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33 days of fever

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Posted 10/2/2018 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,
I'm from the UC board (UC diagnosed in 2009, been on Remicade since then)
I was diagnosed with drug induced lupus 2 years ago with all the antibodies associated with SLE. I never had serious symptoms only minor joint pain. Decided not to take the plaquenil.

A month ago, I started having a fever in the afternoon and at night, chest pain and a headache. I found some swollen lymph nodes but they come and go. I have been in the hospital twice and the conclusion is :fever of unknown origin.

Over the counter anti inflammatories seem to keep the fever under control but I'm on day 33 of all these crappy symptoms now.

My question is: does that sound like my asymptomatic DIL is now symptomatic? I dont have joint pain and skin rashes..
What do you think?
Has anyone gone through something similar?

Thank you for your help,

(I have a rheumy appointment in 15 days..)

Edith
Posted 10/3/2018 2:37 AM (GMT 0)
I would reconsider the Plaquenil if I were you, not sure why you decided against it. Plaquenil is a very low risk medication, with very few side effects. Maybe an upset tummy the first couple of weeks, and an eye exam once a year, mostly as a precaution. Plaquenil can't help once the disease progresses, but it keeps it from progressing in the first place.

As to the fever, yes, low grade fevers at random times can certainly be part of the package of Lupus symptoms. I had night sweats for years when my disease was active... sometimes 2 am, sometimes 5 am. And evening sweats. And sometimes in the morning as well. All associated with a fever breaking. Now I rarely have sweats, but I do seem to always get too warm around 8 pm, like clockwork. It's a strange phenomena!

Write down everything you are experiencing, and everything youv'e tried, and share it with the rheumy. It may be time for you to be proactive!

Best wishes.
Posted 10/3/2018 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Lynnwood,
I decided not to take the plaquenil because my rheumatologist said it would only help with arthritic pain, since I never had anything close to what I would call abnormally painful joints, I decided to stay med free. She presented it more like a bandaid and not like something that would prevent me from having flares.
I'm seeing her again on october 15 so I will ask again about it now that you say it's preventive medication. I wish she would have explained better... She only said that in DIL flares are practically nonexistent and that plaquenil could help if I had arthritic pain.

This is so confusing! Thanks for your insight!
Posted 10/3/2018 8:31 PM (GMT 0)
Your rheumy has a very unusual view of Plaquenil.

Every website, etc. that talks about Plaquenil is very clear that it INHIBITS DISEASE PROGRESSION of autoimmune diseases, and many,many rheumies prescribe it even when a diagnosis of Lupus, MCTD, or UCTD has not yet been made.

I have also never heard of plaquenil as a remedy for arthritic pain - but I don't follow arthritis forums, so am not up to date in that area.

/resources.lupus.org/entry/drug-spotlight-on-hydroxychloroquine
Posted 10/4/2018 1:29 PM (GMT 0)
Wow... I will ask again about it for sure, thank you!
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