Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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Never happened before

Kimberley97
Kimberley97
So I have a few questions I have been on Actemra for a few months now. It wasn't helping at the lower dose so last month dr upped it and my labs showed a low sed rate for the first time ever. And my WBC was below normal which has also never happened. Usually WBC is high because of steroids. But in spite of the low numbers my pain and stiffness has been thru the roof awful. So how can that be with low sed. And with my WBC does that mean I'm in more danger of getting very ill than I normally am. If so I'm worried because I already get sick a lot. But I guess the Actemra is doing its job. Just don't get why I hurt so very bad.
Trooper45yrs
Trooper45yrs
This is fascinating to me, Kimberley. I have never been on Actemra, but I have had experience with having low blood indicators for inflammation even though my symptoms were virtually intolerable. That was the worst experience I have ever had in all the years I've had RA (over 45 years). My doc said that my labs did not justify going back on a biologic and I was told to just take ibuprofen. I was in a livin g hell. It finally got worse and worse and worse until a year later (a year!!), my labs finally caught up with what was happening in my body. I was then put on another biologic and felt so much better from the vary first day.
51percent
51percent
Kimberley...you high WBC is most likely from Ra itself. When I go off my meds for surgery, it rises to as high as 17-18,000 when 10-11,000 is the norm.

But there is a type of Ra called Felty's Syndrome that features a low
WBC and an enlarged spleen. So make sure to stay on top of those numbers.

So your numbers may be showing more problems, not necessarily that you are getting better. Remember, many rheumies never see the rare problems that can accompany RA. I'm facing a possible complication called Relapsing Polychondritis and my rheumy is in a group of 6 rheumies and none of them has ever seen a case of RP so we wait. I'll probably have to go to Boston to be seen by someone who has at least seen the disorder before. Maybe your doc just know what he's looking at. But sooner or later, he'll have to do something. won't he!

gentle hugs.................Jen
Kimberley97
Kimberley97
Wow 51 percent I've never heard of that it's defiantly good info to know. We will have to keep an eye on that.