Welcome, Darlene!

[Guest guest]

Darlene, welcome to the group! I can understand your worry.

An elevated rheumatoid factor (RF) doesn't necessarily mean that you

have RA, but, if I were you, I would make an appointment with a

rheumatologist to get checked out.

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] new member

>

>

> Hi everyone and thanks for letting me join the group! I'm Darlene, 49

yrs

> old and I am confused. I was diagnosed with Fibro about 12 yrs ago and

in

> the past year have started having joint pain and stiffness in multiple

> joints. I went to my PCP and he did some labs, including an arthritis

panel.

> He told me at the visit that I have arthritis.

>

> When the labs came back, the RA factor was elevated and the nurse

called to

> tell me but just said there was some inflammation going on and to keep

> taking my celebrex. I tried to question her but couldn't get any

answer

> other than -- it could be RA and might be something else. No follow up

or

> anything.

>

> I couldn't sleep last night because i kept thinking about it. I feel

like I

> need more info than my doctor is giving me. Do you think I should go

to

> another doctor or should I just sit back and see what develops? I've

heard

> that early treatment improves outcome but maybe it's too early to make

the

> diagnosis. I don't know what to do or think.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Darlene