It all started in April, 2008. Swollen hand for a few days then nothing for a month. Started as a normal cold for me, scratchy throat...Normally would not go to a Doc but did since my Daughter was to be married in a week and a half. I was prescribed an antibiotic and other OTC items but you guessed it, nothing worked. Over the next seven months I was prescribed about six more antibiotics amongst other meds including prednisone (10 or 15 day packs), but still nothing worked. In January '09 my ENT did a test to rule out Wegs but instead ruled it in. Then went to a local pulmonologist and rheumatologist but was not satisfied. Went to Philadelphia, then New York and now am seen at the Cleveland Clinic. In May of this year I started with 60mg of prednisone to start and felt good pretty much right away. Weaned off it by July 31st and the symptoms came back, although changed. My nature is to downplay the symptoms and not complain too much. I go to work each day. Night time is more difficult. My symptoms right now and since August 1st are a congested head, runny nose with no blood, phlegmy cough with no blood, pains in knees, elbows, forearms, toes, gums, sores in mouth, tightness in chest on several occasions, dry mouth while sleeping. I have had two negative biopsies. Although I have had positive pAnca and cAnca the Drs. have not positively diagnosed my illness as Wegener's although they may as well have. I was on Bactrim DS from January thru September 20th. I stopped and went to a nutritionist and have been taking ten different supplements, for six weeks, but these have not helped. My biggest problem is the Drs. have not been able to confirm the diagnosis so all we have to go on are my symptoms. Am I doing more internal damage by not starting the Prednisone and Methotrexate?
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