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rheumatoid arthritis results in stroke like conition?
This happened to my wife Wednesday a week ago. She became disoriented, slurred speech, could not remember her birth date correctly, finally stopped talking with eyes and mouth clenched shut. An almost comatose condition for 2 days. The did a lumbar puncture then she threw up. Next they put a tube through her nose into her stomach so there would be nothing to throw up. They did two MRI and a CT scan of her brain. They tested for a UTI. Checked for seizures in her brain and did two lumbar punctures. Most of this was done a Penn State Medical Center in Hershey, PA. This is probably the most advanced care hospital in my area. They were treating her for Shingles, Lyme, and Meningitis via IV. While in the comatose condition she would at times thrash her head side to side and appear to want to scream, but no sound. Very very difficult to see. Finally came out of the comatose state and is now in rehab. Her speak is not back to normal, I think partly because the tube is still through the nose into the stomach. I am hoping the tube is out when I return tomorrow. She has started to eat baby like food and many different therapists are working with her. Basically is walking with a walker at this point, but not real far.
Anyone on here have a similar experience? The doctors will not commit to a cause, but said they are considering it being connected to Rheumatoid Arthritis, which she has.
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@chzuck Welcome! What a difficult time for you and your wife. I’m so glad that you are near a large comprehensive medical center where your wife can receive the care she needs. The members in this discussion group will give you some information and tips.
@dhzuck.
Did the MRI or CT indicate that she had a stroke?
What medications was she or is she on for her RA? Wonder if there might be a connection to one on her RA meds.
I've had RA for 25 years and in 2019 I took one infusion of Simponi aria and had a reaction that has resulted in a long list of cardiac problems. I had a Pacemaker implanted this past January and in October I was in the hospital for pericarditis. Doctors blamed my RA for the pericarditis, but I think it might have been connected to the Covid vaccination I took 5 days before being hospitalized. The Covid connection is hard to prove, while RA and pericarditis are known issues for RA patients.
My older brother also has RA. Several years ago when he was in for his eye visual field test for Plaquenil , they discovered an eye issue that lead to a neurology consult, CT scans and a MRI. The CT scan showed two previous strokes, one of them had apparently effected his peripheral vision.
There is literature that says people with RA are at an increased risk for strokes.
Hoping for a full recovery for your wife. What a terrible ordeal she has been though
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1 ReactionTwo MRIs, CT scans, 2 Lumbar punctures, Urine test for UTI all negative. They did a scan of her head for seizures and that was negative. Basically comatose for about 4 days. She takes 2mg prednisone and hydroxychloroquine 200mg - 2 Monday thru Friday and 1 Saturday and Sunday. A week before the incident she got some ketoconazole 2 % cream for a skin condition on her face. Had her Flu shot September 23, 2025. Each of us only got the first 2 COVID shots.
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1 Reaction@chzuck there is a major interaction between Ketoconazol, the pill, that is taken orally and Plaquenil. The combination can cause some very serious and dangerous side effects. It increases the level of Plaquenil in the blood stream.
It is thought that cream used topically is not absorbed to the level to cause those kind of issues. Interaction checkers indicate no issues mixing the cream with Plaquenil.
https://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/hydroxychloroquine-with-ketoconazole-1298-0-1412-0.html
Not sure if it makes any difference, but she is on ketoconazole 2 % cream. I will bring it to the doctor's attention.