DAS At last a web site to answer my question

[SlimJacqui]

I came across this site 4s-dawn.com/DAS28/DAS28.html and it explains what my DAS score means. Has any one else tried it ?

[helixhelix]

I use an app on my iPhone, if you go to App Store it's fairly easy to find. Polly

[supernan]

Thanks for pointing this out, I have just been on the site and find it very helpful indeed

[Hidden]

I've found it in App Store now but can you explain what Visual Analog Scale is? Earthwitch pasted this on one of my blogs and it's really helpful isn Tilda

[helixhelix in reply to Hidden]

Fancy name for "describe how you feel on a scale of 1 to 100".... Very scientific! Px

[Hidden]

Flipping heck - ESR makes a huge difference doesn't it? Mine plays with me: up it goes, down it goes, all around it goes & was 15 at the last count. So the only way I could edge my DAS into Biologic territory is to have a global misery level of 6 or 7. I've got a bit of a mental block about anything past 5 - it's like 'I'm alive aren't I?'. x

[TweeterCal]

WOW! This is brilliant. I have serious difficulties with DAS as my RA is now predominantly active in my feet. As you can see, this doesn't count for anything. Below the knee is to be ignored.

So, whilst I hobble in and out the waiting rooms and appointments - I am apparently in remission because my knuckles don't look red. I am congratulated by smiling nurses as I grimace in pain. Feet do not count. RA does not affect feet? Feet are not respected by my medical professionals in relation to RA.

There seems to be a bit of professional secrecy about DAS and I'm not sure why this information isn't widely available? It doesn't look very scientific? It's subjective? It ignores Feet, Ankles, Achilles...

Maybe NRAS could provide an online version for us to keep our own records?!

Well, thanks so much for posting Jacqui. I will be taking photocopies of the "Big Hands" to future appointments and a selection of crayons to colour in the active bits. As for the feet...my plight/fight continues...I'm off to the app store...

Thanks again - this site is soooo good for finding things out!

Cal

[allanah in reply to TweeterCal]

hiya Call, if you look at the top of the HU page there are two green boxes, on is" my health." In there you can set up a tracker for your DAS results.

[Ruthsakr in reply to allanah]

Thanks Allanah, just trying to get my head round everything.

[allanah in reply to Ruthsakr]

I know!! Thats when i found the NRAS helpline and their main web page the best help. I was trying to find out loads of stuff about RA and learned loads from them which helped me cope with having the disease. the helpline let me talk for hours to them!! And it really helped me come to terms and get advice and support xxx

[TweeterCal in reply to allanah]

Brilliant! Thanks for pointing it out x

[Ruthsakr]

Sorry but what is ESR? I am still waiting for my first rhemmy appointment in August so am completely nieve to all the measures tests etc... Please can someone explain. Thanks in anticipation. I was referred to rhemmy by neurologist after blood tests for scheliaderma but my GP says as my mother had it. My father had RA. My GP thinks RA.

[allanah in reply to Ruthsakr]

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate is one of the blood test sometimes used to gauge inflammation in the body. You can google it or look on the NRAS homepage there is a great section on blood tests. Axx

[allanah in reply to allanah]

oh also on the NRAS homepage is a great part on "recently diagnosed " and what to expect at clinics, have a look xx