RA Bloodwork but weird symptoms

[Guest guest]

Hi - I'm new here, just joined the other day. I'm looking for help from the

people who know best, just like I've done with my thyroid and endometriosis

problems - these support groups are full of knowledgeable people and I " m hoping

someone can help me.

About 12 yrs ago I started having odd symptoms. After several rounds of

bloodwork, my rheumatoid factor came back in the 600s and my ANA was borderline.

After a few years of anti-inflammatories and slowing down a bit, I went into

remission for many years. I just gave birth to my 2nd child 3 months ago and my

symptoms are back with a vengeance. My rheumatologist here (I moved from Chicago

to Houston since being diagnosed) isn't very helpful since I don't typical

symptoms. Last week my RF was 71 and she ran a CCP (I didn't have that done 12

yrs ago) was also in the 70s, which means " highly positive for RA. "

My pain is not in my joints. It's in the back of my hands, the inner part of

my wrists, the side of my wrist (not the joint) and in my arms where the muscles

that give your arms that toned look are. In the past, I've also had the pain on

the top of my foot. Years ago, I would get a flare up lasting for 3 days with

the middle day being so painful that I couldn't move my hand at all. Then it

would go away and weeks later it would come back in another part. Recently, the

duration was more like 36 hrs for the pain ramp up, peak, and ramp down. And it

would be happening to at least 2 parts at the same time (making it extremely

difficult to pick up my new baby!). Since the pain affects my tendons or

cartilage or muscles (don't know which) but not my joints (yet), the doctor told

me it was tendonitis. But then my CCP came back and now I'm going in next week

for an MRI.

I've researched other autoimmune diseases for these symptoms but haven't found

anything. I know that these diseases can " mimic " each other (I already have 2

others) so I'm not sure if it's RA or something else. Has anyone heard of

symptoms like these?

Also, has anyone had any luck with alternative treatments, like acupuncture,

nutrition, etc? Has anyone in Houston been to Dr. Vasquez's clinic? He's an

integrative rheumatologist that I would like to see. I believe my autoimmune

diseases are symptoms of an underlying cause and would like that get that

treated, instead of focusing on each disease individually.

I look forward to reading all the emails I just started getting from this

group. As I've learned with other illnesses in my life, it helps so much to have

people/support who understand how you feel.

Thanks.

Bridget

Bridget Fitzgerald

brfitz2002@...