I'm losing hope and feel like a hypochondriac...

Hello,
   For 4 years I have been sick with serious joint pain and other odd things. I have had my blood work done every year, and my latest tests just came back from last week. Again, nothing showed in my blood work. I had ana, cbc, gout, Cyclic Citrullinated Pep IgG, sed rate, and comp metabolic. Nothing showed, except slightly elevated sed rate. I have an appointment with my doctor friday, and am affraid once again to be told nothing is wrong. I have low grade fever that gets to 100, joint pain(BAD, LIMPING)joint pain in both knees, hands, shoulders and elbows and feet. One toe is swollen and red, purple on end. Some days I feel like I have the flu because my stomach gets upset, usually with the worst pain.l  This fluctuates week to week. I am bad about two weeks out of the month. I have seen 7 different doctors in 4 years. I feel maybe I am crazy since they say nothing is wrong with me every time. Even if they see a low grade fever, and swelled up toe, and feel the puffiness in my joints, no one can help me. Maybe someone has had this happen to them too?? I feel it is arthritis, if I had to make a guess, but what do I know?? Maybe I am crazy? Are there other tests? What tests are for sero-negative RA? Or psoriatic arthritis? Does fibromyalgia have fever and visual swelling? I really love my doctor, but I hope he sends me to a rhumetologist. He has not yet and says he needs something to go off of. Please help anyone?? I'm feel really down and want to give up.

[TrudieC]

You absolutely need to see a rheumatologist.  They have the skills to diagnose you even if your bloodwork isn't positive.  And, they often use their own labs and better testing than what other doctors use.  Cry, scream, insist!  Really stress what this is doing to your life.  Sometimes the doctors really don't get your reality.  

[JM1973]

Thank you for your response!! That's what I hope he sends me to, because that's right no one gets my world I have to deal with literally every day. I figured if nothing showed in my blood, they'd just send me on my way. Again.

[Maryham]

I agree, you need to see a rheumatologist and she's right they do use their own labs to get better results.

Do you need a referral to go to the rheumatologist?  If not, start scouting one up right now.  Don't waste time because  I saw 3 GP's, and 2 hand specialists before one of them referred me to a rheumatologist.  I tested positive for a gene called HLA-B27 that is associated with psoriatic arthritis and a bunch of other things.  I had an elevated sed rate, but have tested negative for RA.  This gene shows up in people with Northern European or Scandinavian descent.  My rheumatologist found it.

Good Luck!