Rheumatoid Arthritis

[CrazyPyjamas]

I have just seen a rheumatologist who has told me she thinks I have RA based on her examination of my hands and my ANA (1 160). I don't know why, but I expected there would be more to it before such a diagnosis was made. Has anyone else had anything similar? I already suffer from Sjogren's, Raynauld's, SLE and Fibromyalgia, so maybe it is to be expected that a more thorough investigation wouldn't take place.

Has anyone else been diagnosed based on just an examination?

Yes. They then went back and looked at my blood tests and realised a marker had been there all along! I think it's to do with the joints being inflamed, rather than just the skin tightening.

I also have scleroderma and fibromyalgia- so not such a surprise I suppose.

Sounds like it could be similar to you then. In fairness, my hands do hurt and I have struggled to use a fork for certain meals without being in pain for a long time. I wonder if they will look back at historic blood tests and markers then.