Inflammatory Arthritis and fevers, fatigue, feeling flu like

Rosycheeks

Firstly a big hello and happy new year to everyone. Its been several months since my last post.

I was wondering how many people with an Inflammatory arthritis suffer with (or have in the past) from fevers, fatigue and feeling flu like? Particularly with the fevers though?

I saw my rheumy yesterday and mentioned the low grade fevers I get (often with a flare) and he told me to see me GP as people with inflammatory arthritis have not had fevers as part of their synptoms for the last 40 years since methotrexate etc.

Soooooo.. does anyone else here suffer from this? Or should I be seeing my GP as he suggested

beckie89

Hi Rosycheeks,

I have Psoriatic Arthritis, and just before I got diagnosed I had a flare up over a period of 2 weeks, my first symptom was a fever of 39 degrees... followed by 2 more episodes of fever during the episode.

I'm also suffering at the moment, banging headache, tiredness, joint pain and a temp of 38 degrees.

So usually I just ride out the symptoms and go to bed!

Personally I can't see what your GP could do, but then again I'm not a medical professional!

Hope you feel better soon!

Bex x

stickywicket

That's an interesting one, Rosycheeks because I'd have said that the combination of fever, fatigue and flu-like symptoms did indicate a flare. However, your rheumatologist clearly feels that your arthritis is under control presumably because they blood tests say so. I assume he's telling you to go to the GP next time it happens for that reason ie it's not your arthritis so it must be something else. Does it happen often? How long does it last? What gets rid of it?

Rosycheeks

Thank you for your replies

It happens when im feeling bad with the arthritis. My temp never goes above 38, so its nothing major. But I wondered if anyone else ever gets a fever with their arthritis? Because according to my rheumy nobody suffers with fevers as part of their arthritis anymore, and hasnt done so for the last 40 odd years since the introduction of methotrexate etc.

xxx

beckie89

Obviously we are medical miracles, because I certainly do lol!

Bex x

DebbieT

I get low grade fevers with flares n that's from fibro as well as PsA!! So I have to disagree with him too!! :?

It's odd, imo, that he thinks that way as we're 'more' susceptible to infection on mtx so I'd have thought there would've been a rise not fall?!? :shock:

Xxx xxX

As5567

I certainty do get a low grade fever while having a flare, before I got diagnosed as a child I was put on Antibiotics for a very long time and being treated for a bone infection. For the whole time I had flu like symptoms and a fever most of the time. It wasn't for a year or 2 that they finally looked at Arthritis. So for that reason alone I would have to disagree with your doctor.

salamander

I am seronegative too and saw my new rheumy on Wednesday. She very clearly said to me that people with sero-ve can have inflammation, joint pain and swelling with no raised inflammatory markers. It is very common apparently. She also asked me specifically about fever.

This was a point of conflict with my last (new) rheumy, whom I ditched pronto. She insisted my arthritis was under control when it clearly isn't (I'm in a flare now.)

I would say you know your own body so trust your instincts. It's important you have a doctor you can trust.

Boomer13

I have low fever when I'm starting a flare of PsA, spondylitis, Raynaud's. Fatigue and feeling flu-like are mostly constant. I used to be much more aware of the fever-part but I don't even seem to notice much anymore; it's become normal. I think for some with Lupus, etc the fevers can be quite high.

I thought it was common for autoimmune-dysfunctional to experience this.
I think this has improved for me since taking mtx (1 yr.) So far, I haven't had a virus of any sort.

I guess we are all abnormally normal
Best wishes.

applerose

If you read the symptoms on the Arthritis Care site, it says fever is one of the symptoms. I get it now and again with RA.