Thanks for your response.  
I only have 5200 records, some long text fields but no images.  I didn't think that would be an issue.
I think I have to rebuild by database because somehow, one day, all my tables disappeared from the navigation pane and finally, when I found a way to bring them back, they were faded - just like the system tables. Since them the database did weird stuff.
So, now I am rebuilding new tables in a new database and plan to move just the data from the corrupted database to the new one.

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Reply from Alex Hedley:

I'd keep daily/weekly back ups
Maybe backup then compact and repair once a month.