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Rheumatoid arthritis, rash and high calcium levels?

Posted , 8 users are following.

airy48959
airy48959

Can anyone help me? My mother has Rheumatoid arthritis, she takes an injection for it but she also has a rash on her arms, back and legs and she has very high levels of calcium in her blood, she goes for blood tests every few weeks and has done for 3 or 4 years now, the doctors cant figure out what's causing the high calcium.

She's been to specialists, gone for scans and X-rays, she only just recently had a bone marrow test but hasnt got the results yet, im not an expert but shouldnt they have done a bone marrow test years ago since the problem is to do with her bones? they told her she might have cancer but they were so nonchalant about it and gave no information. Does anyone have any experience or knowledge with any of this? The doctors wont tell us anything, my mams just a number where theyre concerned. 

Thanks x

 

1 like, 18 replies

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  • debbie_39876
    debbie_39876 airy48959

    Posted

    Hi. Ive had rash and high calcium, which turned out to be my liver caused by Simponi, was taken off it couple months ago... Don't know if your mum's liver has been checked so might be worth a try if they havnt x

    • airy48959
      airy48959 debbie_39876

      Posted

      Thanks Debbie she hasnt had her liver checked, I dont know the names of her medication but ill say it to her x
  • hope4cure
    hope4cure airy48959

    Posted

    Has she had allergy tests or biopsy for skin issues, psoriasis, eczema or shingles?
    • airy48959
      airy48959 hope4cure

      Posted

      Yeah she's been to skin speacialists, originally they thought it was psoriasis but now they think its something else, she didnt have any allergies but shes become allergic to some hair dyes so she doesnt use them anymore, shes been tested for allergys xx

    • hope4cure
      hope4cure airy48959

      Posted

      Ok I feel for her it's always a mystery. Did they do any skin biopsies. 

      Shingles would be my next guess.

      what does the dr give her for itching?

    • airy48959
      airy48959 hope4cure

      Posted

      As far as I know she had a skin biopsy done, she's been going for that many tests for so long its hard to remember what she's had done, he just told her to get cream for sensitive skin and gave her a perscription for special plasters that heal the rash so thats been helping I think

    • debbie_39876
      debbie_39876 airy48959

      Posted

      That's weird, I also have no allergies... But was sitting in hairdressers last year, had hairdye on my hair for 5 mins and then had a bad reaction... Was rushed of to hospital in a ambulance.... Biological drugs do come with some severe and not so bad side effects

    • airy48959
      airy48959 debbie_39876

      Posted

      That is weird, she must have something similar to what you had, i'll ask her about the medication it must be the reason. Did it take them long to figure it out for you? its taken them nearly 4 years of tests so far with my mam and theyre no closer to explaining anything..

    • airy48959
      airy48959

      Posted

      I suppose if she's left too long without a diagnosis it might cause serious damage to her body, especially if its effecting her liver

    • debbie_39876
      debbie_39876 airy48959

      Posted

      Yes it can, I just hope you don't live in my town because I've been waiting 8 months for liver doctor appointment

  • EileenH
    EileenH airy48959

    Posted

    Bone marrow tests are more to do with blood problems than bone problems - it is what makes your blood cells.

    A very common cause of high blood calcium levels is hyperparathyroidism - the parathyroids are glands near the thyroid.

    Google "High Blood Calcium: Hypercalcemia (too much calcium in the blood) parathyroid com)" and you will get a link to a site that explains it all very well in simple language.

    If any of it sounds familiar - ask the doctors politely if they have checked for this. I think even your GP could order the tests - so if you get on well with them ask to discuss it. 

    • airy48959
      airy48959 EileenH

      Posted

      Hi Eileen, thanks I did look that up before but she doesnt have any of the other symptoms, she's was sent to hospital a few months ago for irregular heartbeat, the doctors didnt know why or what was causing it but I did a quick google search and the first thing that came up was high calcium so I dont know why the doctors didnt link the two? its so confusing. 

  • hope4cure
    hope4cure airy48959

    Posted

    are you talking about bio drug injections. Rashes are a side effect in many cases.

    how miserable can Hydroxyzine help her? Or benedryl?

    • airy48959
      airy48959 hope4cure

      Posted

      Im not sure,her injections called Humira I think? she was told that it can cause side effects but they know her medication so id of thought they'd have checked that, she was on different medications but they didnt work and steroids were causing her problems 

    • hope4cure
      hope4cure airy48959

      Posted

      Humors can cause all the reactions you mentioned. See side effects online.hopefully she can adjust once her body changes to the biological drug  for helping slow gown the bone damage from RA.

       

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