Posts by Charles Gomez2

mellowskipper3 said:Now I'm actually more confused than when we started. 🤷
I spent some time digging through Wikipedia, and none of them are listed as cytostatics. Their chemical structures look pretty similar, though Salazopyrin has sulfur in its makeup while methotrexate doesn't.
That question really got me thinking. I was on methotrexate for seven years before switching over to Salazopyrin, which I've been taking for two now. I have an appointment with my doctor next week, so I'll definitely bring it up and ask...

mellowskipper3, if you don't mind me asking, what condition were you managing while you were on methotrexate for all those years?

Jason James3 said:So, I went to see my rheumatologist, and I promised I'd keep you posted. She examined my joints, though to be fair, I wasn't feeling much pain—even during deep squats, knee exercises, wrist movements, or heavy lifting. She told me not to start panicking prematurely. When I mentioned the Escherichia findings, she suspected Rea, so she ordered more tests, specifically looking for certain antibodies. On top of that, she insisted I visit a gynecologist to test for Ureaplasma and Chlamydia. It feels a bit unnecessary since I'm not seeing multiple partners, but she insisted she had to rule everything out. I should have all the results back in about ten days. Has anyone else here dealt with these specific bacteria?

p.s. Reactive arthritis is curable, and even in the most severe cases, the prognosis remains quite positive; you just have to be persistent and give your body enough time to repair the damage caused by those bacteria. The key is maintaining good hygiene, a healthy diet, and keeping up with a reasonable level of physical activity, along with regular checkups. I realize not everyone can afford it—very few people can—but in my opinion, it is far better to book a private specialist to resolve things quickly rather than waiting for the public healthcare system to finally find an opening for you three months down the line. Health is the ultimate priority. I'll check back in once I have news.

Please, do let us know! I'm asking anyone who has seen even the slightest progress—even if it seems trivial—to please share, because honestly, I don't have anyone else to talk to about this... nobody understands because I look perfectly fine on the outside.
I actually had Chlamydia a few years ago, which was the starting point for all of this, and when the Escherichia showed up, things just seemed to escalate. I've been with the same partner consistently and we always use protection, so I'm not entirely sure how I contracted it... everyone carries these things, they just manifest differently for different people, so I suppose it's just one of those things fate throws at you...🙂
I'll say it again, I was messaging a woman on another forum whose husband went through a terrible time with massive swelling, but he eventually recovered completely. She said the treatment lasted over six months, but now they barely even remember that awful period, which gives me hope, even if I'm not thrilled about swallowing those three large orange pills twice a day without even knowing exactly what they are...😢

Does anyone have any updates to share?

I’m still taking Sulfasalazine (Salazopyrin), but nothing seems to be changing... I was wondering if anyone knows if this medication is considered a cytostatic drug or not, since I know Methotrexate is used for arthritis too...

Jason James3 said:Anyway, I wish you nothing but the best with your ongoing treatment and truly hope you make a 100% recovery. Thank you for sharing your insights; I’m really hoping that if this turns out to be arthritis, it's just the reactive kind, especially since medications can take quite a while to actually kick in. For instance, I don't feel pain when I squeeze my hands, nor does it hurt when I touch or even apply heavy pressure to the joints themselves. It's more of this strange, migratory, wandering ache. My knees are a bit more sensitive, but it's nowhere near the level of being unable to stand up or squat normally. This has been my reality for the last month. I have an appointment scheduled with a rheumatologist next Thursday, so we'll see what the verdict is. My AST, Waaler Rose, and LR results were all finalized the day before yesterday.

That's fine, thank you. And please, don't be a stranger—once you've seen the doctor, I'd love to hear what they had to say, especially if they mention anything about reactive arthritis...

Bradley Martinez3 Asks:
I’ve been on Decortin for about eight months now, and I started taking Salazopyrin roughly two months ago... I was actually switched over to Indomethacin about two weeks back since nothing else seemed to be doing the trick...
I’m feeling a bit better now—considering my first shot was 60 ml, followed by two 15 ml doses—though my knee is still a little swollen and feels warm to the touch, which makes walking feel quite tight... My doctors are currently trying to taper me off the Decortin, so I’m slowly lowering the dose and just seeing how things unfold. The last couple of times I tried dropping down to 10 mg, the swelling returned quite aggressively, so they bumped me back up to 20 mg, which means I’ve learned my lesson and nothing can really catch me off guard anymore...
I don't really know anyone who has dealt with this...

