Is this RA? bloodwork isn’t clear.
My blood panel is normal except for c4c4 complement is low. I have pain and stiffness in hands and feet and knees, especially at night
@RA Sam Sam, the authoritative tone of your posts pique my interest. Could you please share your educational and professional background? If you’re comfortable sharing, I am interested in reading your personal RA story and your path to diagnosis, treatment and how it effects you today. We learn so much from each other’s stories! But, only share if you are comfortable. Because I love to do RA research on the internet, I am also interested in your favorite online resources.
With Hope and Respect, JoI am sorry you are experiencing pain and stiffness. Have you seen or been referred to a Rheumatologist? As RASam notes, they are the experts! Sometimes the diagnosis comes quickly, other times it can be tricky. There are many overlapping autoimmune symptoms and diseases that can make diagnosis and treatment confusing. I Hope for you to get the diagnosis and treatment you need to feel better very soon! Jo RA Sam its only fair I share my background also. I am a retired RN with 25 years of experience in Pediatrics, PICU, NICU and School Nursing. RA was the reason I retired. So, I have a medical background but no professional rheumatology experience. I have family members who are in cancer and transplant medicine. I turn to them to help me understand medications and immunology. I do use the internet to do research. I follow Medscape and other lists to alert me to new research articles. I really like the information and recommendations found on EULAR. I don’t trust individuals that don’t share their credentials or resources without researching the topic myself. When I want basic information, I frequently refer to academic medical centers patient websites. This frequently leads to a deeper dive into the topic. I have had 4 Rheumatologists. One was a disaster. The other 3 have been open to discussing and answering my questions. I have trialed at least 4 DMARDs and am on my 6th Biologic. I currently receive my RA care at The Mayo Clinic. I am so glad Enbrel is working so well for you. And I Hope for relief from Sjogren’s for you and others. Jo
