Two issues perhaps? - recurrent fevers, general malaise, lightheadedness...

[cycloneviv]

Hi, I'm Vivienne (35). I'm currently seeing General Physician to try and figure out what's been going on. He helpfully said at first appointment "We probably won't find any physical cause", which I didn't want to hear at this stage. Hence, frustration!

1. Recurrent fevers, general malaise.

Aug 05-Jan 06 recurrent fevers, flu symptoms. Each time fever worsened accompanying symptoms differed eg nasal congestion, sinus pain, chesty cold symptoms. Dec-Jan severe mood swings w/ fevers, which dr felt was due to inflamation of brain stem/lining related to viral infection.

Jul 06-now, recurrent fevers, various accompanying symptoms. Blood tests including full blood count showed only one abnormality - positive ANA I think? Lupus mentioned, but other levels that would suggest lupus normal. Positive ANA seen on full blood tests over 4 months now.

2. lightheaded attacks, always numb/cold lips.

Recently (6-12 months perhaps) attacks of lightheadedness, suddenly general sense of weakness, feeling very hot and very cold at once, numb/tingling extremities and cold/numb/pale lips, "chalky" taste, general ill feeling & lethargy. Usually brief, sometimes less than minute, often 5-15 mins, sometimes longer/more severe. Sometimes tightness chest/throat, chest ache/pain (had ECG, holter monitor & echocardiography - waiting on results).

I could go into more detail, but am nervous of running over max. allowed characters! Btw, I am diagnosed with Major Depression and PCOS. I take thyroxine, mirtazapine, lithium, zolpidem tartrate, Diane-35 and nasonex.

[fortunato]

Thanks for valuable info. I too experience a general malaise, sweating to my back etc.  An Autoimmune disease could possibly exist. If it did not get in the way of well being I probably would keep going without paying attention as long as my morning gets me going with vicoden and more recently Opana Er. Has to be a good Dr. that can have the time and knowledge to look into my probs. since I seemed to have contracted something on Feb. 17th, 1999.  Wow! I am by nature very positive, but I am so sick of it. Can you recomend someone or give me a hint what to do?

[cycloneviv]

Hi dj8,

You might want to post your questions about CFS as a separate thread, or people won't know it's here.

I've heard something about thrush being experienced in connection with CFS and certainly depression, most likely anxiety. I haven't looked into it a whole lot, as I don't want to over-worry myself before test results are in.

I can recommend putting CFS in to any search engine - you'll find a lot of pages with the symptoms etc listed.

Cheers,

cycloneviv.

[dj8]

I have experiencing alot of these symtoms of CFS that you have described here. Have you ever heard of thrush being caused by this syndrome. Or anxiety? What is ANA? And what tests would you recommend I have to rule out CFS?

[cycloneviv]

Hi again, and thanks again. I've made a list of your suggestions, to run past the doc. Some have been done in the last 6 months; my thyroid level was fine last time I visited endocrinologist (for PCOS) 7-8 months ago. I'm almost certain it's been checked again recently but will make sure.

I visited a neurologist 1-2 years ago, because of hand and forearm numbness, and he ruled out MS at that time. I had a nerve function test on my left arm which was clear. The numbness largely cleared up by itself but returns if I hold my hands up for any length of time (eg washing hair in shower) and when I play the 'cello. Maybe I should go to see him again...

Re tilt test, haven't had that done but used to suffer from vasovagal syncope - no full "attack" for a few years now. (When these recent lightheaded episodes appeard I thought it was the same problem but, aside from the dizziness/lightheadedness, it doesn't have many similarities.) My mum suffers from vasovagal syncope as well. Although no full attack for years, I get a bit dizzy/queasy when doing laundry/dishes & realised the other day that's probably due to leaning forward as I work, so I suppose the vasovagal syncope's still hanging around in the background.

I had a cortisol level check about 3-4 years ago, ordered by endocrinologist who thought my PCOS might be Cushing's. That was all fine, but I'll ask to do it again.