What did the doctor end up saying to you... did they have any idea why the swelling hasn't gone down after all this time...
😢 Just a heads-up that you might need to keep an eye on your white blood cell counts from time to time, since Salopyrin can sometimes cause them to drop... I used to get my levels checked every three days when I first started, though eventually I moved to just once a month, as that seems to be the main side effect of the medication. I was also wondering what the specific uses are for Indomethacin and Decortin... I recently had a Daprofos injection, which acts similarly to a pain reliever, but the effects only seemed to last for about a week... 😢

Jason James3 said:Philip, one more question for you. Before you actually started the medication, when your joints—like your knee, for instance—were aching, were you able to squat or straighten the joint properly? Did it interfere with your daily activities or movement? And does that apply to your other joints as well? Specifically, did they experience any visible swelling?

Well, honestly, in the beginning, I didn't even realize anything was actually wrong... it was just that my joints would ache so much that I couldn't even manage a firm handshake without struggling, and it felt similar in other places too, but since the pain always seemed to fade after two or three days, I didn't think much of it. However, once my knees started aching so intensely that simply standing up from a chair became a struggle, I realized this wasn't normal at all... so I tried cutting out all animal products, which isn't exactly easy, along with all white flour, sugar, dairy, salt, and oil, but even after two months of such a strict diet, I didn't feel any real improvement, which led me to see a doctor, even though nothing was swollen, hot, or red, and she mentioned that the condition is still in its early stages...

Bradley Martinez3 said:I managed to kick the E. coli pretty quickly, no real drama there. Just an antibiotic paired with some herbal teas, kept a close eye on my diet, and boom—done.
The joint issues, though... that’s been hanging over me for five months now. Usually, they say you can clear ReA in about six months, but it might just keep coming back. There's also that possibility where it turns into a chronic thing, I guess.

As for meds, I'm on Salazopyrin (2x2), Indometacin (2x15mg), and Decortin (20mg). My knee is the biggest headache; it's swollen, though maybe not as bad as five months ago when they had to drain 60 ml of fluid from it. Still, the swelling is there. My ankles and lower legs act up too, but it fluctuates—some days are better than others, I suppose.

I'm also taking Salazopyrin twice a day, specifically 2x2... 😢
Could you tell me how long you've been on this treatment and if you've noticed any actual progress? I'd love to know what your doctor thinks, or if you happen to know anyone else who has gone through this same thing... The only person I know is a woman whose husband deals with the exact same issues; his knee was incredibly swollen, and then his shoulder started acting up too, but the Salazopyrin eventually cleared everything for him, even though he did mention having some stomach troubles while taking it. Luckily, I haven't had those issues since I make sure to take them right after eating...

Jason James3 said:So, here’s the situation: it all started about four weeks ago when I was diagnosed with E. coli. In reality, I probably had it much longer since I spent half a month dragging myself to the clinic just to get a urine culture done. To be clear, there were two distinct spikes and a massive amount of bacteria present. I immediately started a regimen of Bactr for about four or five days, along with E-cap and some herbal tea for ten days or so. Around that same timeframe, I felt this pain in my lower back (it hit me right when I leaned over to collar my dog). That ache lasted a few days and then vanished, followed by this strange tingling sensation in my right forearm that also disappeared. But then, the stinging pains started migrating through my limbs. Mostly in my wrists and elbows... within two days, it spread to my knees, feet, heels, muscles, and so on. It’s this nagging, stinging pain that just wanders around the body. Some days it’s my elbows, other days my knees; currently, my arms feel almost fine, though I still get occasional stabs of pain here and there. It doesn't hurt when I move the joints or squat, and I don't feel stiff—my range of motion is perfectly fine. Even tonight, after standing in the city all evening, I can feel the dull ache; it doesn't stop me from doing things, but it is incredibly frustrating. Is it possible that this is reactive arthritis triggered by the Escherichia? I’m honestly a bit scared because I've heard that RA tests can come back normal for up to six months before the markers actually rise, but it seems absurd in my case because my sedimentation 2 is only 2, which is actually low (normal is 4-24). My Rheumatoid Factor is 0.10 and my CRP is 0.3. My hemoglobin and iron levels are perfect, as are my fibrinogen and white blood cell counts. You’d think at least one of those would hint at inflammation if it were truly there. Can this reactive condition actually be cured? And are your pains similar to mine—that stinging sensation—or is it the kind of intense pain where you literally can't stand up or move?

When I asked my rheumatologist if the treatment would be sufficient and if I'd eventually be free of these symptoms, she mentioned that reactive arthritis might be something that can actually be fully cured, though the therapy usually lasts at least six months... She also noted there's always a chance it could return if another bacterial infection occurs, but you can't really control that because almost any bacteria in the system can trigger a reaction, so I wouldn't dwell on it too much... Other than making sure to avoid questionable food, since even food poisoning can cause joint issues... From what I understand about RA, the pain is usually symmetrical in the joints and stiffness is a requirement, so I wouldn't worry too much if I were you...

