Guest guest Posted November 15, 2000 Report Share Posted November 15, 2000 You need to get the reference range for the test. Every lab is different and " 80 " means different things. I'm sure your doctor's office will give the values to you and explain them. Also know, that how you feel isn't always correlated with it! I'm sure this was probably more confusing, so write if you have more questions. G. rheumatic Rheumatoid Arthritis > Rheumatoid Arthritis > > My second set of blood tests have come back and my Rheumatoid > Arthritis level is 80. I do not know how these levels work? Can > anyone help me out? > > Thanks. > > :-( > > > > To unsubscribe, email: rheumatic-unsubscribeegroups > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 Destiny, I have Spondylitis related to inflammatory bowel disease. LDN has helped incredibly with the pain, though I do need to stay on Colazol for the Chron's colitis. I'd encourage at least a trial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 Thank you so much. I have forwarded this to my friend. How long have you been using LDN? rmcv123@... wrote: Destiny, I have Spondylitis related to inflammatory bowel disease. LDN has helped incredibly with the pain, though I do need to stay on Colazol for the Chron's colitis. I'd encourage at least a trial. Love cheap thrills? Enjoy PC-to-Phone calls to 30+ countries for just 2¢/min with Messenger with Voice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 15, 2006 Report Share Posted November 15, 2006 Donna, You mention that " you have RA bad in your feet " . Are you sure that this is Rheumatoid Arthritis? Has this been confirmed by test? If so, this condition is systemic, meaning that it will end up attacking ALL of your joints. And, of course, better shoes may help, but that isn't going to solve the problem. Fortunately, with a good holistic doctor, you should be able to reduce the inflammation naturally; bring your hormone level back naturally; use supplements to keep your nutritional level where it should be; and use tetracyclines (primarily Minocin) to help you reach remission, since there is no known cure yet for RA. To find a doctor, see www.acam.org I was diagnosed 2 years ago with RA and I only recently realized that even with a good holistic doctor, I still have to question everything that they do, so that can understand it and make changes as needed. Best wishes, Jeff rheumetoid arthrisis Posted by: " ritz7770000 " ritz7770000@... ritz7770000 Tue Nov 14, 2006 6:32 am (PST) i have it bad in my feet i am 55 and work in a bakery is there any good foot wear that can help thanks send to ritz7770000 to donna have a good day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 16, 2006 Report Share Posted November 16, 2006 > > Donna, > > You mention that " you have RA bad in your feet " . Are you sure that this is Rheumatoid Arthritis? Has this been confirmed by test? If so, this condition is systemic, meaning that it will end up attacking ALL of your joints. And, of course, better shoes may help, but that isn't going to solve the problem. > > Fortunately, with a good holistic doctor, you should be able to reduce the inflammation naturally; bring your hormone level back naturally; use supplements to keep your nutritional level where it should be; and use tetracyclines (primarily Minocin) to help you reach remission, since there is no known cure yet for RA. > > To find a doctor, see www.acam.org > > I was diagnosed 2 years ago with RA and I only recently realized that even with a good holistic doctor, I still have to question everything that they do, so that can understand it and make changes as needed. > > Best wishes, > > Jeff > > rheumetoid arthrisis > Posted by: " ritz7770000 " ritz7770000@... ritz7770000 > Tue Nov 14, 2006 6:32 am (PST) > i have it bad in my feet i am 55 and work in a bakery is there any good > foot wear that can help thanks send to ritz7770000 to donna > have a good day > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2006 Report Share Posted November 17, 2006 Donna, My answers to yours are below.... Jeff ________________________________________________ >do i need to get this medicine from a doctor? Yes, find a doctor near you from www.acam.org and interview the nursing staff (if you can't reach the doctor). Make sure they are familiar with the Antibiotic Protocol specified in www.rheumatic.org (look at the " Physician's Protocol for Using Antibiotics in Rheumatic Disease " ) And, make sure they are familiar with the use of Bioidentical Hormone Therapy (ie. Armour Thyroid Hormone pills, Pregnenolone, etc.). Buy and read the books on Hormones and Arthritis by Dr. Brownstein at www.drbrownstein.com >and yes i was just diagnoised 2 months ago It is very important that you are aggressive in getting a