My name is Laura, I am 47 years old and for the last month I have had episodes of fever over 100, chills and extreme body aches about once a week. I had chronic pancreatitis for several years and had surgery to remove my pancreas, spleen and part of my duodenum, the islets cells were transplanted to my liver. After that extensive surgery, about 8 months later I got an incisional hernia and had hernia repair surgery last October. I started having pain near my incision early February and had a ct scan to see if I had another hernia, the same day that I had the ct scan, I was cold, felt like I had been hit by a truck and had fever of 100.5, I thought I was getting the flu, when my pcp called about the scan results he said I had a collection of fluid and that it was infected and the fever was probably from the infection and put me on cipro for 10 days. I did not have a high fever while on the antibiotics but had a low grade temp. While waiting for an appt with the surgeon who did my pancreas and hernia surgery, I had more days with chills, fever of 100 or more and body aches and joint pain but the fever and chills just last half a day while the joint pain lasts several days. The first episode I was struck by how bad my hands hurt.
I finally got to see the surgeon and he did not feel the collection of fluid was infected but could not explain the fever. Because I have had the fever/chills/pain episodes several times I have been looking for answers which has led me to the possibility of RA. I was suspected of have lupus 14 years ago after the birth of my last child but I ended up being diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I was tested for RA then, that was neg but I did have an elevated ANA and sed rate. I do not have any family history of RA but my grandmother had MS.
I said all that to ask if these episodes of fever/chills/pain could be RA? I am going to make an appt with my pcp to get some labs done but just wanted to ask here also. Thanks-Laura