at least something would be wrong...lol Can

> rheumatoid factor just disappear like that?? Well i

> guess it can it happened. I just dont understand.

> and the MRI Dr. said is too perfect and cant

> be used to detect damage because it picks up

> everthing it could just be that my bones and joints

> have been like that always. Im 31 my joints and

> bones should look ok right. Im just cried in the

> docs office. I didnt know if I should be praising

> God that im healed and be thankful this guy says im

> fine. I dont want RA but something is wrong with me.

> My husband told me to write you all and not our

> family and friends what this doc said because people

> may not believe im am in pain. PLEASE HELP!!!!

> thanks Latisha

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Latisha,.....I just want you to know that you are in my prayers.

This is terrible you don't know what's going on, someone is making a

big mistake, you will just have to fine out who.

I hope that or a will have some answers, just hang in

there. That would be so great girl, if you didn't have RA, but I

understand how you feel, big hugs T

>

> Hello All,

> I have a question for everyone. I'll start from teh beginning. 5

years ago I was tested for Rh factor. I was negative. A year and a

half ago I was postive for rheumatoid factor and went to a rheumy had

a MRI was told I have damage and put on Remicade right away. Nothing

else. I did that for 5 months and had very little relief. I moved to

missouri tried to get into a rheumy someone from our group here

referred me but that it would be 3 1/2 month wait. I could not wait

and was in so much pain and made an apt. with a different doc and he

did blood work confirmed I had RA and said that not everyone has text

book RA but he believed I had it and put me on MTX. I did that for 3

months and quit using pain meds almost completely. I got sick and mt

doc took me off it and wanted to change meds.Well my original apt

with the other doc came up so I decided to go to him because I heard

he was the best in St. Louis area. He did blood work and x-rays I

went back to get my results and he said You do

> not have RA or anyother auto immune issues. You are healthy. My

hubby being a RN said so you are telling us she has had a miracle

healing and my wife still has pain. How can it be she had postive rh

factor 3 different times in a year and a half and now it is negative.

The doc said it could have been a virus that caused a postive but we

are thinking 3 different time 3 different docs all the tests months

apart. Has anyone had this and who do I believe???? This Dr.

said if I insist on being put on medication then I could take

celebrex. So Im on day 3 of that. He did say that he could be wrong

and to come back in 4 months. I asked him to look at my other docs

records and Mri and he just changed the subject. Gave me a lecture

about meds and to quit and didnt even take into consideration that I

have severe scoliosis and have had chronic back pain since I was 13

and said NO PAIN MEDS EVER!!!! My husband was pretty mad. So now I

dont know what to do. 5 years ago i was told i was fine

> and to put my kids in daycare and get a job i would feel better

then i finally found out i have RA so it was a relief to know i was

not imagining nothing and now im told again your fine. I would have

felt better if he would have sent me to mental health then at least

something would be wrong...lol Can rheumatoid factor just disappear

like that?? Well i guess it can it happened. I just dont understand.

and the MRI Dr. said is too perfect and cant be used to detect

damage because it picks up everthing it could just be that my bones

and joints have been like that always. Im 31 my joints and bones

should look ok right. Im just cried in the docs office. I didnt know

if I should be praising God that im healed and be thankful this guy

says im fine. I dont want RA but something is wrong with me. My

husband told me to write you all and not our family and friends what

this doc said because people may not believe im am in pain. PLEASE

HELP!!!! thanks Latisha

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Latisha,.....I just want you to know that you are in my prayers.

This is terrible you don't know what's going on, someone is making a

big mistake, you will just have to fine out who.

I hope that or a will have some answers, just hang in

there. That would be so great girl, if you didn't have RA, but I

understand how you feel, big hugs T

>

> Hello All,

> I have a question for everyone. I'll start from teh beginning. 5

years ago I was tested for Rh factor. I was negative. A year and a

half ago I was postive for rheumatoid factor and went to a rheumy had

a MRI was told I have damage and put on Remicade right away. Nothing

else. I did that for 5 months and had very little relief. I moved to

missouri tried to get into a rheumy someone from our group here

referred me but that it would be 3 1/2 month wait. I could not wait

and was in so much pain and made an apt. with a different doc and he

did blood work confirmed I had RA and said that not everyone has text

book RA but he believed I had it and put me on MTX. I did that for 3

months and quit using pain meds almost completely. I got sick and mt

doc took me off it and wanted to change meds.Well my original apt

with the other doc came up so I decided to go to him because I heard

he was the best in St. Louis area. He did blood work and x-rays I

went back to get my results and he said You do

> not have RA or anyother auto immune issues. You are healthy. My

hubby being a RN said so you are telling us she has had a miracle

healing and my wife still has pain. How can it be she had postive rh

factor 3 different times in a year and a half and now it is negative.

