Long time no talk | Arthritis Information

 

Hey there, just thought I would stop by and give an update and get your wisdom.  I kind of dropped off because if it is not RA I don't belong but you guys have so much experience I thought I would come check back in with all yall. 

So I have been on Celebrex 200mg 2 times daily since March.  5 months!  Overall I feel ok, except when we try to get off of it and then I start hurting again.  I tried to go down to one a day and after about four days I am back to fingers, elbows, knees etc hurting.  I am back to arms and hands swelling.  On the Celebrex I feel pretty good but still can't exercise how I use to.

My doctor doesn't think it has anything to do with Parvo, he said that my level was so low it just showed I had it when I was a kid or something.  He thinks it is because of a strep infection still.  They still don't want to do anything but wait.  I still don't get it. 

ARRG, guess I do ok when I don't feel like crap but when I do it brings up questions again....

Don't know about Celebrex but you do have alot of kids!!!!!!!!!!

 

Jan

Yup they keep us busy I thought having FIVE was alot!!!  You sure have aloto!!! Loto I must have missed your dx post- you have parvo?My lab work the RD did came back with these abnormalities. 

My sed rate was 25 HIGH
Rheumatoid Factor 19.1 HIGH
antistreptolysin o Ab 349.36 HIGH
Parvovirus B19, IgG 4.8 HIGH

He ran an ANA+ENA+DNA/DS+Anti-H+Centr... that was negative this time 35 where last time I had blood work done I had an ANA Choice that came back positive, however ANA by IFA reflex was negative.

If he thinks it's a strep infection -has he given you antibiotics and if so why hasn't it cleared up? Nope they said they felt it was the end of a strep infection and didn't do anything but put me on the Celebrex.  Your questions were my questions but the RD doctor didn't seem to think I was for him and sent me packing back to my primary care doc. 

I guess I am just having trouble believing that this is a strep infection, one I had to be the carrier, I was never sick, I know that doesn't matter but my brain still has trouble getting around that.  Two if it is an infection why aren't I better yet?

I just worry that it is RA and I just haven't had enough symptoms and blood work for him to call it that and we are missing valuable time to get it before it is worse.
Were your inflammation markers high? Is your pain symmetrical? I would go to another RD for a second opinion. It looks like (from your above post) that your RF was a little high, so what's the dealy? I would get another dr to look at you. Especially after five months. Your infection or whatever dr said should have cleared up by now and if it's strep, you need antiobioitics. Right? inflammation markers?  What does that look like test wise, I am sure he probably did it and I can go look.

My pain is very symmetrical.  Right now all of my fingers, both elbows, knees, wrists are hurting.  Always both sides.

The kicker is I was never sick, I did however have several extremely stressful things going on the end of January start of Feb.
I used to get strep every summer as a kid, and boy we all knew I had it. I was sooo sick. My fevers were over 104 degrees and my throat so sore and swollen, I couldnt even take my meds. It was always that bad. I agree with the others and get a second opinionCRP and Anti CCP are the tests I was refering to- you said your sed rate (ESR) was high and so was your RF. Your pain is symmetrical....it certainly sound like RA to this uneducated person who has RA.... Sed rate was 25
Rheumatoid Factor was 19.1

CRP (1.8) and CCP (<1)  were fine so I think that is why he says it is just a strep infection.  I just don't get if it is a strep infection why I am not better by now.

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