Reactive arthritis symptoms and conditions

I was taking Levaquin and Medrol Dospak for an upper respiratory infection in the beginning of May 2006. On the fourth day I became violently ill-vomiting and diarhea every twenty minutes, weak pulse, cold clammy skin, low blood pressure, dry mouth difficulty swallowing, muscles spasms and extreme weakness. I was taken to my doctors office where I was given IV fluids as I was dehydrated. All medications were stopped. I went home to try to recover from what I thought was the flu. I had muscle aches and started getting severe joint pain and burning in feet. My mouth was painfully dry ...back to dr. he said I might have Sjorgens Disease (autoimmune disease) and Reactive Arthritis. I have never had anything like that before. He recommended a Rhumatologist...that Dr. said to keep doing what I was doing with first Dr...I was trying despartely to find out what was wrong and get well as my daughter was getting married in June. These symptoms increased and the fatigue was awful. All blood tests were normal except for a slight elevation of CRP which shows inflammation. I still do not know what caused this and what to do about it. I have started to feel better regarding the finger and wrist and shoulder pain as I was prescribed pain medication and more steriods. The pain in the joints of the knees and ankles and toes is lessening. The fatigue is still there. The scary thing is I never thought it could be from a medication and right now I am again on Levaquin and Medrol Dospak for another upper respiratory infection....I am on my second day of meds and after reading this I wonder if I should contiue??

I have been taking Doxycycline 100mg twice a day for about 10 days now. It has for some reason effected my joints. It started in my knees and seems to be moving to other joints like my wrist. I did see other posting with the same problems, but not a lot. I also had one day of being a little light headed early on but it didn't last more that a few hours. I do a lot of sports, so having knees that hurt and I have trouble using sucks! I am done taking the drug and hope to see improvement shortly, but really have no idea how long before my knees may feel normal.

3/30/06 update

I was referred to a rheumatologist by the ER Dr. and had my appointment on 3/29/06. To make a long story short, I do not have gout. I have a condition called 'reactive arthritis' that the doc could/would not openly say was caused by the Levaquin but that he had seen before in patients who were taking/had taken Levaquin. I am taking celebrex and it seems to have helped slightly (stress on the slightly). I am experiencing more and more problems sleeping. The last two nights have been the worst so far with basically no sleep. I generally come into work at 9:00AM and have been showing up at 6:00-7:00AM as of late because I either do not sleep or wake up around 3:00-4:00AM.

I am as used to the foot pain and numb/tingling/burning sensations as i'm ever going to get and am able to work, although at a severly hampered pace. I am actually having some real fear for my job at this point, having taken three sick days in two weeks because of this. I am beginning to believe that I need to consult a mental health professional. I have learned that drinking lots of water can temporarily alleviate some of the symptoms, which I started doing for gout treatment, but doesn't make you feel normal again in any way. I guess this is going to become normal for me. :-(