Bradley Martinez3 said:I actually had E. coli show up in my tests too, and right around that same time, my knee started swelling up. The doctors mentioned it might be reactive arthritis triggered by the bacteria. My knee gets all swollen, red, and really warm to the touch—it usually settles down after I take some meds and wait an hour or two, I guess. Even with all the treatment, it’s still hanging on, and now my ankles and feet are starting to ache as well..
Based on those results you shared, things look okay. There isn't any sign of inflammation since the CRP and sedimentation 2 levels are normal, which matters quite a bit. You can probably take a breather until your next round of labs, though if the pain keeps acting up, you should definitely go see a specialist anyway.🙂

What kind of medication are you currently taking, how long has this been going on for you, and is it just your knee acting up or are you feeling it in other joints as well?

Jason James3 said:. I'm already scheduling an appointment with a rheumatologist for this coming Monday; I have absolutely no desire to drag this out. This persistent ache is just exhausting. And as I mentioned before, I'm really into fitness and want to stay on track—God willing, I even want to compete in the future. I refuse to let this break me, either mentally or physically. I am simply wondering if it is possible for reactive arthritis to hit the elbows, knees, and ankles all at once (this nagging, slow-burning, incredibly annoying pain... -.-). Also, are you finding it difficult to handle daily activities right now? Have you noticed any deformities or anything similar? Is this something that can be fully cured? And did you manage to clear the Escherichia from your system?

Could you explain what kind of symptoms you're experiencing?
If I had to describe mine, it's like one day my knee will start aching for maybe a day or three, and then suddenly my thumb starts hurting for a few days, and then it moves to my shoulder, and it just keeps cycling through like that, sometimes even hitting two joints at once. I'm on medication now so the pain has subsided, but I spent two months living like this thinking it would just clear up with vitamins and a really clean diet, but nothing changed—I even went as far as doing a food tolerance test.
As for training, my advice would be to take it moderate, you know, don't push yourself to the breaking point if you feel something, because pain is just a signal that there's inflammation present, and pushing through that at max intensity isn't a good idea...
Just make sure to listen closely to whatever your rheumatologist advises, because I ended up seeing two different specialists; my first doctor told me to just come back once things actually swelled up and turned red... but once I realized the pain wasn't going away on its own, I sought a second opinion. One woman suggested I start medication because her husband had reactive arthritis and was in such a bad state that his jaw, spine, and hips were all swollen, but after finishing a six-month treatment course, he's been fine for a year and doesn't even remember ever being sick... hopefully, we can find that same path to recovery too...😁

Jason James3 said:My primary care physician referred me after I walked her through my symptoms, though she maintains that there are zero signs of inflammation in my labs—not even anything remotely close. She claims that even if I insist on seeing a specialist, there's no real reason to bother with a rheumatologist if these three specific tests come back negative (AST, Waller Rose, and Latex).
... Her theory is that this discomfort stems from the sudden halt in my training regimen; apparently, my bones and tendons became so accustomed to lifting heavy loads every single day that this sudden inactivity has caught them off guard. Again, I must reiterate: the pain is negligible. It doesn't even interfere with my heavy lifting sessions; it is merely an annoyance. Nevertheless, I intend to schedule an appointment with a rheumatologist to pursue more exhaustive testing. My only real fear is that this might be RA; I suppose I could manage with almost anything else, but that would be a difficult pill to swallow. I am specifically suspicious of this Escherichia coli finding, as I have never heard of that particular bacterium being a catalyst for developing arthritis.🤦🙏

RA? No way, you would definitely know if you had that. All my results have been fine too, and honestly, you're lucky the pain is only just starting now, whereas I've been dealing with this for two or three years and didn't even realize what it was, thinking it was just sports injuries... It wasn't until recently, when something different started aching every single day, that I realized something was actually wrong, and I actually had Escherichia and enterococcus before, though I have no idea how I picked those up since I haven't had unprotected sex in two years...

Jason James3 said:So, here's the deal: my blood work results finally came back...

