I'm a 45y/o male with long unknown pulmonary hx.Pulmo wants sweat test for CF done??

Hi Rjbeck,

I have no experience with CF - just happened across your post. Have you ever considered an infectious disease diagnosis - specifically Lyme disease and it's coinfections? I ask because despite testing being available for Lyme disease it is notoriously inaccurate. It's also a widely misunderstood condition which left untreated can have serious complications in the long term.

I mention this specifically because of your monthly fevers which could indicate an infectious agent which cycles over a monthly period, which Lyme does and your joint involvement - which although you attribute to your use of prednisone - is characteristic of lyme as well. In fact if you were to have such an infection the use of high dose long term steroids is likely to make the condition worse as you suppress your immune system which is attempting to fight the infection you don't know you have!

I got the impression from your post that you have previously been healthy and if you are based in the US you certainly wouldn't need to travel abroad to pick Lyme up as its notoriously associated with the US.

Have you ever been bitten by ticks or had the characteristic bulls eye rash? Do you see improvements in your condition following antibiotic treatment?

Healingwell has a great Lyme board, so if you think it's a possibility why not go and introduce yourself over there.

Just some thoughts,

Hope things improve,

Hugh