[onetay]

Hi Everyone,
Some of you have chatted with me in the chat room. I have dxs of sle, ra, migraines, bone spurs, curvature of the spine, and sleep apnea. I have been listening and reading from all of your posts about the fibromyalgia. I am wondering if they have the ra wrong and I have arthritis and fibromyalgia instead of the ra. To my knowledge I have had no tests for ra.

My joints have just been trouble the past couple weeks, I don't remember this much pain from them before. I am fighting taking the pain pills as the fatigue is also getting worse and am affraid that I will sleep all the time or keep active so I don't fall asleep.
Tammy

 

[KarolH]

Hey Tammy,

Hope your holiday was good. How did they dx you with RA if you were never tested for it????? It very well could be fibro. I think with fibro there are 18 tender points throughout the body, not sure, but google it and see if you fit the bill. If you do then mention it to the doctor and certainly ask them if you were ever tested for RA. If not, then inquire how they came to dx you with RA.

I am sorry your having a flare of symptoms. Tis the season and the stress that can go along with it. I hope it ends soon.:wink2:

 

[Lily]

Hi Tammy,

There are a couple of tests for RA and they usually require some evidence on x-ray to help diagnose it also.

One test is the rheumatoid factor but the problem is that some lupies can be positive (usually in a lower number) and they don't have RA. Also not all people with RA will test positive for it especially in early stages of the disease.

The other test which seems to be quite helpful and is not usually found in things like Sjogren's or Lupus is the CCP antibody test. A positive on that test would probably be more specific for RA.

http://www.clinlabnavigator.com/Tests/CCPAntibody.html

Whatever is going on I hope you can get some relief, my joints give me a lot of trouble in the winter months too. Methotrexate is great for joint problems, whether they be from RA or Lupus. Not sure what meds you are on but it's worth discussing your concerns with your Rheumy and probably some x-rays would be helpful to uncovering the exact cause.

love
Lily

 

[onetay]

Lily and KarolH,
Thank you for your help and for your advise that is helpful. When the er doctor did xray for the bone spurs, he noted the ra in the chart so the other doctors got the report and well they have it in there now but lately have wondered if they were right or if they were in a hurry to give me a new problem. I will be talking to my rhuemy and the gp and finding out if they will find out if it is ra or fibro.

Tammy