Infection or not? | Arthritis Information

 

HI guys, just wondered if I could get your opinions on this?  I had my bloods done last week and along with the usual problems, (high ESR, CRP etc) my GP said my white cells were elevated more than usual, she said that if this result was with someone who was not on MTX and Pred she wouldn't be so worried but given the fact that I take these meds, she said they would be masking infection so a high count would actually be a lot higher without my meds, the problem I have is that if I have any kind of infection, I am not allowed to start the new drug Orencia!!!!!  I don't know of any infection, what do I do?  Thanks in advance for any replies, I hope you are all having a great weekend, love Janie. 

Edited for mis-typing by me.
janiefx39396.0088541667Wow if they can not tell by blood work and you do not know where to look well catscan i guess. But how elevated was the whitecount. It really stinks i could not tell what was going on either till it got really bad. A fever isn't a clue get those all of the time. I would never know if i had a heartattack even. I get unbareable cramping in my already tight chest. My son made me check it out once years ago. I wasn't on pred and i was screaming. I have the pain mostly under control mostly but it still freaks me out cause it gets hard to breath and i think well i am sure it's the same old same old. And son dosn't know i don't scream anymore. So i do not know. How do they tell the difference between the flu and infection on a white count. I just was wondering that i can not start my meds till infection is gone I still have fever and fatique i have pain in my mouth also have thrush and RA in Jaw and face so how do i tell when i am well? Exray if you know where to look I guess. We are just high maintance and there is no getting around it. Cross our fingers and pray or get an exray is all i can come with. Maybe someone else has a better idea. My right cheeck is swelling inside and out and i am still on cipro so it has to be the RA. I think It was the left cheek Monday so i think it is the RA. Logic would suggest that i would get better at some point and i took cipro for 15 days and had the tooth pulled tuesday and it was still infected tuesday. So i have no idea wish i could help just saying i will come read if anyone dose fiqure it out. I hope you are not sick and get on your RA meds and they work for you. I am going to go off the antibiotics and see the doc said. If i still have infection i think we will know soon if it is that bad of an infection i should think. Get well soon.

Janie - how do you feel?  Do you feel like you are sick?  Fluey?  Headaches?  Fever?  Anything? 

Milly - please just do not go off the Cipro.  You have an infection in your jaw.  Did they pack the tooth area in your mouth?  You might feel a lot better when that tooth infection is gone.

Hugs,

Pip

Milly. If you had the flu, your WBC would be low, as flu is a virus. The high
white count indicates a bacterial infection somewhere. Janie, good luck with
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Janie ((((hugs)))!!!  Well hunny, how are you feeling?  I have a higher than normal WBC also but no signs of infection.  I still do my Remicade infusions and they are watching my WBC.  If it goes any higher than what it is (I am at a 13 and norm is like 10) then they will stick me on some antibiotics between infusions and see what happens.   I am also on pred and mtx so what is worrying your GP is the same thing worrying my RD and PCP.  When is it you are due to start your Orencia?  I forgot.  Let your docs know that you are feeling great.  I have read somewhere that being on pred can raise your WBC too.  It could just be that.  Like it could just be that for me so that is why they are watching things and haven’t just stuck me on an antibiotic. 

Hi Janie, you might talk to your pcp and get a urinalysis.  You may have a urinary tract infection and not have any symptoms.  This happened to me about 6 months ago, put me on antibiotics, did a repeat urinalysis and it was normal.  You never know.  Lindy
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