Aa
raised rheumatoid factor
Perhaps I should address this question to another part of the medhelp forum but am
doing it here as all my feelings of ill health have been subsequent to treating Hepatitis
C with interferon and ribavirin. I have just received , through the post, a request to go
for more blood tests because I have raised rheumatoid factor . This is the result of a test
done a week ago. I am a patient of the NHS and will not be able to see or talk to my Doctor
for at least a week. I have been googling stuff and it seems that it can be indicative of a number
of diseases. I do not think I have rheumatoid arthritis because I do not have joint pain.
I know many people on this section of the forum have gone on to develop autoimmune illnesses
of various kinds post treatment. Any info regarding how I should go about investigating it would be most welcome.
I am a big fan and supporter of the NHS but it is very stretched and the more informed one can be about one's own
condition the better. Many thanks and all the best to all.
doing it here as all my feelings of ill health have been subsequent to treating Hepatitis
C with interferon and ribavirin. I have just received , through the post, a request to go
for more blood tests because I have raised rheumatoid factor . This is the result of a test
done a week ago. I am a patient of the NHS and will not be able to see or talk to my Doctor
for at least a week. I have been googling stuff and it seems that it can be indicative of a number
of diseases. I do not think I have rheumatoid arthritis because I do not have joint pain.
I know many people on this section of the forum have gone on to develop autoimmune illnesses
of various kinds post treatment. Any info regarding how I should go about investigating it would be most welcome.
I am a big fan and supporter of the NHS but it is very stretched and the more informed one can be about one's own
condition the better. Many thanks and all the best to all.
Best Answer
ah and don't care so much about tests, it's all about how you feel, how you think, how you behave... you know what i mean. there are tests for almost everything but with the tests you just know that something is wrong. but you know that by yourself in the first place! you know what i mean ^^
Hi Warriorprincess, how long since you treated ? How are you doing now ?
It is wonderful to hear of people who have fought some way back to health..hope you are one of them....
It is wonderful to hear of people who have fought some way back to health..hope you are one of them....
Hey there, really glad to hear the LDN is helping you like it helped Frank.
Before ridding myself of the HCV I had cryoglobulinemia, it was just awful, painful, it appears to be gone now.
I had to go to a hospital to be tested for it asw Quest kept doing it wrong.
I assume it is gone, all the red spots and brown stains are now gone.
It give me a lot of hope
Dee
Before ridding myself of the HCV I had cryoglobulinemia, it was just awful, painful, it appears to be gone now.
I had to go to a hospital to be tested for it asw Quest kept doing it wrong.
I assume it is gone, all the red spots and brown stains are now gone.
It give me a lot of hope
Dee
Sometimes the high RF can be a result of cyroglubulemia vascultis, which many with HCV seem to get, and it is not fun. You can find out if you have it from a specialized blood test, which is often mishandled. After the blood is drawn, the tube has to be kept warm. I have a very high RF and no rheumatoid arthritis.
I have been down the road you are on. I too had a elevated RF after treatment. I was tested for cryoglobulinemia and was positive for mixed cryoglobulinemia. If you decide that you want to get tested for cryoglobulinemia make sure that you look up the protocol for that test.
The sample has to be handled in a very specific manner or it won't be accurate.
The sample has to be handled in a very specific manner or it won't be accurate.
This is amazingly insightful. I have some Apple Computer experience... working with some of the top Apple Engineers. I was taught that a positive test for an issue is probably always a sure sign that something is wrong but a negative test for something being wrong is NOT saying that your computer is OK.
That is not relevant here as we are not computers but just a lesson in computer science!
Big Pharma messed up our system so much that I was told by the UPMC Liver Center that blood tests would change dramatically for me. Tests that would NOT change for the average person in a year would change month by month for me and this has held true. My Iron count dropped to nearly zero but within 4 months came back to normal.
My GP finally understood he had a very special case on his hands! I now get everything I ask for.
