Flu Like Symptoms

I am a 37 yr old male.  I don't smoke, don't drink, and eat reasonably healthy.  Exercised regularly. Most of my life I would get symptoms of a flush, warm, yucky, flu like feeling sometimes with nasal congestion.  My temp would always be like 98 which might be a degree high for me (if at all), but never anything major.  No joint pains.  It would resolve itself completely in a week or two.  Doctors said it was allergies.  About three years ago, I got these symptoms for six months straight.  They ran all the standard blood tests and everything came back normal.  It resolved itself mysteriously one day and I was perfect for three months.  I've now had these flu like symptoms for about 14 months now continuously.  I feel warm, flush, a yucky flu like feeling.  I am not fatiqued though.  I saw an allergist, he said it did not seem like allergy. I've tried every anti-histamine, none help at all.  The skin tests which indicated certain allergens.  During these 14 months,they ran the standard blood tests again, EBV titers, lyme, hepatitis, the sed rate, etc.  Everything was fine.  The EBV indicated a past or chronic inf.  Their conclusion was stress, EBV and allergies all intertwined.  I saw an infectious disease doc last week.  He said its not allergies and not EBV symptoms.  He said though he had no idea what it is or what to do.  I made an appt. with a new DO general internal medicine doctor in a few weeks hoping a new opinion might help.  Could this be related to high natural histamine levels in my blood (histadelia?).  I am desperate for any suggestions or tests to have run.

[coffing]

Hiya, read the above comment with interest as a close friend of mine also suffers with similar flu like symptoms. He aches all over just like having flu, yet it can go on for weeks or months he gets tired quickly but then can feel it going sometimes as quickly as it comes on. for the last 3 weeks he has had a pain in his right lower back, the aching has disappeared and has been replaced with an itching under the skin, there is no visible rash or skin complaint.
     worst affected are his legs and his eyes he has had this before, the doctors ran tests but nothing! In a few days or weeks it will go and the flu like symptoms will return. some days or weeks are good but then just sitting there he can turn around and say i can feel it coming on again and all his energy just goes.
    Just wondering if this is the same or some sort of fybro my alja (spelling is phoenetic as not sure of it)

[childrenrtreasures]

I had similar symptoms due to autoimmune thyroid disease. Have you been tested for thyroid antibodies? Your thyroid levels can be normal but the antibodies elevated which can make you feel poorly. I have only had abnormal labs once but I feel badly a lot of the time with flu-like symptoms.

Also, have you considered celiac disease?

Kelly

P.S. Fibromyalgia was the first thing they considered but it was ruled out after the rheumatological exam. The dr suggested that I had a "hypersensitivity pain disorder" but a year later I was found to have thyroid disease (I'm glad I rejected the initial diagnosis and treatment options...I'm not fond of taking meds that I don't need!). My second rheumatologist (I went for a second opinion) agreed with the first and said I "definitely have nothing autoimmune"...I still haven't told him I have autoimmune thyroid disease...I wonder what he'll say :)...I don't imagine that I'll get an apology (he was quite rude and arrogant when I told him that I didn't agree with him).

[coffing]

Thanks for that It's been more help than any of the doctors have been able to give so far!
Just wondering if now you've got that info if you havebeen able to take anything or follow a course of action that has helped in anyway? Will let you know the outcome

[childrenrtreasures]

I am on thyroid replacement hormone and that has helped some. Since my condition is autoimmune I go between hyperthyroid and hypothyroid...I still feel very ill at times.

I have to admit though I feel better than I did. I think having a name for my symptoms has been a definite plus...drs, friends and family no longer look at me like I'm just a hypochondriac.

It's been nice also to have my symptoms taken seriously. We know that autoimmune thyroid disease can predispose me to other autoimmune diseases so it's not as much of a battle to get my drs to run other tests for me anymore (it used to be quite a chore to get them to run tests...I was the one who requested my thyroid antibodies be tested).

Being in limbo is rough! I was there for only a year and a half but it seemed like forever. The only thing to do is keeping going until the answers are found. It's hard and tiring but the answers are out there. Boards like these have been extremely helpful and valuable...I don't know that I would have ever had the fortitude to press on without them.

Kelly

[fedosia]

Please go back to your doctor and get tested for parvo-B19.  I had flu like symptoms almost two years ago.  Symptoms included swollen lymphs, fatigue and body aches and pains including joint pain. I went to a rhemautologist and had following bloodwork: CBC, ANA, Parvo-B19, and other extensive lab work.

My ANA came pack positive titer and I tested positive for Parvo (active).  The parvo did not resolve for almost a year. I continue to get swollen lymphs, fatigue, joint pain, continue to have positive ANA -- and several months ago, I was diagnosed with Lupus.

It is important that you review w/your doctor your history of illnesses (i.e., I frequently had bronchitis and fevers as a child, exposure to histoplasmosis, etc...all of that is relevant.

Good luck to you.