New to group

[Guest guest]

Hi. I am new to this group. My name is Ali and I was dx with RA in January of

this year. I

have been on prednisone, celebrex, plaquenil, and methotrexate. All of my lab

work is

always normal. I have no inflammatory response even when I have obvious

collections of

synovial fluid in all joints from knees down and shoulders down. My rheumatoid

and

prerheumatoid factors are negative. My ANA is negative. I have had infectious

disease

involved. Nobody seems to know a definitive diagnosis for me so they decided to

call it

RA. The prednisone helped instantly but I could not stay on it as I have two

toddlers and

need all the patients God can grant me. I have been on plaquenil since Dec of

last year

and that seems to not have done anything, though I am willing to give it a full

year of

trying. Methotrexate worked but I came off of it for surgery and I really don't

want to go

back on as it made me feel really bad for each couple of days after. Plus blood

work every

4 weeks for my liver and kidney function is no picnic. I don't know if this

could be related

to saline breast implants but I got them out 3 weeks ago. I have heard that

they can mimic

autoimmune symptoms but all my doctors discounted that saying there was no

medical

evidence...however, my pathology report came back as " chronic inflammation and

fibrotic

tissue " in the capsules of both breast implants. Glad to have them out and will

never have

them again. That said, Is there anyone else out there with RA who also has all

negative

factors? I am trying to figure out pain management and the cocktail of drugs

that works

for me. Anyone willing to share with me I will be very greatful.

Ali