The doc said it could have been a virus that caused a postive but we

are thinking 3 different time 3 different docs all the tests months

apart. Has anyone had this and who do I believe???? This Dr.

said if I insist on being put on medication then I could take

celebrex. So Im on day 3 of that. He did say that he could be wrong

and to come back in 4 months. I asked him to look at my other docs

records and Mri and he just changed the subject. Gave me a lecture

about meds and to quit and didnt even take into consideration that I

have severe scoliosis and have had chronic back pain since I was 13

and said NO PAIN MEDS EVER!!!! My husband was pretty mad. So now I

dont know what to do. 5 years ago i was told i was fine

> and to put my kids in daycare and get a job i would feel better

then i finally found out i have RA so it was a relief to know i was

not imagining nothing and now im told again your fine. I would have

felt better if he would have sent me to mental health then at least

something would be wrong...lol Can rheumatoid factor just disappear

like that?? Well i guess it can it happened. I just dont understand.

and the MRI Dr. said is too perfect and cant be used to detect

damage because it picks up everthing it could just be that my bones

and joints have been like that always. Im 31 my joints and bones

should look ok right. Im just cried in the docs office. I didnt know

if I should be praising God that im healed and be thankful this guy

says im fine. I dont want RA but something is wrong with me. My

husband told me to write you all and not our family and friends what

this doc said because people may not believe im am in pain. PLEASE

HELP!!!! thanks Latisha

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Latisha,

I would tend to believe that you do have RA. I was tested and

tested - my RA factor has always come up positive but I was told

that that is not always a believable test. That you can be positive

and not have RA and be negative and have RA - that the test is just

a helpful hint for RA doctors to use to help with the diagnosis.

I went to my first RA doctor about 10 years ago now. I had come

back from a temporary duty assignment with the Air Force in Croatia

and had developed horrible pain in my hands. They would throb and I

couldn't drive but with only one hand on the wheel at a time. I had

to take turns putting them up to drive. This would happen when I

was on the phone too.

The doctor's here at my base sent me to a neurologist and a

rheumatoid doctor at Ft in Texas. The neuro doc did carpal

tunnel tests - negative - in fact they said my nerves were over

sensitive. Then the RA doc had me get up off the examining table

and walk to the door and back and told me I didn't have RA. I was

stunned.

I went back to the docs on base because my pain was increasing in my

hands and I couldn't write of sit at my computer and do my job. I

just hurt. They tested me and tested me - another carpal tunnel

test and the associative nerve tests and said nope nothing wrong...I

cried - I was in pain - they gave me pain pills - didn't help at

all. I went to the pharmacist to see if they were actually giving

me sugar pills and telling me they were pain pills. I thought I was

crazy.

I finally was diagnosed with fibromyalgia - never heard of it so I

started getting every book I could and reading them. Well, some of

the symptoms I had but this is a catch all diagnosis so I didn't

believe it and wanted more tests. They sent me to a civilian RA

doctor and he agreed with the fms diagnosis. At the time I first

saw him it was summer time - I was feeling fine. The next time I

saw him it was late fall and I was in horrible pain. He told me

that if he had seen me looking like this first he would have tested

me and tested me.

He finally diagnosed me with RA and said it was a very fast severe

case and I needed to be on the most agressive medications to stop

its forward progression. Then he quit taking my insurance and I was

switched to another doctor. She did do the extensive tests...an

MRI, a CATscan, and lots of blood work. It came back positive for

RA but I had a ruptured disc in my neck from degenerative disc

disease.

I have now had 3 surgeries on my neck and shoulders. I have good

days and bad. It all depends on the weather. I take methotrexate

and have remicade infusions every 8 weeks. The remicade does

nothing for my pain but it has stopped the progression of deformity

that comes with RA. I take Lortab when my pain gets severe. I

don't work anymore and am getting heavy from lack of ability to do

anything.

I smile and keep moving forward each day.

If I was you, I would be on those doctors day and night requesting

that they find out why you are in pain. Pain is a great indicator

that something is wrong. I am very sensitive to pain but I tolerate

a high dose of pain before I complain. The doctor's that I work

with know this and know that I am not complaining just to complain

but in the beginning I wondered.

