Comments on: Is there a blood test for Rheumatoid Arthritis? Part 1

By: Linda

Linda — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:02:51 +0000

Thanks so much Kelly for your input. My Dr is on maternaty leave an I think she comes back the first of May. I told the nurse yesterday (after another lovely talk w/her) that I will be back as soon as she come back. Not in 4 months as told per the N.P. I love the site and have sent it to a few family members. Because I am like so many others that have family that feel it’s ‘just’ arthritis, NO big deal! Along with the RA and fibromyalgia I’ve had 4 back surgeries and still have 6 ruptued disc w/severe rips/tears. So the RA diagnosis was just the icing on the cake! Thanks again for your good work!

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:23:42 +0000

Dear Linda, this disease is diagnosed by opinion of a doctor. A doctor has guidelines, but there is a lot of subjectivity to it (personal judgment). If you see different doctors they may offer different opinions about your diagnosis or severity or treatment options. It’s very frustrating that we are so early in the understanding of a disease that is so devastating. It certainly does sound like RA and I wouldn’t change anything until your doctor comes back. You could also seek a second opinion you are worried – I don’t know how long till he comes back. And obviously, we need improved tests that will come from research that focuses on patients.

By: Linda

Linda — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:09:24 +0000

I’m so confused on my diagnosis of RA thru blood test. For year half I’ve been told I have RA and have been trying to find a treatment that helps. So far they have caused my hair to fall out, weight gain and liver enzymes to shoot thru the roof! Now at my recent appt I agreed to see Nurse Practitioner which was my first mistake. She proceeds to tell me just because my RA factor is 137 and my pain level is unreal in my joints etc., does not mean I have RA. What? So why am I here? Then they call a few days later, tell me my CCP? is neg. I don’t have RA, even though my rf is 137 and I can’t move. Please help me understand this or have I been given wrong info by this N.P. and need to wait for my Dr. to return? Again, for year/half I’ve been treated for RA an fibromyagia, thanks!!

By: connie

connie — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:14:08 +0000

I have a question ,I have been having joint pain for 4 months in elbows ,neck ,shoulders ,finger,wrists,ankles, and every 8-10 days I get flare ups where I cant even get out of bed feel like i have the flu,blood work came out negative for ra,but esr was 22.0 and high sensitive crp is 20.46 ..I dont see doc until next week so I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions about thoose results and if They ever had neg. ra test even though doctor says they have ra ..thanks

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Wed, 25 May 2011 01:08:20 +0000

Melissa, Most likely if they say it’s RA then they will prescribe methotrexate. Weight loss is classic RA and I hope you are able to stop that soon. It can make you pretty weak. If you’ve had symptoms over a year, I’m not sure your treatment is considered “early” at this point. Make sure you tell them every symptom you’ve had and for how long. Good luck to you.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Tue, 24 May 2011 21:33:06 +0000

I have been to this site over a year ago, and thought I had RA. Long story short all the blood work kept coming up neg
(I thought it was mainly in my neck 1st hands 2nd) after going through one internal Med Dr and RA and the symptoms changing my hands swelling up so bad they stopped working
and finally a RA factor of 38 showing Im 5’8 went from 154 to
124 in a matter of 6 months nonstop neck pain nothing showing on xray or mri though- waiting to get in with an early onset RA specialist should I ask for Mexeltrexate? Im fatigued all the time;-(

By: SuzanneSkinner

SuzanneSkinner — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 22:02:06 +0000

As I took all these tests, my doctor seemed to string me along and never gave me a definitive diagnosis. I thought he kept having me come back for more money; I wondered why he just did not tell what was going on with my hands.
Now I see why. It is not so black and white as is diabetes or heart disease, which I have both.
When I backed my doctor into a corner, he gave me the bad news. Now I research every day and read this site for more info as my RA progresses.

By: brennessel

brennessel — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 05:08:53 +0000

Thank you very much for giving such a nice article about blood tests. I am very happy for that because My one of the friend has a Arthritis.He had tried so many medicines. But there are no solution of it. I am going to give this article to him. I am sure it will help him a lot.

By: bluwren

bluwren — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 03:41:51 +0000

Thank you for putting in so much time and effort on giving us an easy-to-understand explanation regarding tests for RA.

I was fortunate that when I was diagnosed (in the late 80s) the RF showed up in my blood, first time. Later, it didn't ... and that's when the U.S. Army Internal Medicine doc I was seeing at the time told me that it often DIDN'T.

Today there are more tests, and by looking at them all, the docs can make a better and more sure diagnosis. They've come a very long way since the late 80s. It gives me hope for those RA sufferers who are younger -- the disease will, hopefully, be diagnosed more quickly and action taken more quickly, too.

By: andrew

andrew — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:06:44 +0000

Thanks for the succinct info re. blood tests. I'm one the seronegative "stepchildren". Good thing that the ACR guidelines state that 4 out of 7 indicators should be present for a positive RA diagnosis. Positive blood tests do not need to be one of the 4 indicators. Perhaps the lack of positive tests in 30-40% of people with RA is because there are many types of RA. This may also be supported by myriad of symptoms in people. I wonder if researchers are working on other blood indicators? I look forward to your future posts on this topic!
Andrew