If you are dealing with autoimmune symptoms like aching joints, dry eyes, and unexplained inflammation, you should make an appointment with a rheumatologist. In spite of what the name may suggest, these doctors do not just treat rheumatoid arthritis. They also diagnose and manage other autoimmune disorders, from lupus to Sjogren's syndrome. What can you expect during your first appointment with a rheumatologist? In most cases, they will start by running a battery of tests, including the following.

Antibody Tests

Autoimmune diseases occur when your body creates antibodies to its own cells. As such, there are a number of tests your rheumatologist can order to measure the levels of certain antibodies in your blood. There are antibodies that indicate lupus, others that indicate rheumatoid arthritis, and so forth. From your perspective, these tests are pretty simple. A nurse draws a couple of vials of blood and sends them off to the lab, and you get the results in a few days. 

CRP Test

This is another blood test. It basically measures the level of C-reactive protein in your blood, which is an indicator of the level of inflammation you are experiencing throughout your body. The higher your CRP level, the greater the chances that you're dealing with some sort of inflammatory disease, which is likely to be autoimmune. If your symptoms come and go, then your doctor may want to wait to administer a CRP test until you are having a flare-up.

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate

Erythrocytes are red blood cells. One test your rheumatologist will order measures the rate at which your red blood cells settle out of the liquid component of your blood. This test is another way of determining just how much inflammation you are suffering. If the red cells settle more quickly than normal, that means your blood contains a lot of other proteins that are likely due to an inflammation disruption and/or autoimmune response.

Flexibility Test

Finally, your doctor will likely conduct a few tests to measure how flexible your joints are. This can give them more insight into whether you are dealing with rheumatoid arthritis. Note that sometimes your flexibility is impacted before you develop obvious joint pain, so it is important to undergo this test whether or not you've noticed joint-specific symptoms. 

If you have been noticing autoimmune symptoms, it's a good idea to make an appointment with a rheumatologist. The tests they administer are non-invasive and can give you a lot of insight into what's amiss. Contact a company like Sarasota Arthritis Center for more information.