I have been low carbing since the end of January with some success and few problems until recently. A few weeks ago I ate a low carb bar and shortly thereafter I noticed I broke out in a rash. I figured I was alergic to something in the bar. I went to Walgreens and asked a pharmacist if what I should take. He asked if I had any breathing problems (I didn't) and suggested Benedryl. I took some, and it didn't help at all. Then later in the day all my major joints stiffened up. I was in some major pain. So the next day I went to the walk in clinic where I was tested for lupus and artheritis, among other things. The test came back negative for lupus but I scored a 133 for rhumatoid (sp?) artheritis. A normal person should be under 20. The tech called back 30 minutes later to inform me that there was something in my blood that could indicate leukemia and I should call my doctor ASAP. My doctor indicated that there was something unusual in my blood, but if I had leukemia my white blood cells would be affected and mine were fine (my blood pressure finally went down after that). So the next step is to see a Rhumatoid Atheritis doctor (in a few weeks) and to come back for more blood work in a month. Then a friend of mine saw Dateline where people were losing weight for their 25th reunion and the guy who was doing Atkins developed gout. So I looked up gout on the internet and saw that I had some of the symptoms (rash and joint pain), and that it can also mimic rhumatoid artheritis. So now I'm thinking maybe I had the gout. Has anyone else experienced anything like this or has know anyone that has? Just looking for some help.

Thank You so much.
Josie