Visit to Vandy | Arthritis Information

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Long story short...he thinks I may have Reactive Arthritis. In any event he wants me to try Arava before biologics, said 2/3 of those who don't respond to mtx respond to arava. Will also stay on Plaquenil. He was excited about a new blood test that he is running on me. Not sure what but they set me up with an account where I can check my bloodtest results online and communicate with the office. Back in 2 months, really happy with visit.Arava is a good medicine. It made me feel great, i had an allergic reaction to it. The last time my swelling went away was after i took the Arava. Somedays i think i would like to take it again but i know i can not. Also it is a fast acting med. Compared to many others. If you remember find out what the new blood test is?Have you researched reactive arthritis?  I wasn't familiar with it, but there is involvement of the urethra and skin lesions.  I didn't remember you talking about those symptoms, but I'm not a big time poster.Will post about the bloodwork! I had a bout of what I thought was IC (bladder pain) right before huge flare. But I hadn't felt well before that. I am seronegative and inflammation is asymmetrical and in bigger joints so that is part of it I guess...I imagine blood test is some new antibody or marker test?I don't have any advice, I am just happy that you are getting somewhere!!  Keep us posted!I'm gonna have to google it.

Did the doc say reactive arthritis is cureable or are you a lifer?
I'm not sure about the prognosis for recovery...will try to read about that...
I didn't even mention it at my visit today, but apparently costochondritis is a big symptom and I get that all the time.  I have it pretty bad right now.  I got it right before the bladder symptoms last November.  My chest really hurts sometimes.  Also I read that heel pain is common, and tendinitis.  I have been having awful heel pain in one foot.  All this came to a head last Nov/Dec, but in July 2007 I had to go through two rounds of antibiotics to get rid of a strep infection.  So I am suspicious of that.  And I had food poisoning a few months earlier (and gave birth a few months earlier than that).  But to be honest I haven't felt 100% since I got mono back in 2000, even before that I was having foot pain.  But I guess this is just the probable flavor of my arthritis.  I wonder if he is screening me for HLA-B27 but it sounded like a new test.
It's amazing how many ailments mimic one another isn't it? It makes it so hard to figure things out!
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