Keep after your doctor's. A lab test could have been done wrong at

the lab. I would tend to believe the 3 tests that said you were

positive. One other thing, find out what the test factors that the

last lab use to determine a positive RA factor. Labs aren't all the

same and use different levels. Most use a >30 for RA positive but

some use >40...find out what your RA factor was.

I wish you the best of luck. Keep after the doctors to continue

with tests. Don't back off. They are your employees and you are in

charge.

God bless,

Althea

>

> Hello All,

> I have a question for everyone. I'll start from teh beginning. 5

years ago I was tested for Rh factor. I was negative. A year and a

half ago I was postive for rheumatoid factor and went to a rheumy

had a MRI was told I have damage and put on Remicade right away.

Nothing else. I did that for 5 months and had very little relief. I

moved to missouri tried to get into a rheumy someone from our group

here referred me but that it would be 3 1/2 month wait. I could not

wait and was in so much pain and made an apt. with a different doc

and he did blood work confirmed I had RA and said that not everyone

has text book RA but he believed I had it and put me on MTX. I did

that for 3 months and quit using pain meds almost completely. I got

sick and mt doc took me off it and wanted to change meds.Well my

original apt with the other doc came up so I decided to go to him

because I heard he was the best in St. Louis area. He did blood work

and x-rays I went back to get my results and he said You do

> not have RA or anyother auto immune issues. You are healthy. My

hubby being a RN said so you are telling us she has had a miracle

healing and my wife still has pain. How can it be she had postive rh

factor 3 different times in a year and a half and now it is

negative. The doc said it could have been a virus that caused a

postive but we are thinking 3 different time 3 different docs all

the tests months apart. Has anyone had this and who do I believe????

This Dr. said if I insist on being put on medication then I

could take celebrex. So Im on day 3 of that. He did say that he

could be wrong and to come back in 4 months. I asked him to look at

my other docs records and Mri and he just changed the subject. Gave

me a lecture about meds and to quit and didnt even take into

consideration that I have severe scoliosis and have had chronic back

pain since I was 13 and said NO PAIN MEDS EVER!!!! My husband was

pretty mad. So now I dont know what to do. 5 years ago i was told i

was fine

> and to put my kids in daycare and get a job i would feel better

then i finally found out i have RA so it was a relief to know i was

not imagining nothing and now im told again your fine. I would have

felt better if he would have sent me to mental health then at least

something would be wrong...lol Can rheumatoid factor just disappear

like that?? Well i guess it can it happened. I just dont understand.

and the MRI Dr. said is too perfect and cant be used to detect

damage because it picks up everthing it could just be that my bones

and joints have been like that always. Im 31 my joints and bones

should look ok right. Im just cried in the docs office. I didnt know

if I should be praising God that im healed and be thankful this guy

says im fine. I dont want RA but something is wrong with me. My

husband told me to write you all and not our family and friends what

this doc said because people may not believe im am in pain. PLEASE

HELP!!!! thanks Latisha

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Latisha,

I would tend to believe that you do have RA. I was tested and

tested - my RA factor has always come up positive but I was told

that that is not always a believable test. That you can be positive

and not have RA and be negative and have RA - that the test is just

a helpful hint for RA doctors to use to help with the diagnosis.

I went to my first RA doctor about 10 years ago now. I had come

back from a temporary duty assignment with the Air Force in Croatia

and had developed horrible pain in my hands. They would throb and I

couldn't drive but with only one hand on the wheel at a time. I had

to take turns putting them up to drive. This would happen when I

was on the phone too.

The doctor's here at my base sent me to a neurologist and a

rheumatoid doctor at Ft in Texas. The neuro doc did carpal

tunnel tests - negative - in fact they said my nerves were over

sensitive. Then the RA doc had me get up off the examining table

and walk to the door and back and told me I didn't have RA. I was

stunned.

I went back to the docs on base because my pain was increasing in my

hands and I couldn't write of sit at my computer and do my job. I

just hurt. They tested me and tested me - another carpal tunnel

test and the associative nerve tests and said nope nothing wrong...I

cried - I was in pain - they gave me pain pills - didn't help at

all. I went to the pharmacist to see if they were actually giving

me sugar pills and telling me they were pain pills. I thought I was

crazy.

