06/01/2025 Hi guys - thank you for all your support, validation, and suggestions! All of the above has been extremely helpful and uplifting as I've been navigating this.

I followed up with my rheumatologist and my pulmonologist recently. My pulmonologist has ordered a chest CT for me since my latest breath test came back a little better than my original one but still not fantastic (and it looks like my airway is still pretty narrow). I'll be getting that done on Tuesday morning, so I'll keep y'all posted.

My rheumatologist is currently dismissing my high anti-CCP as a "red herring" because a trial of prednisone didn't help me (it gave me a little more energy but didn't diminish my pain, DOE, or the like; and it also gave me a really bad cough for some reason). I don't feel comfortable with dismissing the anti-CCP or a possible RA diagnosis, especially since I just got another high inflammatory marker back (Complement C3) - which, from my understanding, indicates that my body is actively trying to fight something. So I'm going to get a second opinion in July.

Most my other tests have come back normal so far, including SSA, SSB, ANA, Complement C4, anti double-stranded DNA, etc. I think we can safely rule out Sjögren's and lupus at this point.

My CPK also came back normal, but I asked for a full myomarker panel anyway just to be on the safe side (especially since my Rheumatoid Factor came back normal but then my anti-CCP was through the roof, so I don't want to rule anything out without the more detailed/specific testing first). Those results might be another week or two.

My rheumatologist thinks it's fibromyalgia. I don't disagree that that could be a factor, but I also don't necessarily agree that that's "all." If anyone has thoughts, feel free to let me know! I'll update again once my chest CT and myomarker panel are back.