complete read on your status with regard to hormones, nutritional levels, bloodwork, possible mycoplasma infections, potential food allergies, potential metal toxicities, etc. See above. >i thought there might be some foot wear that could help out some. Hopefully, you can find some, but are you sure you haven't had any problems with your hands/wrists? According to www.rheumatic.org, it is rare to start out with foot problems first. >dr said if it doesnt get under control i wont be able to work at what im doing now which i enjoy very very much Apparently, you are going to a rheumatologist, and he doesn't know anything about Antibiotic Protocol. He probably thinks that holistic doctors are nuts. If you continue using him, this is likely what you can expect (according to www.rheumatic.org) " The natural course of rheumatoid arthritis is quite remarkable. Less than 1% of patients who are rheumatoid factor seropositive have a spontaneous remission. Some disability occurs in 50-70% of patients within five years after onset of the disease. Half of the patients will stop working within 10 years. This devastating natural prognosis is what makes the antibiotic therapy so exciting. " >If you go to a holistic doctor (from www.acam.org) this is what you can expect " Approximately one third of patients have been lost to follow-up for whatever reason and have not continued with treatment. The remaining patients seem to have a 60-90% likelihood of improvement on this treatment regimen. That is quite a stark contrast to the numbers quoted above. " >thank you for you time jeff have a good day Stay in touch and/or keep posting on this website. If you get a good overall assessment of your condition, are willing to invest some time studying, and are willing to adjust your diet, you can possibly achieve remission within as little as several months (up to several years) of starting a tetracycline (probably Minocin). ~Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Hi my name is Maile and I've just joined the group. At this point I'm just seeking others who have RA and are experiencing side effects from medicines (enbrel, methotrexate, etc.). Thanks for your time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 >Hi Heidi! I've been taking Enbrel for about 2 years. I started taking MTX with it but hated the side effects so stopped and after about six months my conditions have gone back to fairly bad. I'm also really freaking out right now because within the last 2 weeks I've noticed some strange lumps above my clavical. My doctor hopes they are just swollen lymph nodes and I'm on antibiotics for that. My fear is all that I've read about Enbrel and lymphoma. They are really weird lumps. Kind of scared. Thanks Maile California > Welcome Maile, > > I've been taking Enbrel, what side effects do you have? I " ve had some > muscle stiffness that has gone away, but a headache with each dose. As for MTX , > its 8 on thursdays for me...yuk. but it helps! > > Heidi > Massachusetts > > To those who believe, no explanation is necessary; to those who dont, no > explanation is possible > > > In a message dated 5/7/2008 9:47:56 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, > u4maile@... writes: > > > > > Hi my name is Maile and I've just joined the group. At this point I'm > just seeking others who have RA and are experiencing side effects from > medicines (enbrel, methotrexate, etc.). Thanks for your time. > > > > > > > > > **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family > favorites at AOL Food. > (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Hi Maile, I'm glad to see you've joined the group. I had been taking Enbrel for about 3 years but within that time I would get sick all the time and did end up in the hospital for a few months because of a flesh eating infection on my lower leg that would not heal at all. The infection had gone through some of the muscle almost to the bone. The layer of skin is permanently paper thin and scared and to this day tends to break down very easily, and any bug bites I may get also heals slowly. This past January I was in the hospital again with pain in my stomach, weight loss, enlarged Spleen, etc so they did tests that came up with a possible diagnosis of Lymphoma, Cancer of the Lymphnodes which is one of the side effects of Enbrel. More tests were done, a Lymphectomy, and MRI of my Spleen that thankfully came back NEGATIVE. After I became sick I stopped taking the Enbrel and have gotten better, my Dr. said I could start taking the Enbrel again, I told him NO THANK YOU! When I was on MTX years ago I also had a problem with it and had to discontinue taking it because my Liver had an increased number of Enzymes that wasn't normal. My Dr. gives me the option of going back on it but