Rheumatic fever

[Guest guest]

Dear Ana,

It seems that streptococcus causes rheumatic fever and is certainly implicated

in RA along with the mycoplasma. I would certainly think that rheumatic fever

was a predisposing factor to your current RA. Make sure you get an ASO test done

for any current streptococcus infection as this needs treating as well, probably

with ampicillin or amoxicillin. The ASO titre could do with being zero for this

therapy.

Keep us posted as to how you get on,

Chris.

Hi all, my name is Ana, and I have been diagnosed with RA this past April.

Have been taking

drugs prescribed to me by my internist (celebrex - to which I'm allergic,

arthrotec, and now Vioxx. It seems they all work for a short period of time,

then I have to switch to something else. Have an appointment on the 20th of

this month to see a doctor that was recommended in my area, that treats

patients with rheumatoid problems, with AP. Will ask to be placed on this

therapy - will keep you posted. My question to all out there is: does

anybody know if there is a link between having had rheumatic fever as a

child, and then developing RA as an adult? Thanks.

[Guest guest]

Long term antibiotic therapy isn't something to worry about as long

as you take a daily probiotic to protect your gut and be careful of

candida infections. I would be more concerned about taking predisone

as it lowers the body's ability to fight infection. I think half of

my problems were caused by the months of prednisone I was given in

the past.

>

> Hello. I have just joined this group. Iam a 40year old women.

Last

> jan. I went to see a doctor for what I thought was the flu. They

> told me that they could do nothing since for the flu. They sent me

> home with the usual advice. Plenty of fluids and rest. Sadly they

> were wrong. I had strep. But nobody realized this until my ancles

> swelled so much I could hardly walk. I decided this was getting

and

> again went to the doctors. This time they were conviced it was a

> thyroid problem. I instited on going to a specialist and he told

me

> that no way was this thyroid and did a series of test. I came back

> positive for strep. I had to fight the intial doctor to get

anything

> done. He ran the test again and when they saw the strep had me

rush

> back for a shot of penecullin. I then started seeing a

> rheumatologist and a cardiologist. I am much better now but I had

to

> go through a lot of pain. I was very swollen at times and could

> barely walk. At times my wrists were so swollen I could not urn a

> key or start my car. My knees, anckles and wrists were all

swollen.

> I was treated first with high dosage asprin but had to stop once

they

> realized this was affectin my liver function. I had to go on

> prolonged prednisone therapy which I really wanted to avoid. Now I

> am strep free and my ekg is normal. Had concerns about that for

> awhile. But I am on penecillin for life. I now wonder what this

has

> done to my immune system. Is it conpromised for life. What are

the

> effects of long term antibiotic therapy? I have six year old son

and

> every time he comes home with some bug we worry about him and about

> me. We are always being tested for strep. Has anybody had

anything

> similar to this. I am very luck I know but I still worry about the

> longterm reprecussions of this experience. Any info is welcome.

>

>

[Guest guest]

My mom had rheumatic fever when she was 16. she was also dx'd with r/a but

it wasn't as bad as mine and was dx'd later in life but her sister (my aunt)

has r/a like I do. She's 87 and is now in a wheelchair and has heart problems.

i don't know how she contracted the rheumatic fever though.

My mom was 59 when she died. She had heart valves replaced because of the

rheumatic fever. This was back in 1966 and she passed in 1981. Back then they

wanted to give her a pacemaker but they didn't want to chance it since she was

pretty weak. Now there are so many more treatments...she would have been

alive today if they were available back then.

Hugs..a

Wow this is interesting about your Rhuematic Fever. I've heard this

> is quite high in RA, & connective tissue disease etc patients. Me

> too - I had it at age 8 then recurrances as an adult (which were

> initial misdiagnosed that's why it's plural!).>

> Curious to hear from anyone else who had Rhuematic Fever - or their

> RA or other disease started from Streptoccocus A (Tonsilitis) and

> which symptoms they had?>

> I had the whole range of symptoms from arthritis, fever, carditis and

> chorea (which as an adult was ballistic and finally gave me my

> correct diagnoses).>

> Anyone else have valvular heart damage from their RF? Ie aortic, or

> mitral regurgitation and or stenosis? Often just referred to as

> a " heart murmur " ?

>

>

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