Question:
On Mon, 04 Nov 2002 03:15:05 GMT, Lynn J. <cr…@cox.net> wrote: >I am almost pain free. Is Plaquenil used for osteoarthritis?
J has pretty much answered this. >I recently went for a checkup with my PCP. She thinks that I either >have lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. She said that Plaquenil wouldn’t >have helped me if I didn’t have something systemic going on.
Even though J’s source is credible and probably correct, I would have a tendency to suspect a systemic autoimmune process if the Plaquenil has made inroads on your symptoms. (see my sig below for disclaimer!) I’ve had gastro problems for years myself and worsening problems there tend to coincide with "flares". I have also had less trouble with that in the last few months when I started taking a probiotic. (just a pill that has lots of colonies of L. bifidum and L. acidphilus in it.) Plaquenil can be rough on the tummy and I know that it isn’t entirely helpful to my gut problems *but* I find that taking it with food or milk prevents any potential reaction. It’s been so helpful for the rest of me that I settle for the risk to the gut. Especially since that risk can be controlled. That’s true for *me* and your doc should be the one to assess the safety vs. risk issue. You might ask about trying a probiotic though – I take one 3X a week because plaquenil and antibiotics can kill off these beneficial bacteria.
Response:
In article <onobsu8h2mnencae9o9rlqi5ptlft8n…@4ax.com>, Lynn J. <cr…@cox.net> wrote: > I feel like I am falling apart. But I really like my PCP. Let me > know if you know anything about this form of colitis.
It’s a mild disease characterized by changes in mucosa. I don’t have it, but biopsies for it are usually done on patients with spastic colon (also called IBS) as the symptoms can be similar.
Response:
"Lynn J." wrote: > I do not post very often
Well, it’s about time ! 
> but I wanted to give an update and also to > ask some questions. I have not be diagnosed with lupus. The only > test that is positive is the ANA test. My rheum keeps insisting that > I have osteoarthritis only.
Well, osteoarthritic changes can be seen sometimes on x-ray, sometimes on ultrasound. But some type of bone scan saw them in me, scattered throughout the body. Since steroid injections can affect the soft tissues (over time), I would think that plaquenil would be helpful for OA inflammation. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202288.html " It is also used in the treatment of arthritis to help relieve inflammation, swelling, stiffness, and joint pain" (but looks like it can also complicate gastro problems. Have a look yourself and discuss with your doc, I guess. I can’t see swelling in the shoulders but sure have the rest, not excuding inflammation/pain all around the arm pit. > But back in June he gave me a > prescription for Plaquenil and this has really helped my joint pain. > I am almost pain free. Is Plaquenil used for osteoarthritis? > I recently went for a checkup with my PCP. She thinks that I either > have lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. She said that Plaquenil wouldn’t > have helped me if I didn’t have something systemic going on. The test > for RA is negative.
Not unusual, perhaps the answer is to treat symptomatically and/or get checked for some of the Lupus-specific antibodies? Has that been done? It takes some detective work and ruling things out and in, to figure out what exactly is going on. http://www.lupus.org/education/brochures/labtests.html New url for lab tests http://www.enetis.net/~rbreske/lab.htm http://www.mtio.com/lupus/lfalt1.htm (the differentials are mentioned here too) > I told her that my rheum thinks that I have > osteo. She said she doesn’t agree. I told my PCP that I am still > suffering with diarrhea. I was diagnosed with IBS about 15 years ago > and suffer all the time with diarrhea. My PCP said that the diarrhea > might be related to my arthritis. She is sending me to a colon rectal > doctor for a biopsy to see if I have collagenous colitis? Does anyone > have this?
Don’t think so. But here’s what I found http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdbdetail_abstract.html?disname=Co… I guess what they’re saying is that the inflammation may not/probably wouldn’t show up on colonscopy, but a biopsy might be productive in diagnosing (or excluding) it. I think the other forms of colitis involve bleeding from the ulcerations in the lining of the bowel. So I would think that if a treatment protocol didn’t help and the situation worsened, perhaps it could lead to the more severe forms of colitis? (but don’t know). > My PCP also had me get an upper GI because of another problem. I now > have been diagnosed with a small hiatal hernia and GERD. > I feel like I am falling apart. But I really like my PCP. Let me > know if you know anything about this form of colitis.
Aaaack ! Don’t fall apart on us please. There’s treatment for GERD. Hang in there and do update us. J
Response:
I do not post very often but I wanted to give an update and also to ask some questions. I have not be diagnosed with lupus. The only test that is positive is the ANA test. My rheum keeps insisting that I have osteoarthritis only. But back in June he gave me a prescription for Plaquenil and this has really helped my joint pain. I am almost pain free. Is Plaquenil used for osteoarthritis? I recently went for a checkup with my PCP. She thinks that I either have lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. She said that Plaquenil wouldn’t have helped me if I didn’t have something systemic going on. The test for RA is negative. I told her that my rheum thinks that I have osteo. She said she doesn’t agree. I told my PCP that I am still suffering with diarrhea. I was diagnosed with IBS about 15 years ago and suffer all the time with diarrhea. My PCP said that the diarrhea might be related to my arthritis. She is sending me to a colon rectal doctor for a biopsy to see if I have collagenous colitis? Does anyone have this? My PCP also had me get an upper GI because of another problem. I now have been diagnosed with a small hiatal hernia and GERD. I feel like I am falling apart. But I really like my PCP. Let me know if you know anything about this form of colitis. Take Care, Lynn J.
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