Hemoglobin - normal
Pittsburgh 36 - elevated
CRP - 0.3 (normal range 0.0-5)
Rheumatoid factor - 0.10 (normal range 0.0 - 14)
White blood cell count - normal
fibrinogen - normal
sedimentation 2 (normal range 4-24)

I'm still waiting on the Waller rose, latex, and AST-0 results

I should probably mention that I've been heavily into fitness for the last two years, lifting some pretty heavy weight—around 200 to 220 lbs on the squat, over 300 lbs total on deadlifts, and significant weight on my arms too. I suddenly stopped all that training, maybe a week or two before these pains started showing up. I'm still not experiencing any stiffness, swelling, or acute pain; it’s more of this persistent, nagging ache. It doesn't hurt when I squeeze my fist or when I'm squatting... I can actually still finish a workout.
Is it possible that despite all these numbers looking decent, something is still off? Or am I just being a hypochondriac again?😵

If you're feeling pain, you're definitely not making it up...🙂 but in any case, you should go see a rheumatologist. Who was it that referred you for all these tests?
You really need to get tested for HLA B27; if that comes back positive, there's no question about bacterial arthritis, though if it's negative, it doesn't necessarily mean you don't have it. There isn't one single definitive test to catch everything, so it really just comes down to the symptoms... and that's that.

Jason James3... Asks:
About a month ago, I was diagnosed with a heavy *E. coli* infection... I finished a course of Bactrim and some herbal teas from Dr. Hasanagica, but about a week after that—so nearly three weeks ago now—my joints started acting up. It’s basically everywhere, including my fingers, elbows, shoulders, and mostly my right leg, knees, heels, and feet... The pain isn't intense enough to stop my daily routine or require any Advil, and I don't have any morning stiffness, swelling, redness, or rashes. Sometimes my muscles ache too. Is it possible this is just a reaction to the bladder infection caused by the *E. coli*... I’ve already had blood work done, including CRP, AST, sedimentation, Waller rosa, and a CBC, and I should get those results tomorrow. Can joint pain be caused by something other than rheumatic issues? I’d really appreciate any insight... I'm honestly terrified because of everything I read online, and since I struggle with generalized anxiety and panic attacks, I tend to spiral quite easily. A total hypochondriac, I suppose... Thanks in advance for any help... 🤦😵👎

Hey, I completely understand where you're coming from... my girlfriend deals with panic attacks herself, so I know exactly how heavy that feels, but please don't worry because things really will get better. I went through the exact same symptoms you're describing and spent months trying all sorts of alternative remedies without much luck, so now I’ve just been following everything my rheumatologist prescribed and it's making a world of difference. It’s going to be okay, you just have to be patient and stay committed to the treatment even when it feels like there's no end in sight... I actually know several people who dealt with this too, some even facing much worse issues like intense redness, yet they're totally fine now, almost as if nothing ever happened. I've only just started my current therapy, but I'm already feeling alright, and my doctor says in a few months I'll feel like a brand new person... 🙂

wiredotter12 said:Update:
A urethral swab from October 14, 2014, showed Enterococcus faecalis is still present, though the Klebsiella pneumonia was cleared by two boxes of Ciprofloxacin 500mg. Apparently, Enterococcus faecalis is linked to septic arthritis (http://www.thearthritiscenter.com/co...se-information).

My internist/pharmacist wants me to take Ninur (nitrofurantoin) 50mg capsules for the next 7 days (4 x 2 capsules)—that is two full boxes of 30. It feels like an aggressive "all or nothing" dose. I have to take the Ninur with food or milk to help prevent nausea. I am also taking Linex 2 x daily.

I forgot to mention to the doctor that I have these small pockets or swellings on my knees, ankles, left elbow, and potentially my hand joints. I can't tell if it's fluid buildup or synovial fluid. How do you detect what that actually is, and how do you get rid of it?

Man, those bacteria are such a nightmare, I honestly can't believe you're still dealing with Enterococcus... I really hope these antibiotics finally knock them out for good. I actually had my urethra swabbed and a sperm culture done today, so we'll see what the results look like next week. The pain just won't let up, and a woman told me her husband went through this too and was put on corticosteroids right away, which cleared everything up... I'm just not sure what to make of it all...

Scott Howard74 said:Man, I honestly don't know. I had my blood drawn, checked my liver, kidneys, all that stuff, and everything comes up fine. Right now I'm taking Salazopyrin twice a day, morning and night, Voltaren Rapid for the pain, and 5mg of Normabel to help with the muscle tension.

Everything you're taking or applying seems fine, but those are really just ways to manage the symptoms... what we truly need is to figure out what is actually triggering this condition. I'm convinced there's a solution out there, because nothing happens in the body by pure coincidence... Of course, some people are born with certain conditions, but if you were perfectly healthy growing up and things only started changing later on, it suggests that something internal has shifted...

Hi wiredotter12, I was wondering if you've managed to find any kind of resolution yet, and how you've been feeling lately...