new to the forum - a year with reactive arthritis - feedback welcome!

[Guest guest]

My name is Jack and I have been suffering from reactive arthritis for over a

year now with no real signs of improvement. I have become quite depressed and

would like to share my story and see if others on this forum have experienced

similar issues, and if they have found any relief.

I am 24 years old. Before April of 2010 I was healthy. I work as a field

biologist and in April I came down with a bad case of poison ivy, which I had

never had before. I was prescribed prednisone for 2 weeks, which cleared up the

poision ivy, but soon after I developed balanitis, which my doctor diagnosed as

a yeast infection. This eventually cleared up on its own (for the most part,

still not 100% normal), but then I started having urinary/prostate symptoms

(frequent urination, constant feeling of pressure in bladder, feeling like I

couldn't " get it all out " , having to get up several times at night to go), along

with mild joint pain in my knees/sacral region, and severe fatigue. When

urinalysis came up negative, my doctor said it was probably a prostate

infection, and prescribed weeks of antibiotics (first cipro, then after that

didn't work Bactrim). Still no improvement. I saw several urologists, had lots

of tests done (including cystoscopy, cystometrogram) all of which were

inconclusive. Finally, in November 2010, after doing extensive research on my

own, I decided to talk to a rheumatologist about the possibility of ReA, and

they immediately agreed. I was prescribed indomethacin, which didn't really

help, then sulfasalazine, which helped with the joint pain a bit, but did not

improve urinary symptoms, which are by far the most bothersome.

Because I have had Lyme disease in the past (and I believe Lyme has been

associated with ReA), doctors could not prove without a doubt that I didn't have

it again (antibodies stay with you), so I was recently treated with IV

ceftriaxone for a month (no help).

My body can no longer tolerate alcohol or adderall, which was the one thing that

helps with my fatigue. I am also no longer to wear contact lenses.

It's been over a year and every day is still a challenge. It seems that when any

one symptoms resolves the others come back! I'd love to hear from anyone who has

had a similar experience or can offer any advice.

Thank you,

Jack

[Guest guest]

Hi Jack,

I have reactive arthritis (diagnosed a year ago) but different from what you

have. No urinary/bladder issues. It started out with chronic, severe plantar

fasciitis and then a bad flareup involving my back, most of my joints and

especially my feet and ankles. I had fluid pooling up in my feet at the worst

time. I had no idea what was going on and my podiatrist sent me to a

rheumatologist.

Right now I take generic Mobic (an NSAID) and methotrexate, which do help.

It's possible that this stems from the time I was very sick with campylobacter,

even though that was about 10 years ago. The doctor thinks the ReA is here to

stay, so it is just being managed right now.

I hope you will find a doctor who can give you the right medicines.

-- Kay in Ohio