Does anyone out there have Mediterranean fever?

[kashiangal]

My entire life I have had extreme joint pains in my legs. The pain just about cripples me. Doctors have told me that the pain is in my head, or that the pains are "growing pains." (I'm 24 and I'm only 5 feet tall, I don't think its growing pains.)
I just found out that one of Mediterranean fever's symptoms is leg pain.

2. Joint attacks, occurring in large joints, mainly of the legs. Usually, only one joint is affected. 75% of all FMF patients experience Joint attacks.

Would I be completely crazy if I walked into a doctor's office asked to be tested?
Does anyone out there have this disease? Could they describe what it is like?

[One-Way]

Re: Does anyone out there have Mediterranean fever?

I have always wanted to make a thread about the Mediterranean Fever but for some reason, decided against it.

I have had it my entire life (I'm 21). My sister (24) and my father have it as well. My aunts on my mother's side, too. Nobody in my family gets their attacks as often and as severe as I do. This might get lengthy but I'm sure any advice is helpful for you.

Doctors don't really know anything about Mediterranean Fever. You're lucky you know about it because most doctors will just remove your appendix. After reading your post once again, I realize you're not even sure if you have FMF.

I can tell you this, nobody in my family really gets "joint pains." Then again, we don't get rashes either and that's another symptom of FMF. That doesn't mean you don't have FMF, it just means we don't have those symptoms. We get, or at least I, get intense stomach pains. I'll need to rest for at least 3 days, but the pain won't be completely gone until a week later. The only thing we can do is take Colchicine (1 mg). It prevents kidney failure and helps reduce the frequency of your attacks.

I take Colchicine every day and still get my attacks at least once a month! That's pretty intense if you ask me, considering my father and sister get it once a year! They're usually good to go after a day, but my attacks are much, much more severe.

I suggest you look around for a doctor who knows about FMF. Most doctors don't and it took my family a long time until we found someone. And yet, he's still no expert and there's so little you can do about it anyway. Find out if you do have it, and see if Colchicine will work for you. Hopefully, it will help. It doesn't quite help me, as I had another attack about a week ago.

Good luck. Let me know if you need any more information.

[kashiangal]

Re: Does anyone out there have Mediterranean fever?

Sometimes I do have really bad stomach pains. Generally when these pains hit I can't stand or uncurl my body. The stomach pains normally last one day and I only get them about two or three times a year.
The leg pains on the other hand are mind bending; sometimes I lie on the floor screaming and crying. The leg pains take a hold of me at least once a month, sometimes more often.
I've stopped complaining about my legs to doctors. Because all they ever do is test me for arthritis or take x-rays of my legs.

The only reason FMF popped into my head is because I was watching House and they mentioned it on the show. So I went to my computer and looked it up. According to the internet 1 out of 7 Armenians have FMF.

[One-Way]

Re: Does anyone out there have Mediterranean fever?

Sometimes I do have really bad stomach pains. Generally when these pains hit I can't stand or uncurl my body. The stomach pains normally last one day and I only get them about two or three times a year.
The leg pains on the other hand are mind bending; sometimes I lie on the floor screaming and crying. The leg pains take a hold of me at least once a month, sometimes more often.
I've stopped complaining about my legs to doctors. Because all they ever do is test me for arthritis or take x-rays of my legs.

Oh, wow. You just reminded me. I had horrible leg pains as well! I can't believe this slipped my mind!

In middle school, I don't know why, but all of a sudden my legs went weak. I couldn't stand or walk, nobody knew what it is. The doctors even wanted to do surgery but I don't even think they knew what was going on. After this, I started to get FMF more frequently. This was so long ago but I can ask my mother if it had to do with FMF. I'm pretty sure it did, so it may be a real sign that you have it as well.

The only reason FMF popped into my head is because I was watching House and they mentioned it on the show. So I went to my computer and looked it up. According to the internet 1 out of 7 Armenians have FMF.

Do you mind telling me what they said on House and how/why it was mentioned? I'm just very curious.

[kashiangal]

Re: Does anyone out there have Mediterranean fever?

