Medical Mystery With Unexplained Fever, Chronic and Severe Nausea, etc.

[JBenjamin82]

Hello,

I am a 19 y/o female who has been ill with chronic nausea, weight loss, burning abdominal pain, occasional diarrhea, low-grade fever, and dizziness.  I have been ill since May 4, 2001. The symptoms first presented themselves as a stomach bug, but it never went away.  I was diagnosed with both a UTI and an ovarian cyst, both of which were promtly treated effectively; however, my symptoms still persist.  I was hospitalized in June 2001 due to dehydration.  While there, I underwent a series of blood tests to rule out bacterial infection as well as an Upper GI with a small bowel follow through.  The SBFT showed evidence of jejunal Crohn's disease.  My GI doctor then ordered a serum blood test from Prometheus Labs which also came back 94% positive for Crohn's.  I was treated with Pentasa, and the symptoms went away for a while, apart from the fever.  In September, I became extremely ill again.  I was given Prednisone, which helped a little, but as a whole did little to treat my symptoms.  Despite symptoms, all current tests for Crohn's show that it is in remission.  My diagnosis is tentative at best.  Recently, in December 2001, I was hospitalized due to severe dehydration and weight-loss.  All tests have been normal, apart from a markedly abnormal gastric emptying series and evidence of GERDS and gastritis through an EGD Scope.  I was diagnosed with gastroparesis, tentative Crohn's, arthritis, and fevers of unknown origin. I have an appointment with the Lahey Clinic, but I have no clue what could be the cause of all this.  Any ideas?  Please help.

Jennifer Benjamin

[lzbth]

It sounds to me like Crohn's.  The arthritis symptoms as well as fever are also Crohn's symptoms.  I have Crohn's (25 years) and know that I still have "symptoms" sometimes even when the docs say "remission."  That being said, the gastroparesis and GERD alone can make you quite miserable.  Are you taking any meds for either of these?  It sounds like you have done a good job of keeping track of your symptoms and diagnostics - this will be helpful for your appointment w/Lahey Clinic. Good luck to you.  Hang in there; get plenty of rest and a little bit of exercise - I know you don't feel like it but it's good for your mental health at the very least - even a short walk outdoors.

There are lots of new and exciting treatments available now for Crohn's.  Remicade and Enbrel are proving to be very effective in forcing and keeping the disease in remission.  Ask about these drugs at your appointment.  Again, good luck to you.