Re: Heard from my Rheumy

[Guest guest]

Barbara: My name is Dave. Only recently I came to this site, but i have had

chronic/acute Reiter's for many years. I also have had a positive hep c test

for many years. Since you and your physicians seem to have issues with your

positive result, have them do a " virus count " . My guess, based on my own

experience and if you DO have Reiter's, is that it will be zero. On the other

hand, your C reactive proteins will be thru the roof. That is the reason for

your false positive. Your DNA reacts to everything, even when it is out of your

body in the form of blood in a test tube. It's also my now slightly educated

guess that most people with Reiter's are similar. It would seem logical that a

false positive C hep + elevated C reactive protein levels should be one of the

diagnostic clues. Educate your physcian on this one. If he or she is like

mine, they'll go home reread their immune system books, and agree with you.

Stay active " thru " the pain, if you can, or it might get worse. aloha, dave

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[Guest guest]

Hi Barbara

Sorry to hear of you running out of pain medication early. I have done that a

couple of times and all I have done is go into my doc who prescribes the

OxyContin and tell him of my dilema and he has written me a separate

prescription for 10 or 20 Oxy Contin to help me out. Now I just have to call

him if that happens again. To help me get around that he writes my prescription

for a total number of pills to be dispensed over a period of 30 days and that

helps because I usually do not run out that quickly anymore. He writes me a

Prescription for 1200 tablets and that actually gives me more than I need at

times.

I keep my OxyContin in my gun safe that is embeded in my basement floor, and

they sit right beside my 9 mm automatic pistol. Which reminds me I have to go

in sometime in February and re-qualify on the gun.

Fr. " Pistol Packin " Dave

PS

I think though I will sell my guns soon unless the rules on ownership change

this year. At the moment, I have only have the pistol to worry about as it has

to be re registered every year. The qualifications for the use of the gun I

really do not need are on the onerous side up here in Canada. A criminal gets

off easier than a pistol packing Priest.

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

I am also new to this site, but find it very helpful...even if just to know that

i am not alone in battling this auto-immune disease.

I wanted to respond to Dave's mention of C-Reactive protein. Like most of you, i

have become very good at battling through the pain, forcing myself to stay

active doing the things i love (softball, cycling, swimming) and wanted to use

the least amount of meds whenever possible.

I was informed this past year by my MD of the the issue of having elevated

levels of Reactive protein (CRP), which happens during a flare. In layman's

terms, it seems high CRP makes our blood " sticky " , which increases the risk of

blood clots heart attack and stroke. I've had Reiter's for over 16 years and

this was news to me. That was why i decided to go on Enbrel, to get my CRP down.

But that was a total disaster.

Now, i'm just thinking of what to do next...but wanted to share the CRP issue in

case others weren't aware.

-CK