Anti-CCP test, possible RA?
Posted , 7 users are following.
Hi,
I went to doctors for other main symptoms and had lots of blood tests taken. When I rang for results last week, I was told all normal except for one and GP wants that repeating in 4 weeks. I asked which one it was and the receptionist read it out to me but said she didn't know what it was for. She read out to me - "Anti CCP AGH". I did a quick google and only thing I could find it linked to was rheumatoid arthritis. It's not something I know lots about but reading the symptoms I realise it's extremely likely that I have this and feel a bit stupid for not ever going to see GP with the symptoms of it. However, I feel really in limbo, don't really know where I'm at as obviously not even talked to GP about it, and if the test is to be repeated in 4 weeks does that mean that it was only a slightly different result to normal so may not be accurate or something? I have always had achey wrists since being a young teen, was told it was tendonitis, and it's fine as long as I don't over do it basically. However in last year been getting lots of aches in fingers, and getting a bit more stiffness in certain ones. In general I just get a lot of aches and stiffness, and sometimes get a swelling in my finger knuckles. I didn't even go to GP for this, went for abdominal pains and really she was looking into IBS related things from what she said, was just checking a few things at the same time. I do get tired a lot. I'm just worried as I have prob had quite a few symptoms for a while now and didn't know to get it checked, and didn't even mention them all to the doctor when I went and now thinking should I have done? Has anybody else when getting investigated at beginning had an anti-ccp test repeated 4 weeks later? Can it mean anything else if that test isn't normal? Thanks for help, sorry for all questions I just find it hard to be in limbo and not knowing things.
1 like, 17 replies
lynn15111 themorninggirl
Posted
There can be false positives with serology. Did the GP get a list of any medications or supplements you are taking? There's a type of IBS that can be autoimmune, or caused by intolerance to wheat. If the gp prescribes sulfasalazine, that works for both IBS/Crones disease and RA. I wonder if the gp ran a sed rate?
themorninggirl lynn15111
Posted
I'm not taking any medications or supplements xx. What is a sed rate please? I'm not sure what blood tests were ran tbh as I wasn't too concerned at the time, went for pains that I was thinking were either the beginnings of endimetriosis or IBS (both run in my family), and had only been getting a few months so thought was being on top of them. I know she took full blood count, thyroid and coeliac but can't remember what the others were, and all came back normal anyway.
lynn15111 themorninggirl
Posted
Like C-reactive protein it's an older type test to measure inflammation. One hall mark symptom of RA is morning stiffness that lasts around an hour before you get moving around, It has to do with the joint lubricants getting into a gel state rather than fluid, much like oil in a car engine in cold weather. Since only the more severe RA test positive for Rheumatoid factor, these other joint symptoms have to be part of the diagnosis, along with serology that shows antibodies against your own body.
natasa24657 themorninggirl
Posted
I would go back to your go and mention the problem with the joint pain. If it's RA the quicker they see you about it the less damage to your joints
themorninggirl natasa24657
Posted
Would you wait until after the repeat blood test or just go now? Blood test is in just under 3 weeks. I've been to docs for a few bits and pieces over the years and hate looking like a hypochondriac, because they always end up being not much, although now I'm thinking lots of them could be linked to this!
natasa24657 themorninggirl
Posted
I would go and see him as if it gets worse it will be very painful. Can you not have a phone cal consultation and tell him about your stiffness because he then will refer you to a rheumatologist which could take a long time. The quicker you mention it the better. As you don't want any more damage to your joints and spread to any other joints
themorninggirl natasa24657
Posted
Thank you, I'll ring and see when I can get an appointment, would rather see same GP again so may have to wait anyway but earlier I get in the better. Thanks, starting to worry now!
natasa24657 themorninggirl
Posted
Don't worry too much and I hope it's not RA Please let me know how you go
martin_F themorninggirl
Posted
My RA started in the right hand finger knuckle, I think most RA is symmetrical so one side followed by the other side, blood test results, ask what the CRP reading is, meaning C-reactive protein this measures inflammation and should be below 8, 0-8 is the normal range, and they may test PV which means plasma viscosity, normal range 1.50 to1.72 above 1.72 means you have inflammation, these results don't specify what's causing the inflammation only you have inflammation, and you can RA with or without the Rheumatoid Factor, hope this gives you some insight.
themorninggirl martin_F
Posted
Thank you, will take notes of these to talk to GP about. I started getting random painful swelling in one of my fingers knuckles a year or two ago but everytime I thought of going to doctors it went away and didn't come back for a while! My right side is worse than my left but do get pain in both if do certain things.
Emily1234 themorninggirl
Posted
Hi there, I too had all blood tests normal but ccp slightly positive. Mine was at 23 normal is below 18 but it can go up into the 200s I think. It doesn't become positive till 40 so I bet you are between 18-39. I would be really interested to know. Ask your doc for the reading! Hope that helps...let me know
themorninggirl
Posted
Hi, I ended up back at the doctor's last week as I woke up with left-sided weakness that lasted almost 2 hours, albeit no other worrying symptoms of anything like a stroke, but couldn't walk straight and was really very strange. So got an emergency docs app and as luck would have it was with the same GP! So she also chatted to me about the joint pain, she said that she actually asked for the wrong blood test, she had wanted to ask for one to do with my bowel but as I mentioned aching fingers right at end of appointment she thinks she just clicked wrong one without thinking. So she was going to discuss it when next saw me, but then I said well actually, I have loads of joint aches and swellings, and as luck would have it had one to show her that had swollen up a couple of days before on joint of my finger and was still showing a bruised dark vein and going now. She had a good chat with me and referred me to a TIA clinic to check out the weakness but said to also mention the joint pains so I went to that today and he seemed quite 'ah the weakness is likely to be nothing much at your age', but then when I mentioned the joint pain and swelling he tested all my reflexes and didn't seem happy with my wrist ones? I've never had my wrist reflexes tested before but basically there didn't seem to be any reaction? So he sent me for some bloods and an ecg in the hospital and said I will get an MRI appointment in the next 10 days. Will the MRI show up issues with my joints does anybody know? Thanks
Emily1234 themorninggirl
Posted
I know an ecg shows hidden inflammation and I'm sure an mri will show any major joint problems. I hope you are feeling better how is your left side? Can you remember what your test result was for ccp ? Or your cRP? That may help indicate severity. Take care x
themorninggirl Emily1234
Posted
Hi,
I don't know what the result was as I forgot to ask, with it being an emergency appointment I was wary of asking too much questions as knew she would have an emergency queue. I will ask when go back though. She did say the other test for RA had come back clear though, so am presuming that is the RF? My left side is fine thank you but am getting a lot of pains in my wrists, and the GP did say that my right hand is a lot weaker than my wrist which is unusual as I am right-handed. However, I now have an MRI scan for tomorrow as they just rung me to take up a cancellation spot, so hopefully should be quite quick to find out answers
That is interesting about an ecg thank you, I wasn't sure what that was for xx.
Emily1234 themorninggirl
Posted
Emily1234 themorninggirl
Posted
themorninggirl Emily1234
Posted
My MRi was fine and all clear. But I have been referred to rheumatology now, and my ultrasounds + xrays showed issues with my wrists so they have put me on hydroxychloroquine.