I am really sick. What do I do?

I am not well.  Started last night with well this is gross but with less than normal stools (diarrhea).  It still continues though now it is greenish or yellow.  Sorry to be so graphic.  I started going downhill more and more today and by the time I got home I had a fever.  Low grade.  100.5F.  I also have had a flare at the same time of multiple painful joints. 

Just yesterday I went to the rheumy for a follow up and overall there had been some good improvements.  I discussed my bowel history and he suspects inflammatory bowel too.  Says I need a GI consult and then they may consider switching one med from methotrexate to sulfasalazine.  They are going to move the Rituxan infusion to every 4 months instead of every 6. 

Well, I didn't have a chance to see the GI doc before this happened again and this time it is much worse then I have had before.  I never had a fever before so I am thinking either bad food or infection?

I currently take Rituxan, Methotrexate (10 tabs), Arava, and other meds unrelated to RA.  I thought i read on those tons of doctors pamphlets that if you are running a fever you should be seen because of the meds or for whatever reason.   I don't want to go running if I don't have too what do you think????

Theresa

Thanks Ducky. There is pain in about all of my joints that just came on so suddenly today after the start of the GI issues. The fever started about 12 hours later. It was 100.5 and now it is 101 but it isn't very high. I remembered something about the Rituxan and low B cells and that if you have a fever then there is something pretty big going on because you need those WBC to have a fever and mine are intentionally being lowered.... so I got nervous. But I am not getting much worse. Just feel like crap and very tired. For me to be cold in the summer there has to be something wrong. I think I am just going to wait this out. Must be a 24 hour bug or something. If it were really bad I would be much worse by now. I hadn't taken tylenol or anything because I was concerned about my gut. But I think I should be able to manage that now. Sorry there was a bit of concern earlier but since it really hasn't progressed that concern is decreasing.
Theresa

Hi Theresa,

Since you're on immunosupressant therapy, I would suspect an infection and see a primary if it continues.  It may not seem like a huge health risk now, but if it is an infection and your immune system is under the weather it can get ugly real fast.  I hope you're feeling better soon.

El

Thank you everyone for your responses and concern. I have turned a corner today and am feeling much better. Still have some issues but overall I am function and back to work tomorrow.

Thank you

Theresa

I am still improving.  Still looking at food like it is an alien.  Still losing weight and still having some intestinal issues but overall I am doing much better.  My poor boy is not well now so there really is never time to rest when your a momma.  He is soooo pitiful.  I just wish the jaw pain would go away.  Using ice and heat is helping.

Theresa