I finally was diagnosed with fibromyalgia - never heard of it so I

started getting every book I could and reading them. Well, some of

the symptoms I had but this is a catch all diagnosis so I didn't

believe it and wanted more tests. They sent me to a civilian RA

doctor and he agreed with the fms diagnosis. At the time I first

saw him it was summer time - I was feeling fine. The next time I

saw him it was late fall and I was in horrible pain. He told me

that if he had seen me looking like this first he would have tested

me and tested me.

He finally diagnosed me with RA and said it was a very fast severe

case and I needed to be on the most agressive medications to stop

its forward progression. Then he quit taking my insurance and I was

switched to another doctor. She did do the extensive tests...an

MRI, a CATscan, and lots of blood work. It came back positive for

RA but I had a ruptured disc in my neck from degenerative disc

disease.

I have now had 3 surgeries on my neck and shoulders. I have good

days and bad. It all depends on the weather. I take methotrexate

and have remicade infusions every 8 weeks. The remicade does

nothing for my pain but it has stopped the progression of deformity

that comes with RA. I take Lortab when my pain gets severe. I

don't work anymore and am getting heavy from lack of ability to do

anything.

I smile and keep moving forward each day.

If I was you, I would be on those doctors day and night requesting

that they find out why you are in pain. Pain is a great indicator

that something is wrong. I am very sensitive to pain but I tolerate

a high dose of pain before I complain. The doctor's that I work

with know this and know that I am not complaining just to complain

but in the beginning I wondered.

Keep after your doctor's. A lab test could have been done wrong at

the lab. I would tend to believe the 3 tests that said you were

positive. One other thing, find out what the test factors that the

last lab use to determine a positive RA factor. Labs aren't all the

same and use different levels. Most use a >30 for RA positive but

some use >40...find out what your RA factor was.

I wish you the best of luck. Keep after the doctors to continue

with tests. Don't back off. They are your employees and you are in

charge.

God bless,

Althea

>

> Hello All,

> I have a question for everyone. I'll start from teh beginning. 5

years ago I was tested for Rh factor. I was negative. A year and a

half ago I was postive for rheumatoid factor and went to a rheumy

had a MRI was told I have damage and put on Remicade right away.

Nothing else. I did that for 5 months and had very little relief. I

moved to missouri tried to get into a rheumy someone from our group

here referred me but that it would be 3 1/2 month wait. I could not

wait and was in so much pain and made an apt. with a different doc

and he did blood work confirmed I had RA and said that not everyone

has text book RA but he believed I had it and put me on MTX. I did

that for 3 months and quit using pain meds almost completely. I got

sick and mt doc took me off it and wanted to change meds.Well my

original apt with the other doc came up so I decided to go to him

because I heard he was the best in St. Louis area. He did blood work

and x-rays I went back to get my results and he said You do

> not have RA or anyother auto immune issues. You are healthy. My

hubby being a RN said so you are telling us she has had a miracle

healing and my wife still has pain. How can it be she had postive rh

factor 3 different times in a year and a half and now it is

negative. The doc said it could have been a virus that caused a

postive but we are thinking 3 different time 3 different docs all

the tests months apart. Has anyone had this and who do I believe????

This Dr. said if I insist on being put on medication then I

could take celebrex. So Im on day 3 of that. He did say that he

could be wrong and to come back in 4 months. I asked him to look at

my other docs records and Mri and he just changed the subject. Gave

me a lecture about meds and to quit and didnt even take into

consideration that I have severe scoliosis and have had chronic back

pain since I was 13 and said NO PAIN MEDS EVER!!!! My husband was

pretty mad. So now I dont know what to do. 5 years ago i was told i

was fine

> and to put my kids in daycare and get a job i would feel better

then i finally found out i have RA so it was a relief to know i was

not imagining nothing and now im told again your fine. I would have

felt better if he would have sent me to mental health then at least

something would be wrong...lol Can rheumatoid factor just disappear

like that?? Well i guess it can it happened. I just dont understand.

and the MRI Dr. said is too perfect and cant be used to detect

damage because it picks up everthing it could just be that my bones

and joints have been like that always. Im 31 my joints and bones

should look ok right. Im just cried in the docs office. I didnt know

if I should be praising God that im healed and be thankful this guy

says im fine. I dont want RA but something is wrong with me. My

husband told me to write you all and not our family and friends what

this doc said because people may not believe im am in pain. PLEASE

HELP!!!! thanks Latisha

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>