newbie

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

    Welcome to the group. I'm sorry you have to be here. My name is Steph & I

was diagnosed with RA 10 years ago when I was 22. I took doctors 2.5 months to

diagnose me. My RF has always tested negative. I do have the HLA-B27 mutation,

which is common in the spondolathropies (AS, Reiter's, etc). Also, what was your

sed rate? Normal is 0-20 and mine at diagnosis was 388 -- it was the only test

that made the doctors take me seriously. You may also want to have your CRP and

anti-CCP taken. Have you had Xrays? I know it feels like you will never feel the

same again. If it is RA, early, aggressive treatment is your best option.

Aggressive treatment within a year of onset gives you the best possibility for

remission. I was dx'd in 11/99 and started methotrexate immediately. I started

Remicade in March 2000 and have been in a medication-induced remission ever

since. My only meds now are 500mg of Remicade every 6 weeks by IV, 800mcg of

folic acid a day & 4

baby aspirin a day.

Take care,

Steph in Virginia

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I dont want my life to be

this way. Does anyone have

any comments...As I said before my RF was normal last year, how many of

you are diagnosed with RA without it being elevated? I have read that

it happens..Please, any suggestions, information would be appreciated.