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Rheumatoid factor of 450. Which autoimmune disease / disease could I have?

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Anonymousman
Anonymousman

Hello everyone. I'm a 19 year old male. Not too long ago my blood test showed RF latex test > 450, which I have read indicates advanced disease. I've read a bit about rheumatoid arthritis and diseases associated with rheumatoid factor, but none, I think, match how I'm feeling. I don't think I have RA, as I don't really complain of joint pain. IgM was also 2.8, slightly elevated. Calprotectin was elevated at 90. What's going on? What disease could cause this? Celiac disease blood tests were negative and the doctor think celiac is unlikely. I was referred to a gastrologist and now have to wait months for the appointment while suffering from:

- Fatigue

- Daytime sleepiness

- Memory issues

- Concentration issues

- Never feeling awake, can't think straight (brain fog)

- General muscle aches and weakness

- Excessive flatulence (near constant!)

- Changes in bowel movement (bowel movement every other three days, or once each day but incomplete, much straining. Stools are very fatty / shiny and hard to flush)

- Moderate numbness and tingling in hands and feet that I feel all the time.

- Difficulty swallowing (mucus stuck in throat, food getting stuck in throat, need water to flush down. I do have acid reflux, but am being treated with pantoprazol.

- Loss of appetite. I only eat because I know I have to. I eat quite alot, but don't really feel like eating.

Main bothersome symptomes are: Fatigue, daytime sleepiness and flatulence, because I've had them for 6 years and more, and these symptoms are getting worse each year.

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • rocky31676
    rocky31676 Anonymousman

    Posted

    It could just be GI malabsorption coupled disnormal flora caused by some infection (giardia?), with some weak immune condition (RH factor). Have you checked for Ulcerative colitis or Crohns ?  

     

    • Anonymousman
      Anonymousman rocky31676

      Posted

      I don't really have stomach pain nor diarrhea associated with Giardia, Chrons and Ulcerative colitis. Besides, the calprotectin in stool sample was only slightly elevated (90), so an inflammatory bowel disease seems unlikely.

    • Anonymousman
      Anonymousman

      Posted

      It could be an infection though. Do you know of any infection that could possibly cause constipation instead of diarrhea? Because I'm not having frequent bowel movemts (about once each three days).

    • Anonymousman
      Anonymousman rocky31676

      Posted

      IBS doesn't seem likely, because it does not elevate calprotectin. Nor would it explain the elevated rheumatoid factor.

    • rocky31676
      rocky31676 Anonymousman

      Posted

      Sorry, IBS meant - Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome.

      Faecal calprotectin is a biochemical measurement of the protein calprotectin in the stool. Elevated faecal calprotectin indicates the migration of neutrophils to the intestinal mucosa, which occurs during intestinal inflammation, including inflammation caused by inflammatory bowel disease.

    • Anonymousman
      Anonymousman rocky31676

      Posted

      Ok I see. Hmm, it seems unlikely. The comments on my tests results say so, as calprotectin is way more elevated in Inflammotory bowel diseases such as Chrons and Ulcerative Colitis.
    • rocky31676
      rocky31676 Anonymousman

      Posted

      Thats is true. Calprotectin is elevated in Crohns and UC, and both are inflammatory bowel disorders. 
  • jujubeee
    jujubeee Anonymousman

    Posted

    Have you had an anti ccp antibody test? It is way more telling than an rf factor..

    https://academic.oup.com/rheumatology/article/41/7/809/1788313/Diagnostic-tests-for-rheumatoid-arthritis

    I would suggest seeing a rheumatologist in addition to a gastrointestinal to see what direction your possible autoimmune disease is pointing in. If it is RA, you want to know asap, so you can PREVENT joint damage...you don't necessarily have to have visual damage or severe damage yet...

    Best to you! JJ

    • Anonymousman
      Anonymousman jujubeee

      Posted

      AntiCCP was <1 reference range is <7. So I don't have an autoimmune problem? Or does that make it less likely? I might as well have to see a rheumatologist, but the doctor seemed to think the biggest clue was gastrointestinal.

    • rocky31676
      rocky31676 Anonymousman

      Posted

      Anti CCP is also very broad test and does not give a specific result. 

      Have you checked with your GI specialist for UC or Crohns possibility? 

    • Anonymousman
      Anonymousman rocky31676

      Posted

      I have been referred to a GI specialist, but haven't had the appointment yet. And as we both agreed on, these conditions are unlikely. I would like to add that I'm freezing cold all the time. It becomes suddenly much worse at night, it's mostly my hands and feet. This is fairly new (a couple of months) and has greatly intensived these days.

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