Newbie

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-16-2006
Newbie
15
Thu, 02-16-2006 - 5:20pm

Hello everyone.

I am new and today I recived my RF test results from my doctor. As it turns out my RF level is 210. All other test were either negative or normal. So I am going to see a specialist next month. My symptoms are fatigue and an overall feeling of Blah all the time. As far as my joints go I have persitant swelling, pain and limited motion in my right hand and neck. The only joints that have slight deformation are my right index finger lower joint and my middle fingers middle joint.

This is a pretty scare palce for me right now because I don't know anything about Rheumatoid Arthritis other than there is no cure.

I am 32 years old and have no family history as far as I know of this disease. Any information you can give me is greatly appreciated.

Could someone tell me if my RF amount is high?

Thanks,
Angela

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: gsmommy1998
Fri, 02-17-2006 - 5:19am

Dear Angela, I am sorry about the diagnosis, and yes it is a pretty scary place to be, Rheumatoid Arthritis is a disease process that none of us like having, it brings on many changes mentally, physcially, emotionally and financially in our lives, but you get used to it to a degree over time. Many of us here have good days and bad days, life goes on and we just learn to adjust to the changes as our disease progresses.

Having said that there are many degrees of Arthritis. You are correct there is no cure, but RA really is not as destructive as it once was, as many new drug treatments help slow the disease progress. It is a hard disease to understand the actual process, but very basically it is an auto immune problem where your body says hey ...that cartiledge in that bony joint is a foreign body and sets about making antibodies to destroy it....then you have pain and inflammation in the joint whcih the pathology reads as a raised ESR and a few other things. but you can still have RA with signs and symptoms and normal pathology.
A Rheumatoid Factor is usually only measured once or twice 210 high, but dont worry about it mine was a thousand and something...It is just a test which looks for the "factor x" so to speak to help with the diagnosis.
I would have to say treatment, education and a willingness to learn, is about the best thing you can do for yourself, there are so many things you can do to make things easier when you are in pain and trying to cope, and this board is one resource, from links for education to ways to help with pain and different opinions on medication etc....

As a "newbie" have a little bit of hope some RA flares up ( flare is a term used for RA activity in the joints and associated pain swelling tenderness, pain, constant tired, pain, stiff joints especially in the am, and more pain )......And some times RA shows its face, some basic treatment of just an antimflammatory and it is under control and you have no further problems. So see your doctor get some help and pop in anytime for some ways to help your self. Lell

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-16-2006
In reply to: gsmommy1998
Fri, 02-17-2006 - 9:30am

Thank you so much for the information and the kinds words.
I am trying to gather as much information as possible before I see the specialist in March. I will be a frwquent visitor to the board, I am jsut not sure I will have much to add since there is much I know at this point.

But thank you againfor taking the time to answer my questions.

-Angela

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-03-2003
In reply to: gsmommy1998
Fri, 02-17-2006 - 1:32pm

Hi there, Angela, and welcome to the Rheumatoid Arthritis board.

Molly

Avatar for dfyrabnd
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: gsmommy1998
Sat, 02-18-2006 - 4:57am

Welcome to the board Angela. don't worry about adding much to the board. You don't need to add anything. Most important you can come here and whine and complain and cry and moan and we will all understand. That's the best part of this board; we will understand, even if it means all you want to post is..I feel crappy today!

Even if you don't post for a long time and then pop back in, it's just fine. Everyone is a really good sort here. Sometimes I just have only enough energy to scan through some of the posts and lurk for a while. I feel perfectly comfortable doing so cuz no one ever gets mad about it on this board and you're always welcome. It's a nice place.

Hugs, Diane

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-03-2003
In reply to: gsmommy1998
Mon, 02-20-2006 - 2:30pm
Yanno, Diane, that is such a good point you made about not being locked into posting here all the time.

Molly

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2006
In reply to: gsmommy1998
Mon, 02-20-2006 - 7:27pm
Hi Angela,
I am new to posting here also, but I have had an RX of RA for 6 years now. I will be happy to share with you. Hang in there. You will be ok.
Deborah
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-16-2006
In reply to: gsmommy1998
Tue, 02-21-2006 - 11:31am

Thank you to everyone....
This may seem weird but when my regular doctors office called me to tell me test results...I was relived to hear that they felt it was RA. I felt that compared to the other diseases that it could have been (lupus, lukemia), RA was getting off easy. Is that terrible? Granted I have my moments when I think this just really sucks....especially in the morning when my hands are swollen and my neck is super stiff or the evenings when I all I want to do is lay down then I start thinking "get up, get up or it's gonna hurt to get up".

I have two questions, if you don't want to answer I will sooo understand.

1. Most of my constant pain is in my neck and hands....sometimes in my knees and toes.
Where are ya'll most affected?

2. My husband pointed out to me that he noticed this month and last month that my inflamation and stiffness increases dramaticaly the few days before my period starts. (I have a great husband) Does this happen to anyone else or have you heard of this happening?

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-08-1998
In reply to: gsmommy1998
Tue, 02-21-2006 - 1:05pm

Hello to you!

I am 31 & just got diagnosed last month. When my Dr. did the 1st test, my titer was only 160. When I saw the Rhuemy a few weeks later, my titer was 420. So now I am taking 10mg of prednisone a day & Sulfazine Ec 1000MG a day, to increase to 1500mg next week. I find all of this a bit scary & hate having to take pills everyday. Oh, well. I guess I could have something worse, like you said. I just don't like having to tell people what I have when they ask why I look sick, tired or just stiff. I've starting just saying "RA" and not Rhuematoid Arthritis. Most people here only the "arthitis" part of that. This way, by saying RA, I can explain the its a joint type disease. That may seem silly to some people, but it works for me.

My pain is mainly in my feet & fingers. My middle finger joint is tinged slightly purple now & swollen for a few days. It makes me laugh to show people my swollen middle finger. Sometimes I get wrist & knee pain, but usually only when it flares. The rhuemy says the sulfazine will take a few weeks to help, if its going to. If not, she'll try something else. The worst pain is in the morning. Sometimes I cry getting out of bed in the morning, but what choice do we have? I'm hoping this gets easier soon.

I don't notice any changes with my pain & swelling around my period, but I did notice that my cycles have gone from 28 days to 25 days. I have an appointment with a OBGYN in April & I'm going to ask her about that.

TTC since # 1 since 3/2002, IUI on 11/19/02.  Took a break to move 6/2003.  

Developed Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis 2/2006. 

TTC again!!!  Off BCP since April 2008.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-16-2006
In reply to: gsmommy1998
Tue, 02-21-2006 - 1:39pm
I am so with you on telling people. As soon as I try to explain what is going on they here arthritis and they say something like "My Grandmother has that...." I just give them a look that screams "Do I look like a grandmother?". Most people aren't even open to the idea that there are different types of arthritis. Now when I explain how I feel I simply say "It's like a car accident when you've been hit from behind and your body is jarred but you think you are ok until the next morning when you wake up you hurt all over...now mix that feeling with the fatigue you have in your first tri-mester when you could lay on the floor and sleep anywhere. That's what I feel like, except I feel like that everyday." I don't even go into the swelling and the purple coloring...my explanation of the pain is usually enough.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-08-1998
In reply to: gsmommy1998
Tue, 02-21-2006 - 2:05pm
I LOVE that explanation!!!! I am reading this at work & I just busted out laughing. you made my day.

TTC since # 1 since 3/2002, IUI on 11/19/02.  Took a break to move 6/2003.  

Developed Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis 2/2006. 

TTC again!!!  Off BCP since April 2008.

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