Quote:
Originally Posted by JenAjd
AS for the final diagnosis....did you have to go through a whole bunch of tests to rule out other stuff first for the R.A. diagnosis??
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I had x-rays of pretty much every joint in my body that hurt. Maily hips, knees, ankles, hands and wrists. Also lots of blood work where they ruled out things like Lupus and Lymes Disease. I'm sure there were other things that they ruled out. There is a blood test they did to find out, I think it was, my "T" score which is a blood factor found in RA people. My score was very high thus they ruled "in" RA. I was first diagnosed when I was 36. At that time I was put on Plaquinal (sp?) and large doses of Advil. After several years of this it went into remission and I was off of all meds for about 15 years. Then about 4 years ago I had a really bad flare up and was re-diagnosed and put on my current meds. For the most part I am fine, but flare ups come and go and then I go in a "Blast Pack" of prednisone for 5 days and things calm down. I've only had to do that twice in the last 4 years. Those flare ups seem to be stress triggered. And my life to rather stressful at the moment. I hope once I get to TV next month things will de-stress.
Suzanne