Re: RA factor question - Mimi

February 12, 2010

>

> Mimi, thanks for your response!

> Yes, Plaquenil twice a day, and Tylenol = all my medication. I also take an

Omega 3 oil supplement, and that has made a huge change since last June.

>

> About the RF == I left a message with my rheumy yesterday, at the insistence

of my GP.

> I've just had a phone call back now from the receptionist, saying that the

rheumy said to tell me that the RF is " never to be tested again after RA was

diagnosed " .

My GP did the RF blood test when I went in complaining about the pain in my

hands, and my RF factor was over 700. It really scared me because it was so

high, but the rheumatologist told me that having a high RF factor doesn't

actually mean that you have RA. She said that they have better tests to tell

what is really going on. When she got the results of my blood tests and xrays

back, she said that the form of RA that I have is not very agressive and it

should respond well to plaquenil. I assumed from this that the other tests were

very specific tests and that the RF test is a more generic test that sends you

to the rheumatologist. My rheumatologist doesn't seem to be concerned about my

RF at all.

J.

February 12, 2010

A few months ago when I switched Rheumy's, we tested my Rheumatoid Factor (RF).

It came out to be 1,226. I didn't feel any more pain than usual. He said that

was off the charts and put me on Enbrel.

I sure hope he doesn't get irritated with me when he is manipulating my joints.

I never say owe. It either doesn't hurt at the time or it doesn't hurt the way

he is moving it. Sometimes I wonder if it is RA that I have at all! He also

tested me for Lupus. My RF was 1,226 and my ANA was elevated. Don't know what

all that means but he said I didn't have Lupus.

But I sure hope he doesn't think I'm faking it. I hurt all the time, but not

the way he is checking me. Once in a great while I'll say owe but it isn't that

bad. But when I get home... man o man... I just get so disgusted with my body!

I say..why can't you feel this way at the doctors office?! Never fails.

Michigan

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