That is not relevant here as we are not computers but just a lesson in computer science!
Big Pharma messed up our system so much that I was told by the UPMC Liver Center that blood tests would change dramatically for me. Tests that would NOT change for the average person in a year would change month by month for me and this has held true. My Iron count dropped to nearly zero but within 4 months came back to normal.
My GP finally understood he had a very special case on his hands! I now get everything I ask for.
very promising, i'm at 2mg at the moment and it changed my complete behaviour, from being isolated 24/7 to being under people at least 1 or 2 hours a day, able to walk, able to think.... not getting psychotic, not getting suicidal..
stability improved with the LDN, it's good for making new plans...
stability improved with the LDN, it's good for making new plans...
Very much agree re LDN....However I also learnt today that tests can
be clear but you can still be suffering from an AI ....Seriously elevated
Rheumatoid Factor, such as I have, shows that there are antibodies attacking healthy tissue.....However am hopeful that LDN is halting the progress..
3 weeks in and I am already feeling the benefits....Spoke today someone
who is an expert in LDN who told me the true benefit normally becomes apparent after 3 to 6 months so have something good to look forward to !!
How are you finding it ?
be clear but you can still be suffering from an AI ....Seriously elevated
Rheumatoid Factor, such as I have, shows that there are antibodies attacking healthy tissue.....However am hopeful that LDN is halting the progress..
3 weeks in and I am already feeling the benefits....Spoke today someone
who is an expert in LDN who told me the true benefit normally becomes apparent after 3 to 6 months so have something good to look forward to !!
How are you finding it ?
hmm, the LDN should neutralize some of the autoimmune effects. if you wait some years without LDN RA could show up, or sjorgens or any other AI condition. But i think the LDN halts the progression to some degree.
Not perfect but a step in the right direction.
Not perfect but a step in the right direction.
Just checking in on this to update. I do not have Rheumatoid Arthritis ,
just confirmed by my GP. Rheumatoid factor shows that an autoantibody
is present in the system. i.e. an antibody that is directed against healthy tissue. I certainly feel like that is what is going on and experience post
interferon syndrome a little like the symptoms of ME/ CFS. Burning in the
muscles and crashing after any exertion. Am currently just over 3 weeks
on LDN and can report that, for me, it has been remarkably effective
in reducing the level of inflammation...I now experience it mainly when tired
but have had good periods in the day when I have had the energy to do some simple tasks. In tandem with a anti inflammatory diet I feel a little progress in the right direction and intend to build on that morsel of positive hope. All the best to all of us....PS Rheumatoid factor can also be present in those with chronic liver disease though this is unlikely to be the cause for me as have been SVR for a while now...
just confirmed by my GP. Rheumatoid factor shows that an autoantibody
is present in the system. i.e. an antibody that is directed against healthy tissue. I certainly feel like that is what is going on and experience post
interferon syndrome a little like the symptoms of ME/ CFS. Burning in the
muscles and crashing after any exertion. Am currently just over 3 weeks
on LDN and can report that, for me, it has been remarkably effective
in reducing the level of inflammation...I now experience it mainly when tired
but have had good periods in the day when I have had the energy to do some simple tasks. In tandem with a anti inflammatory diet I feel a little progress in the right direction and intend to build on that morsel of positive hope. All the best to all of us....PS Rheumatoid factor can also be present in those with chronic liver disease though this is unlikely to be the cause for me as have been SVR for a while now...
18 Months since finishing. Cleared the Virus. Have never felt well since
but noticed getting worse at 3 months and if anything have progressed from there. Raised Rheumatoid Factor is a strong indicator of auto immune
disease...often rheumatoid arthritis or sjogrens...neither of which I think
I have but cannot be certain at the moment.
but noticed getting worse at 3 months and if anything have progressed from there. Raised Rheumatoid Factor is a strong indicator of auto immune
disease...often rheumatoid arthritis or sjogrens...neither of which I think
I have but cannot be certain at the moment.
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