[cycloneviv]

Hi Kalio1,

Thanks for the suggestion. I had blood tests recently for 2 types of Hep, so I'd assume they were B & C - I'll double check. I know they were both clear. My liver function tests are all fine as well.

[PlateletGal]

Glad I could help. Be sure to get a FULL work-up... we are talking ruling out thyroid problems, tissue connective diseases, MS... many conditions. Fevers are common with CFS... also general malaise and the lightheadedness. We often fail the tilt test... your physician may want to order a tilt test on you. They need to do it a couple of times for accurate results. Also, they should check your cortisol level as well. Many CFS patients' have low cortisol levels... also uric acid levels.

[Kalio1]

Be sure and be screened for hepatitis b and c so you can rule that out because they can be missed when trying to diagnose symptoms like ours. Its a simple blood test. Hep can cause an elevated ANA too. Symptoms are a poor way to diagnose an illness because symptoms can be attributed to such a wide range of things.

[cycloneviv]

Thanks for the quick reply. I'll make sure when I next see the specialist that he's looking thorougly at autoimmune issues. Are there any other specific tests we should be looking at, other than the MRI? And is that the specific MRI I'm having, of the brain?

I resisted the urge for months to search the internet with my specific symptoms - I thought it would be better for my peace of  mind to wait and see what the General Physician had to say, but his generally depressing statement that we might well not figure it out has got me searching for answers myself. Now that I have searched, CFS is the thing (and possibly Gilbert's Syndrome, although my liver function test came back fine) that rings the most bells with me so I'm bearing that strongly in mind, although there are some specific diagnostic requirements that I don't meet, eg I can quite happily exert myself without feeling extreme fatigue. The sudden lightheaded/ill-feeling/weak attacks don't appear to be connected with any particular activity or situation.

Thanks again for the suggestions. I have a friend with CFS so I'll give her a call soon and find out what doctors she sees etc.

[PlateletGal]

A positive ANA indicates an autoimmune disease. However, 5% of the general population will have a positive ANA and not have any health problems. You, however, do have health issues.

Your physicians' need to rule out autoimmune diseases and do that MRI. If they can't find anything, then they should consider CFS as a possible diagnosis. Here is a list of symptoms, including a rough estimate of CFS patients' who experience these symptoms:

Fatigue or exhaustion 95 % *
Headache 90 % *
Malaise 80 % *
Short-term memory loss 80 % *
Muscle pain 75 % *
Difficulty concentrating 70 % *
Joint pain 65 % *
Depression 65 % *
Abdominal pain 60 % *
Lymph node pain 50 % *
Sore throat 50 % *
Lack of restful sleep 90 % *
Muscle weakness 30 % *
Bitter or metallic taste 25 %
Balance disturbance 30 %
Diarrhea 50 %
Constipation 40 %
Bloating 60 %
Panic attacks 30 %
Eye pain 30 %
Scratchiness in eyes 60 %
Blurring of vision 80 %
Double vision 10 % +
Sensitivity to bright lights 80 %
Numbness and/or tingling in extremities 60 %
Fainting spells 40 %
Light-headedness 75 %
Dizziness 30 %
Clumsiness 30 %
Insomnia 65 %
Fever or sensation of fever 85 %
Chills 30 % +
Night sweats 50 %
Weight gain 40 %
Allergies 60 %
Chemical sensitivities 25 %
Palpitations 55 %
Shortness of breath 30 %
Flushing rash of the face and cheeks 40 %
Swelling of the extremities or eyelids 20 % +
Burning on urination 20 %
Sexual dysfunction 20 %
Hair loss 20 %

[cycloneviv]

Btw, the General Physician's also sending me for a brain MRI in a week or so (had a cat scan 8-10 yrs ago which was fine except for sinus polyps). He's done blood tests including Ross River Virus (possibly an Australia-only illness?) and glandular fever, amongst other things, for which I haven't yet got the results.

The fellow who did my echocardiography said that from "eyeballing" the results it looks fine, but will have official assessment next week some time.