RA Factor and Cryo

[foofighter]

Hi all. I have been trying to get this posted to the Dr. forum, but keep missing out when he is taking new questions. So it is worded to go to that forum.

Anyway, someone probably can chime in on this. It is discussed quite frequently, but I haven't found the answer in the archives. I appreciate any info.


Hello Dr. D.,

I have a question regarding RA factor and cryo. I am a treatment naive GT1a, cirrhotic with stage 1 varicies, platelets holding around 90. Most likely will begin treatment in the fall with Alinia added to the mix as I feel I can't wait for Telaprevir approval.

Extremely swollen ankles got me back to the doctor in 2006 after ignoring my health issues for almost 10 years. I was worried they were related to my liver function. At that appointment the doc looked at them and said it has nothing to do with my liver. He didn't know why they were swollen.  I have recently visited a new hepatologist in preparation to treat and the teaching fellow that did my exam noted my swollen ankles/feet and did a "hmmmmm". Unfortunately it didn't get discussed when the Big Doc came in to talk about a plan. We forgot!

I did get my labs back and noticed that new guy (wonderful doctor!) ran a cryo test and RA factor. The cryo came back "Trace" and the RA Factor was 59. I have read here that this is common for people with this virus but don't understand what it means in the big picture.

Do I have RA? Or do heppers just have the weird test result with no symptoms? Is that number too low to mean anything?

Or would this finally explain this off and on TREMENDOUS swelling of ankles (also suffer from very painful shoulders and knees, BUT it is not constant, comes and goes). And possibly solve the numb fingers mystery as well? Neither hepatologist mentioned this when looking at these puffer fish I call feet.

Also I think I understand that the cryo is cured by treating, but what does the RA mean for me? I have taken ibuprofen over the years to deal with pain from my joints, but they tell me now, no nsaids or aspirin. Tylenol doesn't help much. If I keep the advil to a daily minimum when I am hurting is it OK?

Foo

[meki]

It's a timing issue... first thing in the morning is the best time... Or REALLY late at night.

Much luck!

Meki
PS. More tests and more tests.

[foofighter]

Thanks Meki. I just thought that might be an explanation for my swelling and pain. How do we know if we have it then?  More tests I suppose. Even though I suppose there is nothing that can be done, it is nice to have an answer. I will see what Dr. D has to say.

FlGuy,  it won't let me ask. I don't get it. And you are right, there are two new questions since last I checked and again, when I try, a page comes up that says:

This forum has reached its daily new question limit.

But I will keep trying, maybe just bad timing.

Foo

[FlGuy]

It looks like all the questions posed to Dr. D have had a response, except those posted in the last few hours.  I didn't see a post of yours.  Maybe you should copy and paste yours to the doc's forum.

Here:

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/show/272

[meki]

RA came back in the high 90's for me.

So it's indicative of "something".

But almost all HCV individuals will have an RA factor.

They don't know if this means we'll all have RA --- or if HCV causes RA --- maybe down the road... or maybe they are connected --- or there is some chemical connection.

At least this is what my Doc told me.

About the cryo --- I don't know...

About the Neuropathy... I DO KNOW.

I have Neuropathy that started at TX --- and continued and got worse after TX - almost completely debilitatingly so.

I have this most amazing Internist - who took the time to listen to me - and actually figured out what was wrong with me. I would have NEVER gone for Neuropathy.. I thought I was Lupus or RA or something AWFUL horrible.

Read up on Neuropathy --- Peripheal neuropathy will get you started.

I personally FEEL that HCV plays a HUMONGOUS role in diseases that are related to diabetes, RA, Lupus and other ORGAN system malfunctions.

Meki