I'd rather not take any chances of that happening again besides it is a form of Chymotherapy which makes me feel a little uneasy being on it. So that's my experience while taking Enbrel and MTX, the side effects I had doesn't happen to everyone but some patients are willing to accept the side effects as long as the meds. help but I can't. I have been living with severe Rheumatoid Arthritis for the past 39 years and have had many artificial joint surgery beginning at age 14 and thank god, all I need to be on at this time is Celebrex and pain medication. The Celebrex has worked wonderfully for me, if I miss even 1 day the pain and stiffness gets quite a bit worse. Has your Dr. talked to you about Celebrex, if not, maybe you can ask him about it? I hope I've been able to help, even a little bit. Take Care Maile, > >Hi Heidi! I've been taking Enbrel for about 2 years. I started > taking MTX with it but hated the side effects so stopped and after > about six months my conditions have gone back to fairly bad. I'm also > really freaking out right now because within the last 2 weeks I've > noticed some strange lumps above my clavical. My doctor hopes they > are just swollen lymph nodes and I'm on antibiotics for that. My fear > is all that I've read about Enbrel and lymphoma. They are really > weird lumps. Kind of scared. Thanks Maile California > > Welcome Maile, > > > > I've been taking Enbrel, what side effects do you have? I " ve had > some > > muscle stiffness that has gone away, but a headache with each > dose. As for MTX , > > its 8 on thursdays for me...yuk. but it helps! > > > > Heidi > > Massachusetts > > > > To those who believe, no explanation is necessary; to those who > dont, no > > explanation is possible > > > > > > In a message dated 5/7/2008 9:47:56 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, > > u4maile@ writes: > > > > > > > > > > Hi my name is Maile and I've just joined the group. At this point > I'm > > just seeking others who have RA and are experiencing side effects > from > > medicines (enbrel, methotrexate, etc.). Thanks for your time. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists > on family > > favorites at AOL Food. > > (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001) > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 30, 2009 Report Share Posted October 30, 2009 Hi, Kathy: I now doubt there is such a thing as " seronegative " rheumatoid arthritis; the seronegative arthritides are almost certainly the spondyloarthropies and the MHC HLA B27 is useful but not fully definitive as SIJ fusion. Regret that all dietary starch should be avoided, especially when taking antibiotics (lest resistive colonies are selected out). Bactericidals are prone to rapidly cause resistive strains in the presence of starch, but the bacteristatic agents--not so critical. For anyone with PsA, AS, Reiter's, ReA, Crohn's, or Behcet's, the treatments will go better eliminating starches at least until there is enough healing from LGS to tolerate some starches without the need for antibiotics. I hope that You will get tested for the antigen and join the discussion on the NSD Forum at www.kickas.org, From: Kathy <sunbriar@...> Subject: rheumatic Re:Rheumatoid arthritis rheumatic Date: Friday, October 30, 2009, 6:38 AM my pain was A-symetrical, mostly the right side. all my tests were negative. They said Psoriatic A because it was asymetrical. then they said sero-negative RA, they put me on chemo drugs and injections and physical therapy (my hip was becoming frozen!) I could not sleep at night because of the pain running thru my bones on my legs! Then I searched out a DR who would do antibiotics. He ran blood titers for infections and came up with TWO positves. So I started on Minocycline. But also all these problems hit me at the same time as menopause.. so I also got my hormones tested and also started on thyroid meds (armour) . I think all my hormones being messed up was what started the infection reaction.. I have been MUCH better since and not only that...Im NOT in menopause any more???? they said my hormones were so messed up that i wasnt really in menopause just because I had no period (at age 47) . Now at 52 I wish I didnt have a period! still working to balance the hormones and also the adrenals now... OH, and the rhuematologist, enodcrinologist and OBGYNs all did NOTHING to help me.. it was mostly an alternative medicine DR.. Kathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 31, 2009 Report Share Posted October 31, 2009 Im sorry, alot of what you said just went right over my head... guess Im too tired right now to read email. Kathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 Thankyou for you response, I had a bunch of tests run from nuclear bone scan, xrays blood