Hello everyone. Please forgive that this is a bit lengthy but I really need your opinions:
As some of you know I started my symptoms of blurred vision, tingling in extremities, tight cracking achy joints (ankles, wrists, fingers, jaw, neck), painful needle feeling under feet beginning of jan. I had an mri of the brain and c spine which came back negative, the opthalmologist examined me and said everything was normal, just extreme dry eye in the blurry eye.
Soo, after getting nowhere from a neurologist or opthalmologist, i decided to go to a rheumatologist, and she tested me for all kinds of arthritis, lupus, lyme disease, and different viruses/bacteria infections that could have maybe caused this. The results are in and she said I tested positive for a recent strep infection. Now the last time I had a bad sore throat was the beginning of december and I did not treat it with antibiotics. Then the beginning of january all this happened. Has anyone heard of lingering strep causing the body go haywire like this?? I am skeptical, as if I had this infection for almost 3 months I think i may have been very sick, not just out of whack as above symptoms describe. I am generally very healthy, follow an alternative lifestyle, take a lot of supplements, with about 5-10 thousand mg of vit c per day so my immune system usually wards off most winter illnesses.
I am wondering what I should do now-- lay off the doctors for a few weeks and see how I feel after taking the strep antibiotics she prescribed or seek further advice? I have a follow up appt with the rheumatologist next monday so I want to ask the right questions. I am also looking into seeing Dr. Martin Feldman, the best holistic neurologist in NYC, although a PRETTY PENNY I AM SURE.
Hi Michelle,
It's so strange that you posted this! My friend at work has been going through so much with her 12 yr old girl with the same issues. They thought that she had Lupus - lots of neuro symptoms. U of M found that she has strep infection, probably for years. She has had 2 rounds of PCN and is now better. The docs said that strep can rage through the body without us knowing it and cause many different illnesses, including Lupus. They have to retest her to assure that it is gone. She even had symptoms of Torrettes syndrome-which have completely gone away. I am actually on my way to the rheumy's right now and am requesting that I be tested for strep. Who knows - it may be possible that I have it and it is causing the Lupus??? Stranger things have happened! I had strep throat all the time as a kid and teenager. We will see what he thinks today....I will post back later today.
Good luck!
Leslie
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.. How weird that your friend's daughter is experiencing the same thing... what kind of neurological symptoms besides tourettes ticks has she had? and how long after she was on the antibiotics did the symptoms subside? I appreciate your feedback as this all is starting to make a lot of sense.. if the strep is causing this for me, as I am only 19, it was just strange that i was so sick in december, did not get treated and all of a sudden BOOM, these weird symptoms began. You mentioned the doctor said this girl probably had the strep for years-- how could they tell how long it has been in the system ? My doctor said it was a recent infection for me that was left untreated--december was pretty recent... yes, stranger things have happened! Good luck with your situation too!
Did your friend mention whether her daughter has rheumatic fever, a complication of untreated strep that causes arthritis like pain in the joint and heart problems signaled by chest pain and shortness of breath? I am very concerned about this...
thanks
Hi,
No, my friend said the only illness was strep throat infections. Doc said that these doc's treat the infection with antibiotics and never verify that the infection has actually cleared. She had joint pain, neck pain, sore muscles, uncontrolled jerking of her extremities, fatigue, etc. She tested negative for lupus. Thank goodness that she is improving.
I asked the rheumy about it today and he said that yes, untreated strep can cause arthritic conditions. He assured me that this is not my case, but will test me the next time they draw my blood for my peace of mind!
Did you test positive or meet criteria for Lupus or anything? Were you tested for rheumatoid arthritis? I also have RA, as do many of my family members. It's funny because every one of us had a "major" infectious process going on before our first really huge flare. Interesting...
Leslie
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