How can you be sure of your diagnosis?

[Guest guest]

Good morning - I am newly " diagnosed " and am going through that

shock/grieving process I see many of you mention. I am not in pain;

my high RF was discovered during allergy blood work to find out why I

am having trouble breathing. After checking 3 times, and the RF

still being elevated (the # was in the 40's) the doctor said she

believes I have RA and wants to start methotrexate.

She had not seen x-ray results yet ( report not sent from the

radiologist yet) and did not mention any other results that would

lead her to this conclusion (ie anti-ccp result)

My question is what else should I see before I believe the

diagnosis? Is the high RF enough? or should I see a high anti-ccp

also? There may not be damage present in the x-rays yet since I

didn't go in due to pain.

I don't want to take medication unneccesarily - I also have read

that there could be 20% of people with an elevated RF who do not have

the disease.

Thank you in advance!