Thank you from Texas. I'm a newly diagnosed RA patient. My question is do you know what your rheumatoid factor was during an active flare? Or, what's the highest it's ever been?
Hi! The Rheumatoid Factor isn’t used to track inflammation or RA status so once it is found positive (or negative for those seronegative warriors) it isn’t really tested again. My team uses CRP, Sed Rate and White Count to track flares. Those values show active inflammation in the body. The value of RF doesn’t really signify degree of disease as seronegative RA patients can have serious disease. All that to say I don’t remember my exact numbers (only that I am seropositive both with RF and Anti-CCP). I hope that helps a bit. I’m sending good vibes your way. Hugs, Warrior! ❤️
Hi Elaine, woould you mind sharing ehich insurance you have? Im currently on my husband's plan which doesnt have good coverage. I was doagnosed with RA a dew months ago and the cost od regular vlood teats are adding up!
I’m so sorry…autoimmune disease and its care can be so expensive. I don’t mind sharing at all. I have United Healthcare Choice Plus (it’s like a PPO) through my employer. Actually, the reason I keep working is primarily for my health insurance. I will share that there are a lot of co pay assistance programs so if you find medications to be too expensive please let your Rheumatologist know. They should have information on co-pay assistance. I’ve personally used that for most of my RA biologics. ❤️
@@ElainesAutoimmuneAdventure thank you so much for the information. I hope you can keep working and your autoimmune condition doesn't interfere with your career. All the best to you Elaine.
I'd be so curious to try this - I had no progress on Enbrel. So now I'm on Xeljanz and it is OK but I still have slow progression, I think. I'm not sure anything would stop that. I think the mobile phlebotomy would be good for those who are home bound.
Good point…you are right, mobile phlebotomy would be great for those that are home bound. I’m glad you mentioned that. I think my experience with the phlebotomist wasn’t great so I kind of shut the whole idea out of my head. The test did provide good information. I’m sending good vibes your way! Thanks for watching and commenting. Hugs, Warrior! ❤️
@@ElainesAutoimmuneAdventure hey Elaine, I have an appointment next week and I'm going to ask about Evusheld and about this test. Thanks for your updates!
I did not receive a kit. I went to my Rheumy's office and they handed my a bunch of vials and a butterfly to give to the phlebotomist in their office through Labcorp. After my ultrasound I handed all the vials and butterfly to the phlebotomist and they filled those along with ones for my CBC, CMP, and Vectra. That was on Monday. I received all my results except for the Prismra on Saturday. Will I receive those as well? I get all my other results through the Labcorp portal. I have RA sero positive and my anti ccp was off the charts when first diagnosed. They won't check me for anything else and say the meds help all the autoimmune diseases. I've been on plaqenil, methotrexate, sulfasalazine, Enbrel (allergic), humira (severe reactions allergic), orencia, kevzara, currently on leuflonimide, I think there are a couple of others I'm not remembering. Plaqenil worked the best but it was at the start of my disease and after 3 months caused suicidal thoughts. Orencia worked for a year and stopped. The leuflonimide is partially working and so they gave me this test to see the next route. I wasnt given much information and was just told this would be included in my next round of labs. Id like my results though so I can see them myself.
When I did my Prism RA test it was still kind of new which is why I had the mobile phlebotomy. I believe that no matter which lab draws the blood it has to be sent to Scipher for testing. My results took about 5 days, maybe 7. I’m with you I like to know my results when they become available. I always think it is a way for me to prepare my next questions. I’m sorry you haven’t had great luck in finding the perfect med yet. I totally understand the frustration that comes with that. I hope the Vectra and Prism RA test help guide your next treatments. I’m sending you strength! Hugs, Warrior! ❤️
Interesting and informative as usual👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Thanks! I’m glad I could share! ❤️
Thank you from Texas. I'm a newly diagnosed RA patient. My question is do you know what your rheumatoid factor was during an active flare? Or, what's the highest it's ever been?
