About 8 years ago I started having joint pain in one finger. This continued for 8 years off and on. Then, after the birth of my first child last year, I had foot pain in both feet. Then, after a year of that, the joint pain progressed to my hands and then my shoulders. I was diagnosed with RA last month but this week I just found out from my primary care I am positive for Lyme. Has this ever happened to anyone else? Now I am wonder
ing if all of these years I have had Lyme disease. My only symptom at this point is pain in one shoulder and tingling in my back about the shoulder blade area. Did anyone else have this?
I have started taking Amoxicilian. But will it be strong enough if I have had Lyme all these years?
Thank you for any response.
Posted by violet01 (Member # 34666) on :
Hey Buckwheat I just wanted to say hi and thanks for replying to my post. It looks like you and I are new to this huh? I was diagnosed with RA a couple of years ago. I hope to one day have testing for Lyme through IgeneX.
I don't have answers to your questions, but just wanted to say hi on your thread Posted by hopeforhealth (Member # 23673) on :
My RA factor is high. LLMD said I do not have rheumatoid Arthritis, he sounded like it was something he sees often.
I hope you find the answers and some relief.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Welcome, Buckwheat!
So.. are you seeing an LLMD now?? Most who take amoxy take it with probenecid so that the levels of amoxy in your blood stay high enough to do any good.
many here have had a positive on the RA factor... MANY MANY times it turns out to be Lyme
You may be interested in this site also...
www.roadback.org Many there are treating their "RA" with low dose abx. Interesting reading!
IMO .. taking higher doses would help knock this out.. not just "maintain."
Posted by Buckwheat (Member # 34709) on :
Thank you all for your responses. It is really wonderful to have this support group because I am completely overwhelmed at all there is to learn and to discover, and just to figure out what is really happening.
I have not yet met with a LLMD. I was just diagnosed this past week. I made a phone call today and will do so on Monday to make my first appointments. I am really anxious to just meet a LLMD to hear what they think.
Since last month, when THE worst joint attack occured on my shoulders, I have been on prednisone and plaquenil. I was having an itching allergy to the plaquenil so I went down to just one tablet instead of 2. I started on the amoxicilin this past Thursday to treat the lyme. My doctor said 3/4 acute markers for lyme were positive. I believe my test were just sent to the local lab. Many of you have mentioned the IgeneX lab. Is this the preferred lab to have blood tested? Do I request this to be done from my doctor?
Thank you again for your support.
Posted by jlp38 (Member # 27221) on :
I was diagnosed with RA and lyme around the same time. I do believe lyme and co-infections are the cause of my RA. Try to get off the pred as sson as you can. It only makes the lyme worse.
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I just wanted to say hi and thanks for replying to my post. It looks like you and I are new to this huh? I was diagnosed with RA a couple of years ago. I hope to one day have testing for Lyme through IgeneX.