Rheumatoid Factor high with lyme

[Michele]

Hi roadbackers,

I need your thoughtful sleuthing and help again. My head is spinning with a horrible blood test result.

Background info:
Around seven years ago I had an RA dx with a Rheumatoid Factor of !04 and all other autoimmune markers were normal range. Two years later I found a clinician who definitively dx-ed lyme disease. For about three years I took high dose antibiotics that eventually started hurting my stomach and I stopped having progress in clinical markers. Especially Babesia which was 1: >4096 and never budged. I needed another path because my stomach needed a break and so did my pocket book, so after about three years of high dose oral antibiotic combinations I changed to a practitioner who helped with the Cowden Protocol. (Lyme folk will recognize this one

[lynnie_sydney]

But RF of 476.5? That’s damage zone, isn’t it? And fast damage too?

Hi Michele – no, the damage is caused by the amount of ongoing inflammation. RF is a diagnostic tool not a measure of inflammation

Rheumatoid factor (RF) is a blood test that measures the amount of the RF antibody in the blood.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003548.htm
Measures of inflammation are C-RP (not necessarily specific to RA) and ESR (sed rate).

Others may have greater perspectives on the Lyme issue for you

Be well! Lynnie

Palindromic RA 30 yrs (Chronic Lyme?)
Mino 2003-2008 100mg MWF - can no longer tolerate any tetracyclines
rotating abx protocol now. From Sep 2018 MWF - a.m. Augmentin Duo 440mg + 150mg Biaxsig (roxithromycin). p.m. Cefaclor (375mg) + Klacid 125mg + LDN 3mg + Annual Clindy IV's
Diet: no gluten, dairy, sulphites, low salicylates
Supps: 600mg N-AC BID, 1000mg Vit C, P5P 40mg, zinc picolinate 60mg, Lithium orotate 20mg, Magnesium Oil, Bio-identical hormones (DHEA + Prog + Estrog)

[Michele]

Thanks for the link Lynnie.

Looks like I should insist on more blood work.

C-reactive protein
Anti-CCP

What else?

Michele

[Michele]

Lynnie,

I’m awaiting the C-reactive protein and anti-CCP results.

The interesting thing that I learned from Lynnie’s link is that parasites can cause a high RF. I have babesia. This is the first treatment that has dropped those numbers at all

[needhelp]

I have been on mino/AP for 8 mths for RA (dx, 8/13 (original RF 2393). After 3 mths of AP, I started to experience gradual, slow, small improvements.

Now, I have more IMPROVEMENT, much less pain, at 8 mths w/AP.

RF went up to 2443 in 3/2014 and is now 1384 (5/2014). Norm RF is 0-14! MD never saw RF this high in 40+ years of practice and never heard of AP but gave it me on my request w/his other Rxs: paquenil, prednisone, ibuprofen .

Mino is the only thing that has helped me; I think I have a lyme or mycoplasma or other infection. Rheumy will not call a consult; so I am going to see an infectious disease specialist on my own (I do not have the typical markers for RA and think the dx is incorrect). I have lost 50lbs, can’t sleep, etc. but at least can get up out of a chair & manage; couldn’t before: too weak.

TY Roadback for saving my life.

[Maz]

@needhelp wrote:

I have been on mino/AP for 8 mths for RA (dx, 8/13 (original RF 2393). After 3 mths of AP, I started to experience gradual, slow, small improvements.

Now, I have more IMPROVEMENT, much less pain, at 8 mths w/AP.

RF went up to 2443 in 3/2014 and is now 1384 (5/2014). Norm RF is 0-14! MD never saw RF this high in 40+ years of practice and never heard of AP but gave it me on my request w/his other Rxs: paquenil, prednisone, ibuprofen .

Needhelp, this is the BEST news! Thank you very much for coming back with your update. I have wondered how you were doing and was hoping you’d turned the corner. The time frame you’ve experienced is pretty typical and it can be so unnerving waiting for it to happen. For some folks it can be a couple years, which is why some give up thinking the treatment isn’t working….it’s just a very sloooow therapy.

Hang in there and keep doing what you’re doing. It’s working! 🙂

[Author]

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