Be careful of an RA diagnosis. Treatment is usually steroids which are not indicated for Lyme patients.
I went through this with a Rheumatologist who mis-diagnosed me with rhueumatoid arthritis. I was put on over 21 different medications and steroids. I had a very limited and compromised immune system and this RA dr. knocked it completely out.
It is my understanding that they can diagnose RA with blood work and a clinical presentation. My bloodwork for RA was negative and since the clinical presentations of RA and LD are very similar, this RA diagnosed me with RA.... even though I had a positive LD test and presented with LD symptoms.
Anyway, just be very careful and ask them to do the RA blood work-up. If you test negative, I would definitely pursue a 2nd opinion or the opinion of a Lyme literate doctor.
Hope this helps.
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06/00- The beginning, 08/01-LD positive, 10/01- Igenex and CDC LD positive, 10/02-LD positive, 11/03-LD positive, 10/07-Bartonella positive, CD57=3 Current Rx's 11/12/08: Wellbutrin 300mg, Paxil 60mg, Xanax 5mg, Rozerem 8mg, Darvocet, Acidophilus, Rifampin 600mg, Levaquin 500mg, Lyrica 150 to 300mg, Skelexa, Restoril