Re: How long before diagnosis?

[Guest guest]

Hopefully they are not doing the blood tests " just " for RA, it could be a number

of things that are similar to RA, like lupus. Just wondering.

Stan

Seattle, rain.

[ ] How long before diagnosis?

I have been symptomatic for a few years and some diagnostics to prove its not in

my head have detected on xrays and had two operations on hands and concluded

teno and syonvitis which is usually connected to RA.  Which runs in my family.

But, bloodwork is not detecting anything.  I look perfectly healthy from that

point of view.  My doctor is sure something is going to show its face at some

point.  I do have osteoarthritis in my neck as of 35 years old.  Neck hurts

pretty bad at times and sometimes gives me headaches.  Hands kill all the time

and feel like my knuckles are broke and swell.  Feet hurt and knees.  Hips

too.  Some times am not sure if its all joints or sometimes ligaments and

muscles.  

I was wondering if I should have a lip biopsy to rule out Sjorgrens.  I hear

alot of false negative on that as well.  

Feed back is very much appreciated.  

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Hi Stan and thanks for responding. I am looking through the records and it

looks like she has done a RA which is 20. Creatine Kinase total 47. C-Reactive

Protein 1.0. TSH normal and ESR Westergren 8. Thats all so far this one has

done. A previous RA dr. that I went to once (who was crazy acting) did do a SED

rate and that too was normal. Yet I have swelling. Go figure. Very

frustrating.

I have a heating pack on my neck today because it actually feels sore to the

touch and painful. Almost looks swollen.

>

> I have been symptomatic for a few years and some diagnostics to prove its not

in my head have detected on xrays and had two operations on hands and concluded

teno and syonvitis which is usually connected to RA. Which runs in my family.

>

> But, bloodwork is not detecting anything. I look perfectly healthy from that

point of view. My doctor is sure something is going to show its face at some

point. I do have osteoarthritis in my neck as of 35 years old. Neck hurts

pretty bad at times and sometimes gives me headaches. Hands kill all the time

and feel like my knuckles are broke and swell. Feet hurt and knees. Hips too.

Some times am not sure if its all joints or sometimes ligaments and muscles.

>

> I was wondering if I should have a lip biopsy to rule out Sjorgrens. I hear

alot of false negative on that as well.

>

> Feed back is very much appreciated.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Stan, Hey I just looked at your profile pictures, you are quite an artist.

Good for you. Looks professional. I started Plaquenil yesterday afternoon. I

put in a call for my RA dr. and she called me last night. She seemed a little

annoyed but I just needed somemore input on this med with eyesight and my

condition. She thinks I am in the 10% of Seronegative RA. So there you have

it. We have a couple people in our family, one of which died from severe RA

quite young and my aunt who had it when she was a child and is in a wheel chair.

I get so scared of that but have to remind myself the drugs are much better and

advanced so hopefully this drug will work for me with no side effects.

What are you taking and diagnosis?

[Guest guest]

Sorry you are here! I gave up on a dignosis about 4 years ago, 10+ years into

symptoms.

I always tets " normal " on RA tests. However I have great improvement with

Prednisone and Humira, so despite not ever having a test show a positive result

I am getting help.

At first I didn't want to try any of the drugs because they couldn't diagnose

me. But after years of pain and getting close to loosing my job I gave in and

started trying all the RA drugs.

Glad I did as I can almost pretend I am normal now...

Welcome and good luck,

Dawn

>

> I have been symptomatic for a few years and some diagnostics to prove its not

in my head have detected on xrays and had two operations on hands and concluded

teno and syonvitis which is usually connected to RA. Which runs in my family.

>

> But, bloodwork is not detecting anything. I look perfectly healthy from that

point of view. My doctor is sure something is going to show its face at some

point. I do have osteoarthritis in my neck as of 35 years old. Neck hurts

pretty bad at times and sometimes gives me headaches. Hands kill all the time

and feel like my knuckles are broke and swell. Feet hurt and knees. Hips too.

Some times am not sure if its all joints or sometimes ligaments and muscles.

>

> I was wondering if I should have a lip biopsy to rule out Sjorgrens. I hear

alot of false negative on that as well.

>

> Feed back is very much appreciated.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi...

My diagnosis was RA which is sure to be progressive with my age as a factor. I a

currently on MTX injections once a week,  and Etodolac, HCS, on a daily basis

along with the required Folic Acid and Vitamin D. I haven't tried any of the

biologics yet because the doctor and I have concerns.

Stan,

Seattle, Sun!

[ ] Re: How long before diagnosis?

Hi Stan,  Hey I just looked at your profile pictures, you are quite an artist.

 Good for you.  Looks professional.  I started Plaquenil yesterday afternoon.

 I put in a call for my RA dr. and she called me last night.  She seemed a

little annoyed but I just needed somemore input on this med with eyesight and my

condition.  She thinks I am in the 10% of Seronegative RA.  So there you have

it.  We have a couple people in our family, one of which died from severe RA

quite young and my aunt who had it when she was a child and is in a wheel chair.

 I get so scared of that but have to remind myself the drugs are much better

and advanced so hopefully this drug will work for me with no side effects.  

What are you taking and diagnosis?