What was your anti-ccp?
That is a great tool...confirms RA in 98%...so if it's a strong positive then you gotta look at the odds. And it's not really a predictor for anything else. My RA presents very oddly but my anti-ccp was 250 and now it's even higher.
But you can have another baby with RA. Many even go into remission during pregnancy. I

A positive RF and anti-CCP is pretty damning evidence that you do indeed have RA. I'm happy to hear you are getting a second opinion from another rheumy.

There are good treatments for RA now, and yes, if you get on the right one, it will slow disease progression. As far as working, part of that depends on what you do. Operating a jackhammer or spending the day weaving Persian rugs is different than answering phones, for example. Current research suggests that early and aggressive treatment makes for better outcomes.

Be a little careful with the Lyme stuff. There seems to be a cottage industry springing up treating chronic Lyme, a disease that the evidence-based medicine folks are skeptical about. Nine months is a long time to delay treatment for RA, if that is indeed what you have.

What is an LLMD?

My docs first thought i had lymes. I had the doxycycline med and never got better. I had positive lymes test...two if them. More doxycycline still not better. Ended up in the hispital and they did the lab test Western blot. That is supposed to b the true lymes test. That came back negative. So they said no u dont have lymes and most people with lymes see improvement with doxycycline. So onto rheumatologist and confirmed RA. Best of luck to you. Dont let them waste two much time treating u for something you may not have. I never had a tick never had a bullseye rash and i know all cases of lyme present it differently. Good luck

I was diagnosed at 30. Even with moderate-severe RA - I went back to college, got two B.S. degrees, started working as a teacher and completed a Masters while I worked. All while raising three kids on a farm. It can be done!

I did finally find my magic bullet at age 40. Been in remission since. Remission sometimes happens fast - other times takes trial and error. But it does happen.

Good luck to you!

Anti-CCP 152 and RF of 18. I was tested positive for the Lyme's with both the ELISA and Western Blot by my PCP. My symptoms started following a miscarriage, which really seems common for RA to follow hormone changes. The Doxy definitely helps, but I think I could be better. I have had so many relatives that had lymes, got the bullseye, were treated and are fine today, so I find it hard to believe I need nine months of treatment. There just isn't a lot of research supporting this dr.'s treatment protocol. I think I would agree with the Minocycline because it is a proven DMARD too, but I do not want to be dangling RA bait. I was so scared of the medications typ used for RA, but I think my opinion is changing and I feel less afraid and am developing, it is what it is attitude.

thanks all for your input

So perhaps you r positive for lymes it sounds and the doxycycline is helping you. It didnt do anything for me hence the reason i was diagnosed with RA. Stay with your treatment because u dont know what the outcome would be for lymes if u dont treat it. Good luck and hang in there girl!!

i want to stay on topic - YOU :)

stop reading about the entire world or even this board with RA :) - it's like listening to horror stories when you are pregnant from other women you know? :)

each case of RA is entirely individual. where you are, now, might no be where you are at age 51 you know?

there are other moms on this board who are 20 and 30 something hopefully they will chime in.

well let's see. finish the antibiotic i guess, why not?. the mino protocol also? well that depends. i saw a road back foundation (the mino protocol yellers) at one point. if you are not that far advanced why not try it?

tell all rheumies you interview that you want to try and get pregnant again it precludes the use of whatever dmards (methotrexae et al) the DOCTORS state (not us on this board :) - and that's a big question.

main support of your family - can the partner step up money making? can you be 3/4 time - are you falling down on the job, now? can you work from home some?

do not interview rheumies about who works over a lifetime and who does not. this is a chronic disease.that is particularly individual.

just think of it this way, the folks not doing the best with their ra treatment are probably the ones you are reading about on here and other blogs.

the ones dealing best with best outcomes are out running through those fields of daisies or too busy doing OK to post on here :)

do not ruminate would be my best two cents advice.

i hope you love your new rheumie. post again after you go.

hugs
depot

I agree with what depot said. I was diagnosed in June, 2012. I did start with methotrexate, without much success. Then, the biologist were added. Immediately, I started feeling better. I was happy with better, my Rheum wanted less swelling and even better. Now, on my 6th biologic, I am feeling almost back to normal. There is still swelling in my hands, I can see that. My feet are still puffy, I can see that. The blood tests are probably going to show there is still inflammation going on. BUT, I feel good. I feel 1,000 better than before I started treatment. It would not be a good idea for me to carry small fragile objects, using only my fingers, because I will drop it, it will crash to the ground and probably break into a million pieces......... Then again, I have always been a bit clumsy.

I think any time you have doubts second opinions can't hurt.
My sister had RA in her very early 20s. No big gun Meds back then.
She also had 4 kids.
No she did not have mild form.
Of course I can't say first hand myself but she managed.
Don't know enough about Lyme but we had ticks bad this year. Both my husband & I had found ticks & strange bites. Scary stuff.
Understandable you want answers & you deserve answers.
I wish you the best of luck.
Sammy