RF and ANA+
Posted , 5 users are following.
I have tested + for low levels of RF and ANA but negitive for C-reactive protiene These are my symptoms. I don't have a rheumitologist or other specialist. Just wondering what I should be trying for test wise and referrals next with my GP.
pitted nails
chronic diarrhoea
joint pain, most joints, hips, wrists, elbow, knees, shoulders, fingers, worse in the AM
sweaty feet and hands
either too hot or too cold
dry skin
brain fog
extra weight in mid section and double chin
pms
menorangia
heart palps
tinitis
headaches
difficulty swallowing over a “lump” in throat
indigestion
easy bruising
Dizzy when I bend over
Wake up in the night in cold sweats
large ganglion cyst removed from wrist
ovarian cysts
currently on cytomel 25mg, and 30mg of synthroid, but last set of labs came back wonky, TSH A0.09 range0.32-5.04mU/L
T4 Free A7.3 range10.6-19.7pmol/L
T3 Free 4.16 range 3.00-5.90pmol/L
Prolactin low A 3.1 range 4.2-28.2 ug/L
AM cortisol high side of normal- 498 range 125-536 nmol/ doctor isn’t willing to test cortisol further at this time.
ANA is 1:80 speckled pattern
RF is 12 range <12 is a flag
C Reactive Protein (High Sensitivity) 1.6
-ultrasound of thyroid showed small lump, less than 1cm, repeat after a year shows no change.
0 likes, 16 replies
lynn15111 95592Victoria
Posted
Your symptoms indicate low thyroid, your test results show autoimmunity, so keep current with your doctors, may want to have x-rays of hands and wrists to see if you have erosions seen in RA. Chin up, it's all treatable after proper diagnosis
95592Victoria lynn15111
Posted
But do they? The weight gain does, but the GI stuff, the hotness, and the anxiety are more like hyperthyroid.
It's all so confusing.
What does the RF indicate? Is it too low to mean anything? My GP said that the ANA was too low to be an issue.
lynn15111 95592Victoria
Posted
You could be in the early stages of "whatever" it is. The chemistry may change in a month or so, but why wait? Get those x-rays, because erosions can't be explained away. There are 7 early signs of RA without even using blood work that a good doctor will see. Google it. Do you have a close relative with RA, early morning stiffness, swelling and stiffness in any fingers or toes, etc. RF is Less than 1:80 (1 to 80) titer for normal, although some people who do have these conditions still have a "normal" or low RF.
Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories.
95592Victoria lynn15111
Posted
95592Victoria lynn15111
Posted
I don't know for certain, but I think my grandma may have. her toes on both feet were completely garbled, and she had a hump back. She died when I was 7 though. Also, my aunt had a hip replacement and always complained about stiff bones.
95592Victoria lynn15111
Posted
Guest 95592Victoria
Posted
You need to see a rheumatologist who knows about psoriatic arthritis. CRP is often normal in people with psoriatic arthritis, even though they appear to have most of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. It's every bit as bad and damaging as RA, but too few doctors know about it. Pitted nails is a big sign. Weight gain is common. Do you have relatives with psoriasis?
95592Victoria Guest
Posted
95592Victoria
Posted
lynn15111 95592Victoria
Posted
Everyone is different and if it is RA, it can be low level for many years. In other words you can go it alone for awhile but the damage continues. It's a good idea to be on a medication that can hinder that progression, but of course you need to be diagnosed.
Guest 95592Victoria
Posted
There aren't specific blood tests so they look out for nail changes, changes in the joints closest to the ends of the fingers, eye problems, family and personal history. Unlike RA, it tends to affect the back. Treatment is more or less the same as for RA though.
Gloria814 95592Victoria
Posted
Hi Rose
The telltale sign for me was the hand xrays which showed erosions and the MRi confirmed it. Basically blood tests all normal. Main problem that I had for well over a year was unbelievable fatigue. I was ready to go to bed at 630pm, most unlike me Only had swelling in 1 finger and the doc didn't even notice the swelling/ I had to tell him that my finger never looks like that normally. So I think the xrays are the key. I still don't have a tremendous amt of pain (thankfully) We are all so different. I am in the process of getting ready to start a biologic.
keep reading up on the disease/ ask questions of the docs/ get those xrays and go from there. Some have a definite diagnosis confirmed with blood tests but others it is not so clear
I THINK my Aunt had RA but I am not sure/ she had terrible pain in her joints/ I don't know if it was osteoarth or RA.. I also have vitilgo and Crohn's which are both autoimmune and no one in my extended family has had those
Good luck!
95592Victoria Gloria814
Posted
Gloria814 95592Victoria
Posted
i doubt they would xray all those joints. My pain was in my hands and 1 finger swollen so he started with that and erosions were noted. I have stiffness in neck/ back/ arms/ ankles at the time but I can't say it was a lot of pain--still and achy at times
95592Victoria Gloria814
Posted
OK, thanks