Hi! The Rheumatoid Factor isn’t used to track inflammation or RA status so once it is found positive (or negative for those seronegative warriors) it isn’t really tested again. My team uses CRP, Sed Rate and White Count to track flares. Those values show active inflammation in the body. The value of RF doesn’t really signify degree of disease as seronegative RA patients can have serious disease. All that to say I don’t remember my exact numbers (only that I am seropositive both with RF and Anti-CCP). I hope that helps a bit. I’m sending good vibes your way. Hugs, Warrior! ❤️
@@ElainesAutoimmuneAdventure thanks for the reply! I too am positive for both. Thanks for the encouragement!
Hi Elaine, woould you mind sharing ehich insurance you have? Im currently on my husband's plan which doesnt have good coverage. I was doagnosed with RA a dew months ago and the cost od regular vlood teats are adding up!
I’m so sorry…autoimmune disease and its care can be so expensive. I don’t mind sharing at all. I have United Healthcare Choice Plus (it’s like a PPO) through my employer. Actually, the reason I keep working is primarily for my health insurance. I will share that there are a lot of co pay assistance programs so if you find medications to be too expensive please let your Rheumatologist know. They should have information on co-pay assistance. I’ve personally used that for most of my RA biologics. ❤️
@@ElainesAutoimmuneAdventure thank you so much for the information. I hope you can keep working and your autoimmune condition doesn't interfere with your career. All the best to you Elaine.
Did your insurance cover this?
Mine did. 🙂
I'd be so curious to try this - I had no progress on Enbrel. So now I'm on Xeljanz and it is OK but I still have slow progression, I think. I'm not sure anything would stop that. I think the mobile phlebotomy would be good for those who are home bound.
Good point…you are right, mobile phlebotomy would be great for those that are home bound. I’m glad you mentioned that. I think my experience with the phlebotomist wasn’t great so I kind of shut the whole idea out of my head. The test did provide good information. I’m sending good vibes your way! Thanks for watching and commenting. Hugs, Warrior! ❤️
@@ElainesAutoimmuneAdventure hey Elaine, I have an appointment next week and I'm going to ask about Evusheld and about this test. Thanks for your updates!
Sorry , I just listened and heard the answer
🙂
I did not receive a kit. I went to my Rheumy's office and they handed my a bunch of vials and a butterfly to give to the phlebotomist in their office through Labcorp. After my ultrasound I handed all the vials and butterfly to the phlebotomist and they filled those along with ones for my CBC, CMP, and Vectra. That was on Monday. I received all my results except for the Prismra on Saturday. Will I receive those as well? I get all my other results through the Labcorp portal. I have RA sero positive and my anti ccp was off the charts when first diagnosed. They won't check me for anything else and say the meds help all the autoimmune diseases. I've been on plaqenil, methotrexate, sulfasalazine, Enbrel (allergic), humira (severe reactions allergic), orencia, kevzara, currently on leuflonimide, I think there are a couple of others I'm not remembering. Plaqenil worked the best but it was at the start of my disease and after 3 months caused suicidal thoughts. Orencia worked for a year and stopped. The leuflonimide is partially working and so they gave me this test to see the next route. I wasnt given much information and was just told this would be included in my next round of labs. Id like my results though so I can see them myself.
I was also on xeljanz. It did not work at all and I actually flared the worst on it before I was put on the leuflonimide.
When I did my Prism RA test it was still kind of new which is why I had the mobile phlebotomy. I believe that no matter which lab draws the blood it has to be sent to Scipher for testing. My results took about 5 days, maybe 7. I’m with you I like to know my results when they become available. I always think it is a way for me to prepare my next questions. I’m sorry you haven’t had great luck in finding the perfect med yet. I totally understand the frustration that comes with that. I hope the Vectra and Prism RA test help guide your next treatments. I’m sending you strength! Hugs, Warrior! ❤️