Hypothermia, MS, and abnormal bloodwork

[MicaelBarr]

For the four  months I have had  two bouts of  pneumonia, an episode of flu, hypothermic blood temperatures (with no symptoms, shivering, etc.), temps ranging from 91.5 to 93.5 degrees.  The temperatures are always consistent in this range.  I have lost my sense of taste, except for a metallic aftertaste when eating and drinking.  I have tried taking zinc, but with no resolution.  I have difficulty swallowing, and  slurred speech. My labs have  shown low WBC of 2.8,  low platelet instr 105 among other abnormalities.  This has stayed consistent for weeks until a May 13th lab when the WBC went back up to 8.3 and my platelets have dropped to 100.  When looking at a flow chart of labs, it seems that my platelets are dropping at a rate of 10 points every couple of weeks.  During this time there was a period that I had more muscle strength and had even walked a good distance with a walker for the first time in  four  years.  I was sleepy all of the time…and my strength  would come and go.   The first couple of weeks of May, my symptoms worsened dramatically, worsened slurred speech, loss of muscle strength, continued low body temperatures, sleep disturbances (vivid dreams at night) extreme lethargy during the day with an inability to stay awake, and continued loss of taste with a metallic after taste.  My ability to bear weight comes and goes.  I am also dizzy at times.  I have seen many specialists who have no explanation and cannot suggest  what specialist to see.  I feel I may have a medical problem that is exacerbating the MS.  I don’t know where to go for help.  The specialists have ruled out all they can think of.  Any suggestions?

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW]

Its not at first clear from your note that you have Multiple Sclerosis?

because this may lie at the bottom of the question - MS can affect deep structures in the brain that control body temperature and other vital functions such as sleep. A lesion may be apparent in this area on  MRI (I do not know if this was done). CSF may show evidence of active disease. If suspected your doctors may need to be more aggressive at treatign the MS/assess the disease activity.

As for your blood abnormalities, its not clear what the cause is and it my  not be neurological - for this reason it should be evaluated, for instance by blood film review and bone marrow aspirate. Some MS medications can suppress blood counts and the immune system. Alternativelty some infections such as in pneurmonia can cause suppression of blood counts also. Your endocrine function should also be evaluated ie cortisol, throid hormone, and pituitary gland function.

Good luck

[MicaelBarr]

I forgot to mention in my question above that I have had MS for 16 years with only moderate symptoms.  Four years ago I had to sell my Podiatric practice and have been in a wheelchair since. I had never been hospitalized before with the MS or had the symtoms I am having now.  I have had a recent MRI to see if there was any hypothalamic involvement (because of the temps) and there were no lesions there.  The hypothermic temperatures never vary from 91.5 to 93 degrees.  In addition to the labs I metioned above I have elevated liver enzymes and BUN and Creatinine levels.  My specialists do not know what to do. So I'm doing nothing.

[Buzzy Bee]

Have you been evaluated for Lyme disease by an LLMD -- a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor? Routine standard Lyme labs often do not diagnose Lyme disease or other tick-borne co-infections.

My suggestion would be to go to http://www.Lymenet.org and Click on Flash Discussion and then Medical Questions. There are many folks there who have been diagnosed with MS when they really had Lyme disease.

I have known a couple of people with MS and most of them are not as sick as you are. Most of the Lyme patients I know(including hubby) are very very sick like you.

Hope you find some answers soon.

Best Wishes