Re: Newbie: Undiagnosed, but worried about RA

[Guest guest]

Hi Chrissy! Where are you located?

Did your doctor order an RA Factor?

*~ Kami ~*

[ ] Newbie: Undiagnosed, but worried about RA

Hi everyone,

I am new to the group. I have not been diagnosed with RA, but I have

convinced myself that I have it. I will be seeing a Rheumatologist the

end of April. I am very worried!

Interesting story as to why I'm seeing the Rheumatologist. I went to a

new gynocologist for my yearly exam (I just moved to the area) and she

noticed that I have a history of a clotting disorder in my family. She

tested for the clotting disorder and that came back negative, but

she " accidentally " tested for some other things as well. The lab work

showed that I have speckled ANA. I also mentioned to my regular doctor

that I have been having pain, tightness, and tingling in my hands and

fingers as well as a history of scoliosis and neck and back pain. He

noticed that my fingers are also crooked, so he's sending me to the

Rheumatologist. I'm so worried that I have RA. Any suggestions on

what symptoms I can watch for? Any ideas on what I can expect when I

see the Rheumatologist?

THANKS!

Krissy

[Guest guest]

Hi Kami,

No, my doctor hasn't ordered an RA factor yet. My family doctor

tells me that I don't have RA because my joints don't look swollen.

But he still wanted me to see a Rheumatologist because ofmy fingers

being crooked.

I am in Reading, PA

Thanks for the response!

Krissy

>

> Hi Chrissy! Where are you located?

>

> Did your doctor order an RA Factor?

>

>

> *~ Kami ~*

>

>

>

> [ ] Newbie: Undiagnosed, but worried about RA

>

>

> Hi everyone,

> I am new to the group. I have not been diagnosed with RA, but I

have

> convinced myself that I have it. I will be seeing a

Rheumatologist the

> end of April. I am very worried!

>

> Interesting story as to why I'm seeing the Rheumatologist. I went

to a

> new gynocologist for my yearly exam (I just moved to the area)

and she

> noticed that I have a history of a clotting disorder in my

family. She

> tested for the clotting disorder and that came back negative, but

> she " accidentally " tested for some other things as well. The lab

work

> showed that I have speckled ANA. I also mentioned to my regular

doctor

> that I have been having pain, tightness, and tingling in my hands

and

> fingers as well as a history of scoliosis and neck and back pain.

He

> noticed that my fingers are also crooked, so he's sending me to

the

> Rheumatologist. I'm so worried that I have RA. Any suggestions on

> what symptoms I can watch for? Any ideas on what I can expect

when I

> see the Rheumatologist?

>

> THANKS!

> Krissy

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Krissy,

Well, the rheumatologist will look for swelling in your joints. RA

tends to effect joints bilaterally. You can expect to have labs done

and xrays of your hands and feet. Only a rheumatologist can diagnose

you w/ RA...though other docs can suspect it.

If you do have RA, it's not the end of the world. Many of us on this

web board tend to live regular lives, have children etc. Let us know

for sure...we are here for you. I have found this web board and the

people on here are a great support. Best wishes!!

--- In , " binspiredboutique " <binspire@...>

wrote:

>

> Hi everyone,

> I am new to the group. I have not been diagnosed with RA, but I

have

> convinced myself that I have it. I will be seeing a Rheumatologist

the

> end of April. I am very worried!

>

> Interesting story as to why I'm seeing the Rheumatologist. I went

to a

> new gynocologist for my yearly exam (I just moved to the area) and

she

> noticed that I have a history of a clotting disorder in my family.

She

> tested for the clotting disorder and that came back negative, but

> she " accidentally " tested for some other things as well. The lab

work

> showed that I have speckled ANA. I also mentioned to my regular

doctor

> that I have been having pain, tightness, and tingling in my hands

and

> fingers as well as a history of scoliosis and neck and back pain.

He

> noticed that my fingers are also crooked, so he's sending me to the

> Rheumatologist. I'm so worried that I have RA. Any suggestions on

> what symptoms I can watch for? Any ideas on what I can expect when

I

> see the Rheumatologist?

>

> THANKS!

> Krissy

>

[Guest guest]

Wow! I am 30 minutes from Reading and one of my rheumy's is in Reading!

I sent you an offlist email.

*~ Kami ~*

[ ] Newbie: Undiagnosed, but worried about RA

>

>

> Hi everyone,

> I am new to the group. I have not been diagnosed with RA, but I

have

> convinced myself that I have it. I will be seeing a

Rheumatologist the

> end of April. I am very worried!

