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RA raging fatigue awful.... blood work questions

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Posted 6/19/2013 7:35 PM (GMT 0)
I have a question for the RA suffers out there.  I have had alot of extreme fatigue and pain lately.  I am on Cimzia but had more bw done yesterday.  My B12 level is highly elevated... what in the world could that mean? My IGA level is double what it should be as well.  and of course my sed rate and crp levels are elevated.... What is going on with my body?  Help is there anyone else out there that has experienced the high b12 levels before.... My doctor took me off of cimzia as he said it was not working for me and raised my prednisone until I can start on Orencia.   Any info would very much be appreciated as I am soooo confused.

Thanks
Peggy

Posted 6/19/2013 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
Just curious...how high are we talking on the B12? Have you any history of liver disease? Myleoproliferative disorders (disorders where the bone marrow produces too many cells...especially red blood cells like polycythemia vera) ? Are you diabetic? What labwork has your doctor done? IgA levels are often elevated in autoimmune disease, hepatitis, and certain malignancies (not saying that you have any of these). When I worked in hematology/oncology you could also see a high IgA with chronic sinus infection, if the urine electrophoresis is normal (I don't know if they ran this test on you).

Kinda sounds like an autoimmune process (flare of RA--do you have this? or Lupus? or inflammatory bowel disease?), given your elevated inflammatory markers, but I am not a doctor. This would explain your fatigue as well. If this is the case, then the Prednisone should help.
Posted 6/20/2013 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
Could be the cimzia cause all this, its good your doctor is working on it, hopefully your next bloodwork testing comes back good. Hope things improve for you soon. Keep us posted on this...RNwithRA had good advise could be the cimzia was effecting your liver and hope your doctor caught it early for you. Many Prayers and well wishes, maybe google cimzia or go to www.drugs.com to look for the long list of side effects on cimzia. Make sure to get your bloodwork done often so these can be caught early, as caught early then it might be reverseable. Keep us posted.
Posted 6/21/2013 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much Chartreux and RNwithRA... I appreciate all of your input... I am feeling much better today. Prednisone as bad as it is works..... Off of Cimzia for a month then trying Orencia so we will see. At least I will feel good at the beach...lol headed that way tomorrow for a week of rest and relaxation which will help tremendously I am sure. Have either of you ever taken Orencia? If so how long does it take for it to make a difference? I am happy to be starting something new as it has been hard on the Cimzia with my energy going down so bad. Hopefully things will look up. At least that is what I am going in to this looking for. Always try to be positive... Thanks for everyone on this site.... It just helps so much to talk to others...
Love and Prayers
Peggy
Posted 6/21/2013 7:52 PM (GMT 0)
My doc is thinking and I say thinking of using Orencia, but for now I'm getting the go ahead to restart the mtx...My doc is very leary of me going on a strong biologic as I get pneumonia easy (4 times in my life I've had pneumonia, last in 2010) so his reservations are strong and if I can't do the mtx then pretty much that's my only medication, as I've tried the others without success and bad reactions...
At least you get to be placed on another medications and I hope your bloodwork numbers go good for you!
and you got a good team of doctor working with you as when the spot something they are on top of it...so go and enjoy your weekend....Many well wishes and keep us posted.
Posted 6/21/2013 9:04 PM (GMT 0)
I do have a good doctor and he is really caring too which makes it alot easier to talk to him. He also treats my husband for RA. We think alot of him. Yeah I hope this new medication will work we will see. I am so sorry that the other meds have not worked well for you my friend. Take care and keep us posted on you as well.
Love and Prayers
Peggy
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