test, and I was told its just minor arthritis. To keep taking my celebrex and a Ibuprofin, muscle relaxers. What an answer, I wish he felt my pain. I know it will take time befor I get around better from my surgery,my back is another problem yes I do have DDD, but all of my joints hurt so bad and the burning doesnt stop, I was told to get an MRI of my hands and see if anything shows I'll do that tomorrow. My surgeon agreed a need to retire from my job, becuase it could be another 6 months or a year befor I see any positive results. He didnt seem to happy with the rhumetolgists answer. I had a nerve conduction test done to. The tech told me he seen a little bit of carpool tunnel in the right wrist, and ask me if I was ever tested for diabetes and also if I had metal in my foot anwhere which the answer was no. But, the report itself showed nothing of what he said to me and those results were negeative as well. I cant sit stand or even sleep very long for the pain in my body. I feel like a walking zomby, I refuse to take all those pain medicines I do not want to become addicted to them. I work with muscle relaxers and the celebrex but they do not last long. I exercise as much as I can but my joints hurt more after. The more pressure on my body the more Im in pain. I've decided to retire and try an just keep excersing and try and have a good diet, and trust in prayer. I wish I had a doctor in my family but oh well life has to continue. Again thank you for your response. I wasnt sure if anyone would answer. > > From: Sunshine <sunshine123_42@...> > Subject: rheumatic Rheumatoid arthritis > rheumatic > Date: Thursday, October 29, 2009, 4:09 PM > > > > > > > > > > > > > Im new at this, I've been sent to a see a rheumatoligist to see if I have rheumatoid arthritis, I've had knee surgery and lower back fusion l4,l5 and s1. I've had problems with my joints ankles, knees, hips, and wrist. My ankles really hurt me after my lower back fusion and all the others seem to be getting worse. I will take test soon to see what's up. I feel like Im being sent from one doctor to another, I have degenrative disk disease and things seem to be getting worse all over. I cant seem to sleep at night my legs hurt from the ankles down, burning like I had bad case of sun burn, my body aches. I wish someone new what was going on. Does anyone else have these symtoms. I do not see swelling or redness in any of the areas, so Im wondering maybe it is not rheumatoid arthritis. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 7, 2009 Report Share Posted November 7, 2009 Have you tried any antibiotic therapy? I also went to DR to DR and each gave it a different name, I had blood tests for Lymes which was negative, then tests for titers for mycoplasma and chlamydia which were positive (signs of infections) and started on antibiotics (minocycline) and have done so well on it! Just a thought. kathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 7, 2009 Report Share Posted November 7, 2009 Thankyou Kathy, I havent next time I see my PM Im going to ask her to run some other blood test, so far the only blood areas showed anything was PLT 525, Glucose at 108 and anion gap 8, bun creat ratio at 20.7, which from what I understand is ok. All the other test came out ok. I've been told I have osteoarthritis which everyone has to a degree and osteopenia, my back is having a time of it, along with the joint pain as well. Maybe my PM can find something the others havent. Again thankyou for you comment > > Have you tried any antibiotic therapy? I also went to DR to DR and each gave it a different name, I had blood tests for Lymes which was negative, then tests for titers for mycoplasma and chlamydia which were positive (signs of infections) and started on antibiotics (minocycline) and have done so well on it! Just a thought. kathy > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 8, 2009 Report Share Posted November 8, 2009 Just thought I could save you some trouble with the antibiotics, if your DR isnt familiar with it. Ask for 50mg minocycline to START. take the 50 every other day, then one every day, then if you feel Ok take 100 every other day and 50 every other day.. etc.. till you get up to 200mg every day (the clinical trial dose) however.. I could NEVER take the 200, so after trying for awhile to get there I stayed at 100 once a day (for 2 yrs now) . My own Dr prescribed me 200 mg (100 mg 2xs a day) and it made me sick a s a dog! (missed 2 days of work) when i told him how sick I got he said " Oh then go back and take only 50 " .. its cheap so you can ask for a prescription for both 50 and 100mg and then you can adjust your dose yourself. Kathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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