Question:
It wouldn’t hurt to cut from the diet, all nightshade family vegetables: tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, and peppers. John
Response:
I’m trying to figure out what condition might be causing the symptoms being experienced by a relative. This person has hypertension and mild osteoarthritis, but has otherwise been in good health. She began experiencing severe pain in what seemed like every joint: hands, knees, ankles, feet, etc. One evening about two weeks ago, she complained of feeling crippled up, hands in clawed position, general joint pain, extreme difficulty in rising from a seated position, feelings of heat radiating from her arms, stiffness, inflammation. These symptoms have been occuring since and are worse in the evenings. About two weeks before these symptoms began, when she was feeling well, she had been visiting her general doctor who had told her to cut the fat intake in her diet, and to increase her dosages of her medication (Vasotec) and a diuretic (which she rarely took before) called Moduretic. She did these things and, when at a follow-up visit ten days later, was told that she had lost a few pounds (apparently water) and her blood pressure was somewhat lower. We thought this was good news, but several days later she was attacked by crippling joint pain and inflammation. I’m wondering if there might be a connection between her increasing the Moduretic diuretic (a drug her body was not used to) and her getting severe joint pain/inflammation. Perhaps her potassium level dropped suddenly, perhaps a electrolyte imbalance was provoked? She has since seen her GP, an orthopedist (who thought it might be a reaction of some kind), a rheumatologist (who thought it might be [something] rheumatica or rheumatoid arthritis), and a nutritionist. She had bloodwork and urine tests and the results came back negative except for a positive rheumatoid factor (which I was told doesn’t necessarily mean anything) and a slightly low thyroid level. My relative is in great pain and I’m very concerned about her. Could anyone suggest what might cause such an onset of acute rheumatoid symptoms and what could be done to help this situation? I asked the rheumatologist if she could rule out lupus, Lyme’s disease, ms, among other things and she said she could rule those out. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions you might have as to what could be causing this problem, and what might be able to help it. (Since this started, my relative has not been taking the Moduretic.) Many thanks. – Janet
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