Still Waiting to find our whether Rheumatoid Factor Negative or not!

Dear smarty, please try and keep calm. Ring your gp on Tuesday whether you get a letter or not and ask if they've had a letter yet. If you've already had a negative test there's a good chance this one will be too. A false negative test is very rare.

There is a very good website called Arthritis Care, they have a great forum where everyone has either or both rheumatoid or osteoarthritis. You will be able to get a lot of information and help there. Also support which is so important when living with any chronic illness.

There are lots of different treatments to help you deal with whatever you have to live with. I'm not saying it's easy but it is better if you are well informed.

I have had the condition for nearly 60 years and there are many people who have lived with it longer than me.

I hope you have friends/family to support you and that your results come through soon. Good luck.

Hi thanks for replying to me. Have been on Arthritis Care before and will have another look at their site.I do try to remain positive as I have been coping with the Fibro and Osteo. I also 15 years ago had thyroid cancer so do try and remain positive. Thank you for taking the time to reply to me as It does help.

My friends and family are good and can understand. My middle daughter understands more as she has a chronic illness of crohn's disease. She has had it since she was 13 and is now 27 and has just qualified as a paramedic. We try to support each other as we can understand what it is like to live with a chronic illness.

I hope you are keeping well and also have family and friends to support you to.

Thank you again for replying and will let you know how I get on.

Theresa x x

Hi Theresa, another early riser!

Thanks for coming back. So sorry you have had such a hard road so far. You sound as if you have a lovely family and wider circle who are there for you and each other. You must be so proud of your daughter.

I have a lovely hubby of 40 years who is a tower of strength to me. I also have other conditions that have left me disabled and at the end of my tether at times due to chronic pain issues. People are not always kind to people who look a bit different.

Keep strong, let me know how your results go.

I was going to say it's great to have a Bank Holiday week-end but its...raining.... same old same.

Take care of yourself. Fanny Jane.

Hi smarty, I have had RA for 15 years just going through a rough patch with flare ups. What helps me in

times of uncertainty is actively doing something and taking charge of my health for example through cutting back on my workload and social commitments. I try to rest and do things I actually want to do, that might sound funny but life sometimes gets very busy, too busy and it is as if my chronic illness then reminds me to stop and take stock.

I also find reflexology very relaxing, acupuncture helps with the pain and relaxes me, nothing gets rid of the original problem but it helps and makes it better for some time. There are local support groups for arthritis/RA sufferers which might help. But I guess the important thing is your uncertainty at the moment until you get this letter ... until then try to relax.

Hi Eve and Fanny Jane

Thank you both for your support. Got letter today and test was negative so no Rheumatiod Arthritis. I am pleased it was all clear. Just wish my doctors would take my Osteoarthritis more seriously. I feel I don't get enough support with that and with the fibro going on as well. But hey good news anyway. I hope you two ladies continue to do well with your RA.

Once again thank you for thinking about me.

Theresa x x

Dear Smarty, So pleased you have had the good news that you do not have RA.

I'm afraid doctors are a bit blase about osteoarthritis these days. Unless you get to the stage where you need surgery of some kind and even then they try and fob you off for 'a few more years'.

I have friends that have been told they are too young for certain surgeries and yet know of others that have had the surgery when years younger than the age mentioned. I myself have had many surgeries since I was 16.

It's all a lottery these days. All I can recommend from my own experiences is to keep chipping away at them. Keep doing gentle exercise and as Eve has said try various alternative and relaxing therapys until you find one that suits you. Also be kind to yourself and rest when you need it.

You don't mention which medication you have tried. There are many and varied types that help the pain of arthritis that you may not have tried yet. Also some people find a visit to the Pain Clinic very helpful. I have to admit that ours isn't up to much but they do offer epidurals and such if your condition could be helped by them. Some offer a psycotherapist and accupuncture too, for a few sessions...It would give you an idea if it works for you though and then you could perhaps find a private accupuncturist if it does.

I think these days a lot of self help is needed to navigate the nightmare that is the NHS.

Thanks for your good wishes.I do hope you find some relief soon and things improve for you.

Take care Fanny Jane.