>

> Interesting story as to why I'm seeing the Rheumatologist. I went

to a

> new gynocologist for my yearly exam (I just moved to the area)

and she

> noticed that I have a history of a clotting disorder in my

family. She

> tested for the clotting disorder and that came back negative, but

> she " accidentally " tested for some other things as well. The lab

work

> showed that I have speckled ANA. I also mentioned to my regular

doctor

> that I have been having pain, tightness, and tingling in my hands

and

> fingers as well as a history of scoliosis and neck and back pain.

He

> noticed that my fingers are also crooked, so he's sending me to

the

> Rheumatologist. I'm so worried that I have RA. Any suggestions on

> what symptoms I can watch for? Any ideas on what I can expect

when I

> see the Rheumatologist?

>

> THANKS!

> Krissy

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Krissy,

I am newly diagnosed. I first had RA 21 years ago but never had any swelling

until last

October. My fingers started to bed a bit about 5 years go. Don't think you

don't have RA

because you can't see any swelling.

> >

> > Hi Chrissy! Where are you located?

> >

> > Did your doctor order an RA Factor?

> >

> >

> > *~ Kami ~*

> >

> >

> >

> > [ ] Newbie: Undiagnosed, but worried about RA

> >

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> > I am new to the group. I have not been diagnosed with RA, but I

> have

> > convinced myself that I have it. I will be seeing a

> Rheumatologist the

> > end of April. I am very worried!

> >

> > Interesting story as to why I'm seeing the Rheumatologist. I went

> to a

> > new gynocologist for my yearly exam (I just moved to the area)

> and she

> > noticed that I have a history of a clotting disorder in my

> family. She

> > tested for the clotting disorder and that came back negative, but

> > she " accidentally " tested for some other things as well. The lab

> work

> > showed that I have speckled ANA. I also mentioned to my regular

> doctor

> > that I have been having pain, tightness, and tingling in my hands

> and

> > fingers as well as a history of scoliosis and neck and back pain.

> He

> > noticed that my fingers are also crooked, so he's sending me to

> the

> > Rheumatologist. I'm so worried that I have RA. Any suggestions on

> > what symptoms I can watch for? Any ideas on what I can expect

> when I

> > see the Rheumatologist?

> >

> > THANKS!

> > Krissy

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

There are several cases where one does not have to

have a positive RA factor in order to have RA. RA

symptoms usually include not only inflammation, but

redness and swelling as well. Other blood tests that

are done are: Anti CCP, Sed rate, Westgren, and CRP.

Usually those blood tests will show whether there is

inflammation going on in your body. MRI and other

scans will show any damage. My brother has fingers

that are crooked at the knuckle but he doesn't have

any arthritis or health issues.

--- binspiredboutique <binspire@...> wrote:

> Hi Kami,

> No, my doctor hasn't ordered an RA factor yet. My

> family doctor

> tells me that I don't have RA because my joints

> don't look swollen.

> But he still wanted me to see a Rheumatologist

> because ofmy fingers

> being crooked.

>

> I am in Reading, PA

>

> Thanks for the response!

> Krissy

>

>

> >

> > Hi Chrissy! Where are you located?

> >

> > Did your doctor order an RA Factor?

> >

> >

> > *~ Kami ~*

> >

> >

> >

> > [ ] Newbie: Undiagnosed, but

> worried about RA

> >

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> > I am new to the group. I have not been diagnosed

> with RA, but I

> have

> > convinced myself that I have it. I will be

> seeing a

> Rheumatologist the

> > end of April. I am very worried!

> >

> > Interesting story as to why I'm seeing the

> Rheumatologist. I went

> to a

> > new gynocologist for my yearly exam (I just

> moved to the area)

> and she

> > noticed that I have a history of a clotting

> disorder in my

> family. She

> > tested for the clotting disorder and that came

> back negative, but

> > she " accidentally " tested for some other things

> as well. The lab

> work

> > showed that I have speckled ANA. I also

> mentioned to my regular

> doctor

> > that I have been having pain, tightness, and

> tingling in my hands

> and

> > fingers as well as a history of scoliosis and

> neck and back pain.

> He

> > noticed that my fingers are also crooked, so

> he's sending me to

> the

> > Rheumatologist. I'm so worried that I have RA.

> Any suggestions on

> > what symptoms I can watch for? Any ideas on what

> I can expect

> when I

> > see the Rheumatologist?

> >

> > THANKS!

> > Krissy

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

> >

>

>

>

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