Thursday, May 31, 2012

Wednesday, December 09, 2009 TEE asks

Q: Can a very high RF (774) determine the severity of my RA and my response to treatment?

i had a high RF of 774 and said to have RA i have classic symptoms of RA can high RF also be found in other diseases? Is RF usually this high? I am not responding well to current treatment of Enbrel and methotrexate. It has subsiding some of the symptoms, but they don't completely go away. Since being on these drugs, joint pain has spread throughout my body. It started in my knees. It is now in my wrist, elbow, fingers, collar bone, shoulders, feet, and ankles. I also have lung involvement. This is why i am concern about my RF and the severity of my disease.

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Answers (1)
Lene Andersen, Health Guide
12/18/09 8:06pm

Not necessarily, but I am not a doctor, so I am not an expert in interpreting blood test results.  We have an excellent article on lab tests and what they mean, but as is mentioned in the article, the numbers are only part of the story and not necessarily a defining factor.

 

I would recommend that you go back to your doctor and have a thorough conversation about you disease, your test results and your continuing symptoms. It can sometimes help to write down your questions, not just because it ensures that you don't get anything, but also because it creates a sort of subtle shift to the person who set the agenda (i.e., have the list of questions) controls the meeting and it becomes more difficult for your doctor to rush you out of the office. You may want to check out a post I wrote recently about self advocacy for suggestions on how to deal with a doctor who is not responding like they should. Keep in mind that your doctor is being paid to provide a service (medical care)and feel free to slow things down so you get the answers you need.

 

That said, it could be that you are simply not responding well to the current medication and you need to discuss treatment options. Medications work differently for different people and what works well for me may not work for you and vice versa. Depending on how long you've been on your medication, it may also be an issue of having to wait until it really kicks in - this can take up a couple of months with methotrexate and Enbrel. The lung involvement concerns me, as Enbrel can cause lung problems, so I think you need to speak to your doctor as soon as possible.

 

Good luck! Please let us know how it goes?

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By TEE— Last Modified: 12/24/10, First Published: 12/09/09