The doctors on the show were running through a list of possible diseases that might have caused the patient's symptoms. Someone suggested Mediterranean fever, but it was shot down because the patient wasn't experiencing any "leg pains".
They mentioned it on this season's premiere.

[One-Way]

Re: Does anyone out there have Mediterranean fever?

I asked my mother about the leg pains I had when I was younger and she said she was pretty sure it had to do with FMF.

Apparently, my aunt had severe leg pains as well. After taking Colchicine, she hardly ever experiences any pain. I really suggest you ask your doctor about Colchicine. Tell him you may have FMF and see what he says.

[skhara]

Re: Does anyone out there have Mediterranean fever?

I admit I know nothing of MF.

The first time I've heard of it when I was a teen watching tennis and they were talking about Pete Sampras.

For Armos who have this condition, is it primarily Armenians of Western Armenian ancestry?

[One-Way]

Re: Does anyone out there have Mediterranean fever?

I admit I know nothing of MF.

The first time I've heard of it when I was a teen watching tennis and they were talking about Pete Sampras.

For Armos who have this condition, is it primarily Armenians of Western Armenian ancestry?

No. It can affect anyone, really, as long as you have a carrier on both sides of your family.

[crusader1492]

Re: Does anyone out there have Mediterranean fever?

I have always wanted to make a thread about the Mediterranean Fever but for some reason, decided against it.

I have had it my entire life (I'm 21). My sister (24) and my father have it as well. My aunts on my mother's side, too. Nobody in my family gets their attacks as often and as severe as I do. This might get lengthy but I'm sure any advice is helpful for you.

Doctors don't really know anything about Mediterranean Fever. You're lucky you know about it because most doctors will just remove your appendix. After reading your post once again, I realize you're not even sure if you have FMF.

I can tell you this, nobody in my family really gets "joint pains." Then again, we don't get rashes either and that's another symptom of FMF. That doesn't mean you don't have FMF, it just means we don't have those symptoms. We get, or at least I, get intense stomach pains. I'll need to rest for at least 3 days, but the pain won't be completely gone until a week later. The only thing we can do is take Colchicine (1 mg). It prevents kidney failure and helps reduce the frequency of your attacks.

I take Colchicine every day and still get my attacks at least once a month! That's pretty intense if you ask me, considering my father and sister get it once a year! They're usually good to go after a day, but my attacks are much, much more severe.

I suggest you look around for a doctor who knows about FMF. Most doctors don't and it took my family a long time until we found someone. And yet, he's still no expert and there's so little you can do about it anyway. Find out if you do have it, and see if Colchicine will work for you. Hopefully, it will help. It doesn't quite help me, as I had another attack about a week ago.

Good luck. Let me know if you need any more information.

One-Way,

I'm familiar with FMF because I know someone who suffers from it. Her attacks are very painful...so much so that that she is bed ridden for a couple days. However, she does not have attacks as often as you do. In fact, she has not had one now for more than 6 months now.

She used to take 1mg of Cholchecine a day, but now (per her new doctors orders), she take cholchicine twice a day. One 0.6 mg in the morning and one 0.6 mg at night.
Perhaps this regiment will stall your attacks better.

[One-Way]

Re: Does anyone out there have Mediterranean fever?

One-Way,

I'm familiar with FMF because I know someone who suffers from it. Her attacks are very painful...so much so that that she is bed ridden for a couple days. However, she does not have attacks as often as you do. In fact, she has not had one now for more than 6 months now.

She used to take 1mg of Cholchecine a day, but now (per her new doctors orders), she take cholchicine twice a day. One 0.6 mg in the morning and one 0.6 mg at night.
Perhaps this regiment will stall your attacks better.

To be honest, I've done everything I could.

I spoke to my doctor a few months ago and asked him if I could increase my dosage from 0.6mg to 1mg and he advised against it. I ended up doing so anyway and that's helped me a little bit.

As I said, nobody in my family gets it as often as I do. I get them very frequently and it lasts much longer than anyone else. After years of trying, there's not much more I can do but thanks.