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Date: 11.09.2015
From: Smudge

Subject: Wondering if I have RA as well as fibro

Hi All - I'm new so hope I'm posting in an appropriate place etc! I'm 49 years old and have had fibromyalgia all my adult life. Taken diclofenac and amitryptiline for that for years. Over the last year though I've had increased fatigue and my hands have been getting stiff, the knuckle joints not working smoothly any more and over last couple of months have been getting increasing pain in hand joints, especially middle knuckle. Gripping, lifting and squeezing produce the most pain and that's every day now. I already have pain and fatigue from the fibromyalgia, so may have missed the signs of RA in other ways. I had blood tests a few months ago for the fatigue which came back clear for inflammatory conditions, but I'm on full dose diclofenac (anti-inflammatory)- could this have affected the results? And it seems RA doesn't always show up on those tests anyway? Would be very grateful for any thoughts you might have...! Thanks!
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Date: 15.09.2015
From: Pippa

Subject: Re: Wondering if I have RA as well as fibro

Hello Smudge
Surprised no one has replied to your message already. Anyway , yes you are correct in that RA markers don't always show up in tests. It can be because you are in early stage of the disease or you are one of the 20% of people who are sero negative . If this is the case then it is thought that the disease will progress slower and be milder than an RA positive equivalent test result.
The Diclofenac may have effected your results and I would recommend you discuss this with you GP and ask to be re tested.
You may not have RA at all as there are several other forms of arthritis that would test negative for the RA factor.
Hope you get some answers from your GP soon.
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Date: 15.09.2015
From: Colin W

Subject: Re: Wondering if I have RA as well as fibro

hi Smudge

you would have to be pretty unlucky to get RA ontop of Fibro , with your knuckles you would expect heat & redness in the joints with RA & that is how my RA started nearly 20 years ago

I would go back to your GP & maybe ask to be refered to a rhumatologist as there are 200 diferent types of arthritis & they would know if its related to your fibro , my son has had Fibro since 1995 when he was 12 , he also got hypothyroidism ,
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Date: 16.09.2015
From: Smudge

Subject: Re: Wondering if I have RA as well as fibro

Thanks for your helpful replies guys. Saw GP today. She doesn't think it's arthritis based on my old blood test results. She's sending me for a hand xray and has changed my anti-inflammatory to naproxen (250mg twice a day)...
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