Anyone else out there who had rheumatic fever as a child and now have RA? I'm really curious if there might be a connection. I'm 61 and was diagnosed with RA a year and a half ago after already dealing with OA for many years (one hip replacement in 1998). Anyway, I also just posted on the AP therapy thread and it made me think about the antibiotics I took on a regular basis as a child. I'm wondering if that might be an option for me now and plan to talk it over with my rheumatologist next appt (late Dec.). All I know for sure is that my sed rate is never normal---was at an all time high of 103 when I was diagnosed---now runs between 45 and 59 most of the time.I always wondered what exactly a rheumatic fever was. I have JRA and they were constantly checking me for it. Never did get it, as far as I know. What IS it anyway?
Ironically, I got R.A after I had an ear and tooth infection and took penicillin to clear it out. It was IMMEDIATELY INSTANTANEOUS. at first I thought my swollen feet was an allergic reaction to penicillin.
I know theres a connection here, whether it be genetic or whatever. NO ONE listens, but I am hearing more and more people mentioning things like this
My mom had rheumatic fever when she was 7. She missed a year of
school and her heart is half the size it should be.
I have also thought about a connection...
becky
Hi there, I am a long time lurker
I had repetative strep and was just going into rheumatic fever when my tonsils and adenoids were removed at 4 yrs old. Was constantly on antibiotics as a child and adult and I am using the AP. The antibiotic used is a tetracycline low dose mostly used for teenage acne.This is interesting. I had rheumatic fever when I was eight. Took pennicillin
until i was 18. Makes me wonder. I got mono in 95 and have never felt well
since. That is when the joint pain started. Still makes me wonder why so
many more women get it. It is a complex disease.
What an interesting topic. I had wondered myself, if there was a link between having RF and now RA. I also had Rheumatic Fever as a child of 5 and on Penicillin till I was 18. Now I can't take Penicillin. I think there is a relationship to each other. I have Googled information on this topic till my eyes where about to fall out my eye sockets and still could not get enough information to link them together. It sure would be nice to know if there is.
I did not have RF as a child. However my RD told me that I was probably genetically disposed to RA and agreed with my observation that it had begun right after a severe bout with influenza. That any severe illness that knocks down the immune system can initiate RA under the right circumstances. bumpHey, interesting post. Why did everyone take Penc. for so many years? Was that the standard of care back then? How many years ago?
I know nothing about RF, but find it interesting that so many of you have similarities in your stories.
Lori
Interesting topic. I have read that there is a possible connection. My mom believes that I had Rheumatic fever, always was getting strep, have MVP and had mono twice. I also had a lot of "growing pains." I never grew much. Felt kind of cheated when my maximum height fell below 5'. For all the growing pains, man, I should be close to 6'.
Strep was a constant for me in the winters.
I also had rheumatic fever as a child - around 7. For several years I had to have penicillin but then the military doctors discontinued it. I have what is called an "unimpressive heart murmur" due to it. I take amoxicillin before dental work because of it now.
I wonder if diagnosis/treatment of strep is better these days and that is why there seem to be fewer cases of RF....or if parents these days are getting their children to the doctor earlier when strep is suspected.
I used to get strep so bad it hurt to swallow my own spit. That sucked. But I'm pretty sure I've never had the fever thing. I dunno.I wonder.
I was extremely sick with measles when I was 7. Nearly died. (YAY for vaccines, but I won't go into that now) anyway I had a fever of 108, and we were trapped in a snowstorm miles from a hospital.
I was out of school for 2 months. I had been on penicillin a lot due to a congenital heart condition, but they did not add more. Because I didn't actuually see the dr when I was so sick, he diagnosed it over the phone to my mom as "probably scarlet fever, but maybe rheumatic fever." Remember this was in the "old days" 1960.. now they probably would snomobile or helicopter me to the ER.
I had Rheumatic Fever when I was 27! The first sign was swelling, redness and horrific pain in my wrist. My brother in law took me to the