11 Months of Frustration!

[Skatemom]

For almost a year my husband has suffered with strange symptoms which no one seems to figure out. It started last February with a pounding headache in both temples and the base of his skull. After a few weeks of this he developed a violent cough which was unproductive and persistant, then a fever and fatique. He wound up on the couch for about two weeks before heading for the Doctor. The doctor treated him for flu symptoms, however the cough persisted and he went into the hospital for four days. He was treated for Valley Fever (we live in Arizona) , however test after test came back negative. He developed reddened skin like a sunburn on his face, scalp, chest and upper back and said his body felt hot inside and small red marks on his arms which turned into blisters. His skin looked dry and 'crunchy' He had skins biopsies. He was exhausted and was usually the type of person who was always on the go.He has been tested for many things such as Lyme disease, Legionaires, Shingles, Heavy Metal poisoning, HIV,  but to no avail. He went back to another hospital and had a spinal tap due to the severe headache and again nothing conclusive except his white cell count was up. He now has good days, however seems to go through regular cycles of returning symptoms (minus the cough) all of which I have mentioned. During this time my husband also developed a low heartrate, with an average rate of 42 bpm. He has been to a Cardiologist who released him and felt his heart is fine and that some people have a low heartrate. He also has been to an infectious disease specialist. No one seems to be able to figure out what is wrong with him. This is a great source of frustration, but we do not want to give up...does any of these symptoms sound familiar to anyone??????

[abba222]

did at any time the docs ask what your sick person does for a job.
does he work outdoors, near computers, does he talk on the phone alot.
chemicals or even radiation is a last check..

[kimbykat]

Some of it (the sweats and fatigue) make me think thyroid. I was checked for years regularly with regular testing but it wasn't until symptoms got worse that my doctor did more indepth tests and they came back with Hashimoto's Thyoiditis.

Also, the cough and skin reactions made me think sarcoidosis. You can read about it by googl'ing it and also the following link:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sarcoidosis/DS00251

I also live in AZ and was tested for Valley Fever which I didn't have. I empathize with your search to find out what's wrong. I really feel for you both and hope you reach a diagnosis soon.

- kimberly

[Kalio1]

Please have him tested for Hep C when he gets the HIV test done. A lot of his symptoms sound like they could be Hep C related. Many Hep C patients complain of night sweats.
Millions of people have it and do not know it nor do they have a history of past drug use or transfusions. Sadly doctors do not routinely test for it, but they should!
Good luck finding an answer.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

The testing has been comprehensive thus far, and I agree with what's been done thus far.  

Infection continues to be a possibility and can be associated with night sweats.  If a PPD hasn't been done, I would do it to exclude TB.  

I agree with HIV testing - further evaluation can be done with blood and sputum cultures.

If the tests have been non-revealing, you can consider imaging the chest and abdomen with a CT scan.  This can evaluate for more subtle signs of infection as well as cancers like lymphoma.  I would consider these imaging tests with your personal physician.

In terms of referrals, a neurologist can be considered to evaluate the headache, and an infectious disease specialist can be consulted if there continues to be suspicion of infection.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patients education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
www.kevinmd.com

[Skatemom]

I forgot to mention that my when my husband was going through the beginnings of his illness, he would wake in the night drenched in sweat..literally a pool of sweat would be sitting on his chest...this lasted for several months....any thoughts???