I need help for my brother. Do you have any good advice?
Hello everyone from Germany,
my brother was diagnosed on 23/07/2026 with early seropositive, ACPA-positive rheumatoid arthritis (Steinbrocker stage I). His blood tests show pretty high autoantibodies: CCP antibodies 114.0 (normal up to 17.0) and a rheumatoid factor of 25 (normal up to 14).
At the beginning of May, he had shingles, and in early July Lyme disease was found in his blood. He was treated with doxycycline for the Lyme disease. Not long after that, the joint issues started, with pain and swelling first in the knees and later in the shoulder and left wrist.
Since the diagnosis, he’s been on prednisolone: first 20 mg, which he didn’t tolerate well because of breathing issues, then 15 mg. Now it’s being reduced by 2.5 mg per week. Since lowering the dose, the pain and swelling have come back and his overall condition has gotten worse. He also has strong palpitations, feels like he might faint, occasional nausea, and this wave-like/pulsing inflammation feeling.
Another symptom is that he feels very unwell after eating, almost every time. He also experiences a noticeable pulsing sensation in his abdomen.
Has anyone had similar experiences – especially after infections like shingles or Lyme disease, or during treatment or tapering off cortisone? Could a weakened or dysregulated immune system be playing a role here?
Unfortunately, we can’t get a rheumatology appointment on short notice right now.
Thanks a lot for any experiences or replies!