Re: Tests for RA Dx (sorry LONG first posting) Missy

[Guest guest]

Hi Missy:

Welcome to our group! The people here are very

friendly, supportive and caring, and will help you in

any way they can. First off, congratulations on your

son's marriage! Also, you don't need to apologize for

the length of any posting you do - as long or as short

as you need to get out whatever you need to say - it's

all good.

The family history of RA sure seems to tell the tale

of genetic history for this disease. Your symptoms

probably are RA related, but your doctor still needs

to do the proper tests to get an exact diagnosis, or

at least as exact as he can. With your father's RA

being seronegative, it would not be too suprising if

you had the same.

I understand the frustration of not being able to do

the things you used to do, and the stress it causes in

your life. Things have changed, and we have to learn

to compromise, adapt, and accept our limitations.

It's not a crime to ask for help, and when you need

it, ask, don't try to push yourself. Learn to pace

yourself with housecleaning, etc., and that will help

too. I do one room at a time, half an hour, and then

I will sit and rest for a while. If I am able then to

continue I do, if not, well, it will still be there

tomorrow.

We are happy to have you here with us, but sorry for

the reason you are here. We all do understand what

you are going through, and are here for you, you are

not alone in this. Take care and let us know what the

rheumy says.

Kathe in CA

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Thanks so MUCH for the wonderful warm welcome! I have decided to

wait for further testing until we switch insurance. It would better

not to have a preexisting RA dx for this reason. And since my

symptoms are not seeming to progress very rapidly, this is a good

option for me. I did read up on testing that would be good to have,

and it looks as if rheumatiod factor, anti-CCP and a SED rate would

be good ones to have. If someone has some to add, please let me

know.

I agree with you Kathe that since Dad has never had a positive RF,

that I probably wouldn't either. But I do think RA is what is going

on with my hands. I also have a nodule that popped up a couple

years ago on my middle finger, second joint..so that seems to be

another indication that it can be RA. I guess some people can have

a slowly progressing version? That seems to be what I have.

Anyway, it is really good to know that there are others that know

what this pain and stiffness is like. And what it does to you first

thing in the morning...YUCK!

I guess I should say that I also have Hashimoto's that is being

treated and I feel good as far as thyroid is concerned. But as you

say, autoimmune diseases go together..and I seem to have more than

one. As far as RA symptoms, another might be the dry eyes and

recently drier mouth..isn't that a symptom? Or am I confused.

I am busy as a moderator of the Natural Thyroid Hormones group and a

forum moderator on a site called stopthethyroidmadness.com so I

will try to check in here from time to time, but please understand

if I take awhile to do so. I love the idea of patient to patient

support! I do it myself all the time. There is only so much a

doctor can do, but we can fill in the gap with each other with lots

of encouragement and suggestions for better health.

Thanks so much for all of your encouragement for me, it feels so

good to be on the receiving end for once! And if anyone has

anything else to add, please do..I am very open to suggestions at

this point.

Missy

--- In , Kathe Sabetzadeh <lv2ryd@...>

wrote:

>

>

> Hi Missy:

>

> Welcome to our group! The people here are very

> friendly, supportive and caring, and will help you in

> any way they can. First off, congratulations on your

> son's marriage! Also, you don't need to apologize for

> the length of any posting you do - as long or as short

> as you need to get out whatever you need to say - it's

> all good.

>

> The family history of RA sure seems to tell the tale

> of genetic history for this disease. Your symptoms

> probably are RA related, but your doctor still needs

> to do the proper tests to get an exact diagnosis, or

> at least as exact as he can. With your father's RA

> being seronegative, it would not be too suprising if

> you had the same.

>

> I understand the frustration of not being able to do

> the things you used to do, and the stress it causes in

> your life. Things have changed, and we have to learn

> to compromise, adapt, and accept our limitations.

> It's not a crime to ask for help, and when you need

> it, ask, don't try to push yourself. Learn to pace

> yourself with housecleaning, etc., and that will help

> too. I do one room at a time, half an hour, and then

> I will sit and rest for a while. If I am able then to

> continue I do, if not, well, it will still be there

> tomorrow.

>

> We are happy to have you here with us, but sorry for

> the reason you are here. We all do understand what

> you are going through, and are here for you, you are

> not alone in this. Take care and let us know what the

> rheumy says.

