Re: All blood tests normal - now what?

August 26, 2008

Jeff,

You can have RA and have normal bloodwork. I have seronegative RA and

I am also CCP negative. My RA is serious and debilitating. I dragged

myself from doctor to doctor and got the same line as you. It wasn't

until after my bilat hip replacements that docs took notice. You know

your body. Keep pushing for a diagnosis so that you can get meds and

not wind up like me.

Best of luck,

>

> As the subject line says, all my bloodwork came back normal, which

means no active infection, no auto-immune markers, no rheumatism

factor, etc. In one respect, I'm glad that RA has been effectively

ruled out. Of course, the problem is in figuring out why all of a

sudden I have multiple joint pain in my hands and feet.

>

> Nothing is ever easy with me and my health. I'm the zebra.

>

> Jeff Verive

>

August 27, 2008

Jeff, I have the same problem blood work all normal; yet my doc says I have RA

because of swelling in fingers and hands and ankle. a

[ ] All blood tests normal - now what?

As the subject line says, all my bloodwork came back normal, which means no

active infection, no auto-immune markers, no rheumatism factor, etc. In one

respect, I'm glad that RA has been effectively ruled out. Of course, the problem

is in figuring out why all of a sudden I have multiple joint pain in my hands

and feet.

Nothing is ever easy with me and my health. I'm the zebra.

Jeff Verive

August 27, 2008

Hello Jeff! Same as you, I've always had " normal " bloodwork, but had all of the

other symptoms of RA. I was diagnosed with seronegative RA, which basically

means RA with no present RF factor in the blood. It took me longer to get

diagnosed because of this. Are you seeing a Rheumatologist?

Lori

http://home.comcast.net/~queenstitcher/

http://stitchingqueen.multiply.com

August 27, 2008

,

Yes, I know you are correct, but I was hoping for some closure, something more

definitive. Not that I necessarily wanted closure by means of a positive RA

finding (which begs the question [more on this later]). To keep my chronic

occipital neuralgia pain below a constant 7 out of 10, I'm already on high daily

doses of Cymbalta, Lyrica, and Suboxone, so I'm in no hurry to add more drugs

with even more side effects).

So, it's back to the orthopedist, and who knows what the hell he's going to want

to do. I think I'm going to ask the ortho and rheumy to put their heads together

and formulate some sort of game plan with two goals in mind: 1) lasting relief

that does not include weekly steroid injections in both hands and feet, and 2) a

formal diagnosis [somewhat less important].

I'm tired of being an enigma, so if anyone has any ideas, I'm all ears.

Jeff Verive

> >

> > As the subject line says, all my bloodwork came back normal, which

> means no active infection, no auto-immune markers, no rheumatism

> factor, etc. In one respect, I'm glad that RA has been effectively

> ruled out. Of course, the problem is in figuring out why all of a

> sudden I have multiple joint pain in my hands and feet.

> >

> > Nothing is ever easy with me and my health. I'm the zebra.

> >

> > Jeff Verive

> >

>

August 27, 2008

Hi Jeff - have you seen a Rheumatologist yet? They would be the best

ones to know where to go from here. As said, just because your

bloodwork was normal does not mean you don't have RA. Did they do a CRP

and an ESR? Both of those are inflammation markers. Just a thought.

Keep us posted..........Doreen

>

> As the subject line says, all my bloodwork came back normal, which

means no active infection, no auto-immune markers, no rheumatism

factor, etc. In one respect, I'm glad that RA has been effectively

ruled out. Of course, the problem is in figuring out why all of a

sudden I have multiple joint pain in my hands and feet.

>

> Nothing is ever easy with me and my health. I'm the zebra.

>

> Jeff Verive

>

August 27, 2008

Oh my what a beautiful talent. I looked at all of them. Ohhh that I had a talent

like that...oh wait - my big fat sausage, not even flexible enough to pick up a

dime,....could never achieve such intricate work. I am so glad God gave you

the patience, talent and artful eye to do this work so I could see it --

Thank-You for being you.

Gentle Hugs To All cherblue

From: Stitching Queen <queenstitcher@...>

Subject: Re: [ ] All blood tests normal - now what?

Date: Wednesday, August 27, 2008, 8:54 AM

Hello Jeff! Same as you, I've always had " normal " bloodwork, but

had all of the other symptoms of RA. I was diagnosed with seronegative RA,

which basically means RA with no present RF factor in the blood. It took me

longer to get diagnosed because of this. Are you seeing a Rheumatologist?

Lori

http://home.comcast.net/~queenstitcher/

http://stitchingqueen.multiply.com

August 27, 2008

Hi Jeff

Like I am also 'sero-negative' but that hasn't stopped me having a

severe version of the disease!

in NZ

August 28, 2008

My own research showed that only 80% are diagnosed with blood work showing