Welcome to the group but sorry you had to find out you have RA! I don't know much about the numbers, because I am sero-negative. But I do know lots about the pain. That is how I was diagnosed.

Have you had RA symptoms long? I find it interesting that you are 81 if you were just diagnosed. It was my understanding that most people did not get this disease after 65-70. Of course, there are always exceptions. I also wonder if all the stress you went though treating your other illnesses might have triggered RA? You might want to ask your rheumatologist about age and triggers. Of course, they usually just shrug at that point!

Let us know what you get for a treatment regime. Some of the RA meds also treat cancer. So maybe that would be an option for you? I don't know much about cancer, or the type you have.

Anyway, sorry again for the shock of having another major illness.

Ditto most of Marlene's comments. As one of the lucky males with RA my guess is that Lon is used to dealing with pain from other conditions and just ignored (and cussed) it until he had to mention it to the Dr.

You're going to be alright Lon. Good group on here, nothing is too personal or gross so ask away, complain all you want.

I concur with the welcome and the surprise of your being diagnosed at this stage of life.

Lon, RF factor is taken into account in the initial diagnosis. Your 29 is above the "normal" but not particularly high (mine got to 590. I was 67 at the time). Higher numbers are thought to go with more severe symptoms of RA.

Another newer diagnostic blood test that is often done is anti-CCP. Maybe that is one of the additional tests you are having. It's a fairly expensive test to run. Normal is under 20; mine was 205 the one time I took it. My diagnosis was then pretty easyRA. However neither test is absolute. Some people have no positives and are still diagnosed with RA ( so-called"sero-negative" RA) from symptoms, x-rays and other physical examination. Some of those folks later become "zero-positive". Let your Rheumatologist go through all of the diagnostic steps before you jump to any conclusions. Some people have high RF factor but it is caused by other conditions (such as Polymyalgia Rheumatica, another auto immune disease that is generally treatable).

Lon, I am glad you found our area. There is much experience here.

My blood work, for the most part, was good. It showed nothing much was really wrong. My RA Factor was 10. Since most of my Drs are at the same clinic system, it was easy for him to look at all my records (primary care, Orthopedist). Between my history, his listening to my symptoms, and his gently touching my hands, feet, he made the diagnosis of seronegative RA (meaning, as has been said, blood work shows nothing wrong)

Rackerby's suggestion that you wait an see what the Rheum has to say is a good idea. I hope you find relief soon. Let us know how it goes.

Thanks everyone for your helpful responses and support. My other Auto Immune disease is a very rare form of Non Hodgkins Lymphoma that was diagnosed in 2007. I had no symptoms at all and was very physically active before the dx and during treatment for it. I was treated successfully with RITUXAN and though not cured, my blood work improved considerably over the past nine years. Other than morning stiffness and slow getting out of a chair, I have not had any severe symptoms for RA and hope that remains the case.