New here....

[Guest guest]

Hi, just wanted to introduce myself--I just joined after being

'tentatively' diagnosed with RA by my Internist. I've got an

appointment with a rheumatologist, but not till Oct. 31st. Basically

I went to my doctor after suffering a couple months of

near-debilitating fatigue, coupled with general achiness and joint

pain that almost felt flu-like. I was also having minor chest

pains--still not sure what that's about (except maybe stress!). The

joint stiffness/pain mostly seems to come and go, and it mostly seems

symmetrical (as in, both wrists/hands hurt at the same time) though I

have had one entire arm hurt and not the other. I also had a weird,

unexplained 'bump' under the skin near my left wrist, but it went away

on its own after a few weeks. Standing on my feet all days leaves me

in tears by the day's end, my feet/ankles hurt so bad, and the next

day I can barely walk. I've also had problems all year with really

severe eye inflammation and dryness that my eye doctor couldn't really

explain, but now I wonder if it's related.

So....she ran a bazillion blood tests, and the Rheumatoid factor

apparently came back normal (it's listed as RA Latex Turbid, if that

means anything to anyone!), as 3.0 IU/mL.

But my C-Reactive Protein test came back high, 5.2 H mg/L, which I

guess indicates an active systemic inflammation (though I don't think

it's *that* elevated, since apparently the 'normal' range runs up to

4.9).

Lastly, the bloodwork tested positive for CCP IgG Antibodies, at 9 H

U/mL (I'm told greater than 5 is considered 'positive').

So....basically I don't know what to think. Neg. RA factor, but pos.

CCP IgG. From what I've researched, the CCP antibodies can 'predict'

RA before it's actually developed, and it does look like I already

have some inflammation going on. I also read somewhere that the

positive CCP test can indicate what will be a more erosive form of RA,

so they sometimes recommend more vigorous treatment.

Right now I'm mostly baffled, not sure what my diagnosis will be, and

wishing I didn't have to wait so long to see the Rheumatologist. In

the meantime, I'm just taking Advil when I need it for the joint

pain/stiffness.

Oh, and I'm 39 (and already falling apart!). And to make matters

worse, I'm the mom of two small kids, which keeps me crazy busy, AND

I'm an author (with book deadlines looming!), which means I'm very

worried about losing mobility in my fingers (I need the to write!).

Anyway, enough whining. I'm glad to have found this group, as I think

it's fairly likely that I've got some sort of RA.

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