RE: its official- I'm nuts!

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/14/04 9:16:11 PM, hvantuyl@... writes:

Prednisone is often used for this and your reaction to this drug will help with the diagnosis. 

Exactly. Well said, too.

Prednisone made me 80 per cent better, so my rheumy figured I had RA....

as opposed to fibromyalgia. Also, if you are worse in the AM, it is a sign of RA..

The tests are just an INDICATION, not a diagnosis,

A diagnosis is based on many factors...

Pris

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[Guest guest]

Blood tests are only indications of whether you have RA. If your doctor says you can't have RA unless you have an indication in your blood work, then it's time for another doctor. The American College of Rheumatologists has developed seven criteria for diagnosing RA and meeting any four of them qualifies for a firm diagnosis. Only one of the seven is blood work, another one is x-ray results, and the others are either observation or history. http://www.arthritisinsight.com/medical/disease/ra/ra.html The criteria are about halfway down this article. You should be seeing a rheumatologist and you should be treated aggressively.

RA is an inflammatory disease so a strong anti-inflammatory will usually help to alleviate the symptoms, but does not stop permanent joint damage. Prednisone is often used for this and your reaction to this drug will help with the diagnosis. If your symptoms get better then it is likely that you have an inflammatory disease like RA while if there is no improvement then you need to look elsewhere. Please get a second opinion if your current doctor or doctors are not helping you. There is help out there and your doctor should be helping you to find it.

You can e-mail me at hvantuyl@... if you would like more information like this. God bless.

----- Original Message -----

From: coolcat102271

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2004 8:39 PM

Subject: its official- I'm nuts!

Hello to everyone. I am sorry I have not posted or emailed lately. I finally got my results from my RA blood test. Negative. So, I do not know what to do. I still have no physical reason to be in so much pain. I feel so foolish. The pain is real and i know it is not in my head. I hate feeling like this all day, every day. I am so sorry for rambling. I know there are a lot of people that are worse off than me. And I truly do feel for them. I pray for them everynight. I know I am blessed with my family and friends and my new friends- all of you. I just do not know what to do anymore. Where to go from here. I am truly at my wits end. I feel like I am in a black hole and cannot see light. Please forgive me for being this way. To all of you who are just as confused as I am, I am praying for you. You will be in my thoughts and prayers every night. Take care to all.Anita M.

[Guest guest]

Anita,

Please remember that you can have negative test results and still have RA.

I think the only reason my test came back positive is where I was in a flare.

What does your doctor suggest now?

Hugs, Jacy

~Sacred cows make the best hamburger

jacymail@...IM: jacygal - ICQ: 96949087www.geocities.com/mtn_rose

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-----Original Message-----From: coolcat102271 [mailto:coolcat1022@...]Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2004 21:39Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: its official- I'm nuts!Hello to everyone. I am sorry I have not posted or emailed lately. I finally got my results from my RA blood test. Negative. So, I do not know what to do. I still have no physical reason to be in so much pain. I feel so foolish. The pain is real and i know it is not in my head. I hate feeling like this all day, every day. I am so sorry for rambling. I know there are a lot of people that are worse off than me. And I truly do feel for them. I pray for them everynight. I know I am blessed with my family and friends and my new friends- all of you. I just do not know what to do anymore. Where to go from here. I am truly at my wits end. I feel like I am in a black hole and cannot see light. Please forgive me for being this way. To all of you who are just as confused as I am, I am praying for you. You will be in my thoughts and prayers every night. Take care to all.Anita M.

[Guest guest]

That was very interesting Harold. Thank you for posting that.

I looked at the indicators and I have 7 of 7. But my RA is only mild to moderate I think.

Hugs, Jacy

~Sacred cows make the best hamburger

jacymail@...IM: jacygal - ICQ: 96949087www.geocities.com/mtn_rose

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-----Original Message-----From: Harold Van Tuyl [mailto:hvantuyl@...]Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2004 22:13Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: Re: its official- I'm nuts!

Blood tests are only indications of whether you have RA. If your doctor says you can't have RA unless you have an indication in your blood work, then it's time for another doctor. The American College of Rheumatologists has developed seven criteria for diagnosing RA and meeting any four of them qualifies for a firm diagnosis. Only one of the seven is blood work, another one is x-ray results, and the others are either observation or history. http://www.arthritisinsight.com/medical/disease/ra/ra.html The criteria are about halfway down this article. You should be seeing a rheumatologist and you should be treated aggressively.

RA is an inflammatory disease so a strong anti-inflammatory will usually help to alleviate the symptoms, but does not stop permanent joint damage. Prednisone is often used for this and your reaction to this drug will help with the diagnosis. If your symptoms get better then it is likely that you have an inflammatory disease like RA while if there is no improvement then you need to look elsewhere. Please get a second opinion if your current doctor or doctors are not helping you. There is help out there and your doctor should be helping you to find it.

You can e-mail me at hvantuyl@... if you would like more information like this. God bless.

----- Original Message -----

From: coolcat102271

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2004 8:39 PM

Subject: its official- I'm nuts!

Hello to everyone. I am sorry I have not posted or emailed lately. I finally got my results from my RA blood test. Negative. So, I do not know what to do. I still have no physical reason to be in so much pain. I feel so foolish. The pain is real and i know it is not in my head. I hate feeling like this all day, every day. I am so sorry for rambling. I know there are a lot of people that are worse off than me. And I truly do feel for them. I pray for them everynight. I know I am blessed with my family and friends and my new friends- all of you. I just do not know what to do anymore. Where to go from here. I am truly at my wits end. I feel like I am in a black hole and cannot see light. Please forgive me for being this way. To all of you who are just as confused as I am, I am praying for you. You will be in my thoughts and prayers every night. Take care to all.Anita M.