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Posted 11/13/2006 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
I'm alittle frantic/panic as my 25yr. old son-in-law was just diagnosed with spondyloarthritis and is having trouble with his meds. He has an ulcer.

What is the medicine that's injected? Does that cause ulcers?

 

Posted 11/13/2006 3:59 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there Mrsb... welcome to healing well... Hopefully we can help you, what type of ulcer does your SIL have? How long has he been on this medication? Is he on Enbrel.. Humira... MTX?
Posted 11/13/2006 5:51 AM (GMT 0)
it could be methotrexate? that is a very common one for Reiter Syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis and the other Spondyloarthropathies.
Posted 11/13/2006 6:16 AM (GMT 0)
The only medications I know for the various spondyloarthropathies that are injected are Enbrel, Humira, methotrexate and Remicade. Remicade is not really an injection but an infusion via IV.

What type of ulcers are you asking about? Stomach ulcers? Skin ulcers? Colon ulcers? To my knowledge, none of the above meds cause ulceration. The injectables can cause injection site reactions but I know of noone that has had one turn into an ulcer. Some of the spondyloarthropathies have bowel or colon problems associated with them. Because spondyloarthropathy is an autoimmune process, it can effect other systems in the body. If you provide more specifics about the type of ulcers, we might have more answers for you.
Posted 11/13/2006 1:18 PM (GMT 0)
My soninlaw, Jeff is having tests done today, Mon. so I'll have a better handle on my questions. Thank you for your quick responses..he's only been married a year and this is quite debilitating. Thank you again.

Posted 11/14/2006 7:39 AM (GMT 0)
Sadly I am in the same age range (almost 30 now, have had my conditions for over 4 years) and have a similar condition, Reiter Syndrome which is a nasty Reactive Arthritis which was triggered by my preexisting Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome. Neither one is any fun but together they are a very nasty one-two punch =/

I hope you'll let us know how things work out, and perhaps Jeff can come join us for support!
Posted 11/24/2006 2:54 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks for your input..my soninlaw is still very bad. He's loosing weight and is in extreme pain...1-10 he's a 9.9. His Dr. doesn't seem to be to concerned that he's loosing weight or muscle mass. Is it time for a new Doc? We still haven't gotten the results fromt he colonoscopy or endoscomy. He's anemic. SO this has held up the whole process of him taking embrel; just pain meds. Very, very frustrating!

Posted 11/24/2006 3:32 PM (GMT 0)
I would say this is very serious. Is this anemia sudden? Is it red blood cell anemia or B vitamin anemia? {or pernicious anemia (B vitamins missing an intrinsic factor in the bowel)}
Extreme pain plus sudden weight loss or losing more than a pound a day or 5 to 7 pounds a week is serious.
He could have a bleed somewhere! An ulcer????? It might be bleeding thus explaining the anemia....and that 9 times out of 10 requires hospitalization so he can rest the gut, will most likely be NPO (no eating) recieving proper pain managment, IVfluids & treating the anemia with packed red blood cells if required.
Now, a biopsie from the scopes can sometimes take up to a month....but automatically your doc can see any disease process (most times) righth then and there through the scope.
I would get after that DR. and speak up!!!!!!! Your S.I.L. might not be strong enough to really bark at a physician...so that's when a good parent needs to step in!
At home, I would be sure to take his temp, pulse (should be between 60 to 100 per min) and blood pressure (90/60 to 140/90 normal range) at least every 6 hours to keep a baseline on his vitals.
If the pain gets crazy...go to the ER, can't fool around with anemia either.
Prayers & well wishes to you & your family.
Erin
Posted 11/26/2006 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to Hw,we are glade to have you and hope you soninlaw will join as well and please do let us know how his test come out.
Posted 11/26/2006 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
My soninlaw, Jeff is only 25. Is his diagnosis of spondyloarthritis a life sentence of pain or does it usually go into a remission state at times? Does any one have any hopeful advice for his future?
He goes back to his Doc tomorrow to decide the next step...his anemia and weight loss is an importance right now also. He will hopefully be starting enbrel this week.
Thanks to you all..
Posted 11/27/2006 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
The Spondylitis Association of America has very good information about all aspects of spondyloarthropathy. It is a great place to start learning about the family of spondylitis diseases. http://www.spondylitis.org/main.aspx

In regards to his anemia and weight loss - sounds to me those two problems are good reasons that he had the scopes. Many people with one of the inflammatory bowel diseases [Crohn's or ulcerative colitis] develop spondyloarthropathy. Until he gets the results of his scopes, it is premature to discuss the future in terms of pain, etc. because of the intertwining of the two diseases. If he has no bowel disease, then treatment will probably start differently than if he has both. Also, treatment regimes vary among doctors. Some rheumatologists are much more aggressive than others in what they prescribe.

I have both diseases and I am doing very well for the most part. I do have some pain but then again I am more than twice the age of your SIL and likely have a lot of "wear and tear" issues.

Posted 12/8/2006 4:39 PM (GMT 0)

Hi folks

I just wanted to let you know my soninlaw, Jeff is doing better. He's taking Lodine, iron pills, and started enbrel last week. It's all coming together slowly, but he's feeling better and walking much better.

Thanks for your support

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