I was diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis about ten years ago. Rheumatology tried a lot of different meds and nothing seemed to really work. 5 years later I began having GI issues (bloody diarrhea) and colonoscopy showed multiple ulcerations in the cecum which got me a diagnosis of Crohns. This made me able to have remicade infusions and I felt much better. Joint pain was much better and tendinitis issues were almost completely gone.
About 18 months ago I started having uncontrollable hypertension and protein urea and decreased kidney function as well as extreme fatigue, migraine headaches, and shortness of breath. I had a kidney biopsy that was sent to Mayo Clinic in Rochester and they found the cryoglobulins in the vessels.
I was then started on rituximab infusions. I have had three rounds now. One every six months. Unfortunately only 2 months after my last treatment all of my symptoms came back. My nephrologist put me on 64mg of methyl prednisone and I am now tapered down to 8mg. I am still having the old musculoskeletal issues, especially random tendinitis that just make working difficult as I have a fairly physical job. The fatigue is pretty significant. Most days I have to go to bed shortly after I get home from work. Right now my kidney function is back to my new normal and my HTN is under control.
My nephrologist together with my rheumatologist has now decided that they want to discontinue the methotrexate that I’ve been on since the beginning and replace it with cellcept. I started this yesterday.
My nephrologist has been researching how he should treat me chronically but the only articles out there are referencing acute treatment usually with the associated hepatitis or lymphoma diagnosis so that’s why I am reaching out.