I am HLA-B27 positive. Will it affect my marriage life?
Hi doctor,
I am a 29-year-old female. I got married recently. I am HLA-B27 positive patient with vitamin D deficiency (less than 8%). These days, I am suffering from severe back and shoulder pain. Sometimes, there is hip joint pain, and I am not able to sleep at night. Rarely, the pain remains throughout the day. What can I do to overcome this pain except for painkillers? I just searched a few articles on the internet and found that my backbone will slowly start bending and will look like a slouchy person. I am worried. Will it also affect my marriage life? Do I need to stop maintaining physical relations with my husband? Please help me.
29 Apr 2024 - 1 min read
Does antihistamines causes vasoconstriction?
Hi doctor,
I am having major vasoconstriction problems. I would like to know if my daily antihistamines intake is causing this problem. I am taking Loratadine and Fexofenadine hydrochloride daily for allergies.
29 Apr 2024 - 1 min read
Is it safe to consider pregnancy after ANA turned negative?
Hello doctor,
My daughter had a little girl four years ago. About three months postpartum, she fell down a flight of stairs injuring her back. At the same time, she had a very bad cold. When her back continued to give her pain after seeing the orthopedist, she went to a neurologist. Her blood work showed an ANA of 640 and a positive anti-DNA number. She was told that she was a candidate for developing lupus. Since that time she had seen a series of rheumatologists as her ANA has remained positive, rarely 320 but generally 180. He just went for routine rheumatology and her ANA is negative as is her anti-DNA number. Of course, she is elated, as she and her husband have wanted a second child badly. They have been afraid however because of the risk of her developing lupus, especially afraid of becoming disabled as she already has one small child who needs her care. She has also been told that the offspring of women with positive ANA with potential lupus may have children with a higher incidence of autism, another great fear in this generation.
She is now very confused about how to proceed in terms of getting pregnant. On one hand, it feels like she may have dodged a bullet - and if so is there any sense in running after the bullet? On the other hand, she is trying to think positively that this may be a window through which a pregnancy might be safe. There seems to be a rise in autoimmune disorders in general, especially among childbearing-age women. She is a 35-year-old professional. Of course, pregnancy is a hormonal firestorm and she is afraid that it will reignite lupus. On the other hand, she and her husband desperately want a second child. In your experience, once an individual who had previously tested positive for ANA for four years goes to a negative status, is it likely they will remain there? Would you advise against the pregnancy? In your practice have you seen the offspring of ANA positive having a greater incidence of neuro-developmental disabilities like autism? (she was never positive for that congenital lupus marker). Do you think it is likely that the pregnancy would put her at greater risk for developing lupus either now or in the future?
26 Apr 2024 - 1 min read
What causes persistent fever, joint pain, and rash?
Hi doctor,
I have had a fever for over a year now. I have joint pain in wrists and awaiting ultrasound guided steroid injections. I have three deformed fingers, premature ventricular contractions, shortness of breath, chest pain, upper back pain, neck stiffness, cracking and pain. I have dry mouth, nose, throat, eyes and now choking regularly. I had surgery for a prolapsed spinal disc and loss of sensation or power to the entire right leg. Now, I have a rash on my face and neck and unexplained bruises and rashes. My joints crack and creak. My wrist and knuckles swell and turn red. I have ulcers in my mouth and lost weight. My BP keeps fluctuating between 69/49 mmHg and 220/202 mmHg and pulse too remains irregular between 39 bpm and 115 bpm. I also feel fatigue, irritability, aggressive with low vitamin B12. The rheumatologist, who I am visiting once in six months, is not keen to diagnose me. Please help me.
26 Apr 2024 - 1 min read
What is the reason for the pain in my hands and wrists?
Hi doctor,
I am having pain in my hands and wrist and it started a few months ago. It is typically in the morning. I visited a doctor and she did blood tests. The result flagged in my blood tests was anti-Sm/RNP 2.8 and she has referred me to a rheumatologist, who cannot see me for the next two months due to my busy schedule. Can you tell me what does it mean?
24 Apr 2024 - 1 min read
