Rheumatologist Followup

[PIK]

Hello everybody. I had a rheumatologist followup visit today. My ASO has fallen from about 1600 to 1300, and antidnase-B was also about 100 points lower than previous.

 

The rheumatologist had initially put me on penicillin VK 500 mg three times per day x10 days then once per day indefinitely to see if the ASO would come down. After a few months I stopped the penicillin because I felt ill, as if I had meningitis.

 

He told me today that penicillin can in fact cause aseptic meningitis (which I knew) and to try it again to see if I will be ill again. Again he insisted on only a once-per-day dose of 500 mg. Which is one of my question. Why such a small dose?

 

I also asked him why I had felt ill for a period of about six months. Was it A) Just the penicillin Some type of rheumatic fever reaction to the high strep titers or C) both, and he said he was not able to answer that question.

 

He said if I felt ill with the penicillin to discontinue it and that we would just follow the ASO titer. He also said that elevated ASO titers aren't always pathogenic (though I truly feel it is in my case with general ill feeling, joint pains etc.)

 

Does all this sound right to you experts? He is a rheumatologist at the University of Pennsylvania. He must have some idea what he's talking about - it can't all just be hot air or utter ignorance. And the fact is I like him. He first suggested vitamin D deficiency, which I had severely, as well as sleep apnea and fibromyalgia, which I also have. So I don't really want to see another doctor, but I'm wondering about his non-aggressive approach to the very high ASO titers.

[PowPow]

I would believe it. For no reason other than he is taking you seriously.

Really.

Follow what he says and see how you do.

I also agree that a high titer is not necessarily pathogenic & a whole host of other things could cause joint pain/ill feeling.

Just my $.02