New Member

[Guest guest]

You can have RA without a high blood factor. Go to a

Rheumatologist, not a GP and get a comprehensive exam. There are

other tests that are more accurate than the blood test. There are

many people on this board who have RA without a high rhemuatoid

factor.

Sharon

> Hello Everyone,

>

> My name is Rob and I am new to the group. I have NOT been

diagnosed

> with RA, however I have been sent for the blood test a couple of

> times and it has come back negative both times. Here is a little

of

> my history:

>

> I am 34 years old and have complained about severe aches and pains

> for several years. Nobody paid much attention until I was

diagnosed

> with Osteonecrosos in both hips. I had surgery for for that this

past

> February, though it does not appear to have been successful. I

also

> have asthma. The ON was thought to have been caused by high dose

> steroids for asthma attacks and lung problems.

>

> Now, I am still complaining about joint pain throughout my body. I

> have had numerous x-rays and mri's to see if the ON has spread to

> other joints. According to the results, it has not spread.

>

> I am trying to find an answer as to why I feel like this. It's not

> all the time. I usually go for several days and feel fine and then

I

> have a few bad days. This cycle keeps going but usually goes a

full

> cycle every 1 to 2 weeks.

>

> I am looking for suggestions. My main concern is that when I have

> the severe joint pain, I also notice shortness of breath and a

tight

> chest. Also, the joint pain is all over my body and most of the

time

> there is just a dull ache, but then there are days when it feels

like

> my bones are in a clamp that just keeps getting tighter.

>

> Thanks for listening and any suggestions are advice would be

> appreciated.

>

> Rob

[Guest guest]

http://stlouis.citysearch.com/yellowpages/directory/St_Louis_MO/220/615/page1.html You might find this link useful. Goodluck, Deborah

[Guest guest]

Sharon,

It looks like my next step is to find a good rheumatologist. Does

anyone have a suggestion for a good rheumatologist in the St. Louis,

MO area?

Thanks,

Rob

> > Hello Everyone,

> >

> > My name is Rob and I am new to the group. I have NOT been

> diagnosed

> > with RA, however I have been sent for the blood test a couple of

> > times and it has come back negative both times. Here is a little

> of

> > my history:

> >

> > I am 34 years old and have complained about severe aches and

pains

> > for several years. Nobody paid much attention until I was

> diagnosed

> > with Osteonecrosos in both hips. I had surgery for for that this

> past

> > February, though it does not appear to have been successful. I

> also

> > have asthma. The ON was thought to have been caused by high dose

> > steroids for asthma attacks and lung problems.

> >

> > Now, I am still complaining about joint pain throughout my body.

I

> > have had numerous x-rays and mri's to see if the ON has spread to

> > other joints. According to the results, it has not spread.

> >

> > I am trying to find an answer as to why I feel like this. It's

not

> > all the time. I usually go for several days and feel fine and

then

> I

> > have a few bad days. This cycle keeps going but usually goes a

> full

> > cycle every 1 to 2 weeks.

> >

> > I am looking for suggestions. My main concern is that when I

have

> > the severe joint pain, I also notice shortness of breath and a

> tight

> > chest. Also, the joint pain is all over my body and most of the

> time

> > there is just a dull ache, but then there are days when it feels

> like

> > my bones are in a clamp that just keeps getting tighter.

> >

> > Thanks for listening and any suggestions are advice would be

> > appreciated.

> >

> > Rob