Possible Polychondritis and RA

[Antonia39]

Hello, I’m having investigations into what is going on with me, they think it’s possibly RA and want to start me on hydroxychloroquine. My bloods only showed a positive for ANA. Other than aching swollen joints, lumps and tingling, my other biggest symptom is the cartilage in my nose is slowly deteriorating. I get pain there, some bruising and it smells like a I have a slight infection up there. Does anyone else get this?

[oldtimer]

Welcome to this group which I find very helpful. Gosh, I had to look up polychondritis. It seems a bit rare but is another of those pesky autoimmune diseases. It does look as if the treatment is much better than it used to be, so starting on treatment for an autoimmune condition seems a reasonable first step. The sooner you are on treatment the better by the sounds of it!

It's always worth using the search box (top right) as there may be previous posts on this that I haven't seen.

[Antonia39 in reply to oldtimer]

Thank you, I’ve been here for a while but tend to read rather than post! It’s fab 😊 My mum also has it but hers is with GPA.

I have my consult to start treatment today thank goodness!

[8124]

hi if its of any help to you I am fine with hydroxychloroquine I had it with sulphasalazine, which I did not get on with and was switched onto methotrexate tablets which were ok and eventually helped. have now been switched to methotrexate injection which works ok. I have to be very careful as I have other health problems including surviving bowel cancer and here is the best on or worst one depending on how you look at things, wait for it HYPOGAMMAGLOBULIMA you will have to look that one up as I will be on her all night

hope that is of some help to you, Neil Jackson

[Hidden]

Hi Antonia, I’m also having problems with the cartilage in my nose. It’s not the septum though, that appears okay. It’s the outside/lateral walls that are collapsing in. Where is your problem with your nose? Are you able to breathe okay still?Do you have any other symptoms like night sweats without fever, or hair loss?

I have had bloods done that came back negative for vasculitis. ESR and C-reactive protein are always low.

Do you have ear involvement?

[Antonia39 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Rachel, it’s night to find someone who’s having similar problems! Mine is also the outer wall, my septum appears to be ok. I occasionally get a swollen ear but nothing to write home about. Hair loss and chills/night sweats, yes!

[Hidden in reply to Antonia39]

I have had blood tests for vasculitis but all negative, inflammation markers are never up. I haven’t asked about RP but will mention this at my next appointment. My ears are absolutely fine. The only time the right one very occasionally hurts is when I lie on it for a long time, like most of the night.

How is your nasal breathing? Mine is absolutely awful. I go between feeling like I can’t get air up there and that there’s some lack of resistance or something.

My nose doesn’t swell but I do get strange feelings, almost like pressure.

[Antonia39 in reply to Hidden]

I’m positive for ANA but that’s it. I also have a long list of other symptoms 🙄 the most bothersome being tingling all over and pain in my joints and muscles. I also have swollen lymph nodes and numerous bone spurs in random places, the worst being on my tailbone. I also get strange pressure in my nose and stinging like I’ve been under water. Occasionally get nose bleeds and yes, blocked most of the time with crusting too.