Cellulitis...

I was Dx w/fibro last year but have had symptoms for six years. Now something new has popped up: I have had cellulitis twice in the last eight months and the lymph nodes under my arms are swollen to the size of golf balls and very painful. My dr says that it's a result of the cellulitis and I will have to go on periodic antibiotic injections until the swelling goes down. What next?

[Garth L Nicolson, PhD]

Response from Prof. Nicolson:  I agree with your physician that your condition is probably related to chronic infections.  When FMS patients are tested for chronic intracellular cell wall deficient bacteria (Mycoplasma, Borrelia, Chlamydia, etc.) over 70% show infections, often with viral infections (HHV6, CMV, etc.) as well.  Such infections can invade the peripheral nerves and cause FMS signs and symptoms.

[droopy56]

I have had my condition for the past 6 years, and the infections are something relatively new. Even though I've had cellulitis twice in the past year, my overall health has been good. If I get a flu shot, i usually manage to avoid the flu during the entire season, etc., and I don't get colds very often, though when I do, my symptoms seem worse due to my lack of a pain threshold. My first bout with cellulitis came after a surgical procedure and the second bout was caused by a cat scratch two weeks ago. I get scratched quite often (my cat is an un-neutered male, hence he can be quite aggressive) and I usually heal in a week or so. My PCP is of the opinion that the infections are secondary, and not the cause of my condition since I've had the FMS symptoms for so long.

[PlateletGal]

It is strange because when I was healthier,  I would often catch cold & flu bugs that were going around. But when my CFS was at its worse, I noticed that I no longer was able to get fevers and if I caught a cold, I didn't have typical cold symptoms ! Instead, my CFS symptoms would get worse. Dr. Mark Shaw also discusses this in one of his articles about CFS and fibromyalgia (he has both conditions). I guess that is what immune dysfunction is. (insert frowny face here !)

[cino]

I have had fibromyalgia for over 10 years now, and I have had cellulitis for about 6 yrs. I must be on antibiotics as well as steroid creams, and it comes & goes.  However the last bout I had lasted 9 months. My doctor did not say if this was caused by the fibromyalgia, but he did say it was caused by an infection.

[PlateletGal]

What I'm seeing in many members who were on the same research protocol that I was on is that they have more than one diagnosis. I guess it would make sense considering the fact that the people on this treatment have chronic bacterial infections. As you may be aware, these mycoplasmas can multiply and they have no cell wall and so they are able to invade our tissues. I'm going to make an educated guess and suggest that is why a couple of years ago in Phoenix, AZ, a clinic opened their first fibromyalgia tissue bank. I'm sure after a patient with fibro has passed away, they would be studying the patient's tissue and check for mycoplasma and other infections. Pretty scary... but this is really new stuff and something that hasn't been taught yet in medical schools. I think that is why it is important to do your research and taught to your physician about the role of these infections in fibro and CFS.

http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=2759662

[PlateletGal]

"taught" to your physician. Try "TALK" to your physician.

CFS ***** !

[droopy56]

Oops. Blame it on Monday.

[PlateletGal]

Is it already Monday today ?    ; ^ )

[Dknd4v]

I ws diagnosed with fibro over a year ago. I keep getting cellulitis infections, upper respiory and lung infections and anything under the sun/anyone here of any good treatmenst or at leas advice where to look