>

> Kathe in CA

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Oh Kate! So good to see you here, but so sorry that you are having

the pain too. I worked hard on the thyroid end of this to see if

maybe all the joint pain would go away. But I think the only thing

that actually helped it was the HC I was taking for my adrenals.

Weren't you on HC too? Did you find the same thing happened..that

your joint pain was way better while taking that? I feel now that I

am nearly off the HC, that it is probably RA...just like my doctor

said nearly 4 years ago.

So sorry to hear that you are still struggling with all these

issues You have a bunch of autoimmune stuff going on. Have you

ever been Dx'd with pernicious anemia? I know you have struggled

with B-12 and anemia. I guess you are like me in a way, taking it

one symptom at a time and eventually hoping to solve it. I hope the

very best for you Kate.

Missy

>

> Missy!

>

> It's a small world! I haven't posted on NTH much lately. I'm one

of

> several moderators on a Hashi's list, less volume. I've got my

thyroid

> stable and my joint pain will not go away. So Friday we ran the

normal

> stuff(Free's, ferritin, B12) and the stuff for RA. I have custom

orthotics

> now(three weeks). I'm on anti-inflammatories with no relief to my

hips,

> knees, ankles and feet. My neck is stiff. At times I have wrist

and

> shoulder pain. My lower back. Car rides are becoming painful. I

have

> fatigue too. I know the fatigue could be my ferritin or B12, it's

so hard

> to sort out.

>

> I guess if I have RA, it's sorting through all the meds and the

doctors

> that I don't look forward to.

>

> Good to see a hypo friend out there, I just joined this list.

>

> Kate G

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much for that one Sue. I will add that one to my list. I

don't know how many tests my GP will do, but when I am ready to test I

plan to ask for all of them. I want to know what I am fighting

against.

Missy

>

> Missy, the C-reactive protein blood test measures the inflammation

in

> your body. My rheumy uses this to monitor my RA.

>

> Sue

[Guest guest]

Hi Kate,

I'm so glad to see your ferritin is finally moving up..I remember

you had a terrible time getting it to rise.

It is good to know what the RF says, even if it is negative. My dad

has RA and a negative RF also. But he has a definitel Dx from 2

different Rheumys. I sure hope your hip pain can be relieved and

quickly. That must make it tough for you..don't you homeschool your

kids? You need to be able to keep up with them!

On the Thyroid, why is the FT3 so bad? Is 412 way over range?

Should not be..mine is 600 and IS over range. The FT4 should

probably be a little higher as it should be in the top 1/3 as that

is where most of us feel best. Can you take more Armour? Or do you

feel maxed out with that? If you feel you still need the HC, it is

a great idea to try to get an Rx from the doctor..it sure does help

with pain..amazing how much.

Hope that your B-12 is staying up for you and that PA is not an

issue at all.

I am in the process of trying megadoses of MSM just to see if it

will help. I am up to 10,000 mg daily now. Glucosamine/Chondroitin

helped me immensely for 3 years, but I read that it can cause some

long term problems when you go off of it. I am not positive this is

true, but I am being cautious about it. But if the MSM doesn't give

me relief, I will be back on my glucosamine.

Here's hoping for a quick resolution to your hip pain..and all of

the other stuff... Keep in touch.

Missy

>

> Hi Missy!

>

> I just got my tests back, except B12 they forgot to run and will

run

> it. Good news my ferritin is up to 54! They said all of the RA

factors

> came back negative, but I know it can be RA and it not show in

blood

> work. But they are going to run hip xrays next week. That is my

biggest

> pain. Yes, I was on HC it was keeping my pain down (not

completely

> gone). I weaned off 3 months ago. Bad news by FT4 is 1.2 (.8-

1.8) and my

> FT4 was 412. Wow look like adrenal. I've had a few dizzy things

this

> week. I've been fatigued and very hard to get up in the am, go,

go after

> dinner. Dr gave my Meloxicam 7.5 for the hips. I've got the hip

xray and

> thyroid ultra sound on Tuesday. I think I need to go back on HC,

but I'm

> going to see what the hip xray shows and what she wants to do,

might get an

> rx for pred or HC. Hopefully we will have the B12 test back too.

She will

> give the shot but hasn't done any of the tests for PA.

>

> It's good to see you on this board too. Sorry your having to deal

with RA

> stuff too. Take it easy!

>

> Got to run! I pray we all get it sorted out!

>

> Kate