post viral illness

[tania again, add to question]

hello.  i had an upper respiratory infection in mid April. about four weeks later, i had some tingling sensations in my legs and my head.  since then, i have had lots of joint pain (mainly in my neck, big toe, and knee), still some tingling, and twitching everywhere (even in my eyes).  I have even had two styes in my eyes in a five week period, which i haven't had a sty since i was a small child, and i am now in my thirties.  i have had blood work tests (came back normal), nerve conduction test on my right leg (came back normal), and spine mri and brain mri (also came back normal). i am wondering if post viral can cause this even though i had the repiratory virus in April and the neuro symptoms didn't surface until May?  please tell me what post viral is and how long it occurs after an infection. also, please tell me how long it lasts and how it is diagnosed.  any help would be appreciated.thanks.

[Lady Jay]

Gary hit the nail on the head when it comes down to diagnosis and treatment whenever an HMO is your provider.  HMO has quite a definitive slogan, that being "Preventive Medicine", which means;  if they cannot prevent the dilemna, they sure as hell are not responsible for "treating" whatever it is they couldn't "prevent".  Getting a referral is non-existent, therefore you must pay out of pocket in order to acheive results.  If you are given a choice by your employer between the "cheaper" HMO and the little-bit-more expensive PPO, choose the latter.  It's "open choice" in the doc department.  If you need a specialist (and you know you need a specialist) then you can set things up yourself without the stinking referral demanded by the HMO (which is usually denied you).  Let Gary's advice stand.  Quit wasting precious valuable time.Walk away from the HMO and pay out-of-pocket.  You deserve results.  Good luck to everyone.

[Bobbi D]

Just wanted to say in defense of my HMO (MVP) that I have not once been given a hard time about all the tests I have had to have done - or all the specialists I have seen.  Sometimes I'm not so sure it's the HMO....could be the primary dr just doesn't want to do the paperwork or legwork or take the time to do a referral.  I'm lucky and have a wonderful caring primary who has no problem sending me for second opinions or to specialists because he takes the time to listen to me and believes me when I say I don't feel well.

[Tia]

Well, its been four months and I'm still having all these symptoms...burning hands, feet, hands....incredible muscle cramps in legs....and strange sores on hands.  
As Joan and Sue recommended, I went and had the blood test done to see if it was the parvo virus "Fifth"...and sure enough, that is what it is.  I guess it can last a lot longer then a lot of doctors know.  AND they can't give me any sort of clue as to how much longer this will last.  Well, at least I can be relieved that it isn't LUPUS or something else more serious.
Again, I appreciate all the responses!  
And good luck with all of you that you will have a safe, fast recovery!
Tia

[Carol55]

To Tia,
Tia, how did you make out on finding  if you had a
positive titer for Fifth disease?  The reason I ask
is because my daughter had it too,  7  yrs. ago at the
age of 6.  She was quite sick with it, symptoms like
you describe, but was over it in about a month.   But
I read if adults get it, it can be much more severe,
and the symptoms, like you describe can last for months.
A close friend got it, she is a 56 yr. old grade school
teacher.  She became so ill with it, she had to quit
teaching for the rest of the school year.  So, maybe
what you are describing to your doctors is Fifth's, and
they don't realize it.  There's a very simple blood
test to prove it.  My daughter had it done, and the
results were positive.
good luck
Sue

[Reenie]

Hi Tia.  There was a female doctor on the Neuromuscular Forum of MGH a long time ago who checked in with your symptoms after having contracted Fifth's Disease.  I have a feeling that our symptoms are not caused by any one virus/bacteria, but rather it is an autoimmune response that our bodies are engaged in.  I think the trigger could be different for different people.  I don't think there is treatment for Fifth's Disease.  Maybe check into transfer factors and see if there is one for parvovirus?  Good luck.  I understand how it is to try to cope with children and feel like this at the same time: mine were 5, 3 and 9 mos. when I was "stricken."

[Tia]

Thank you Joan....great idea...and that is what I finally had him do today...we shall see.  I'm not totally read on the Fifths disease (parvo-virus), but it is supposed to last only a few weeks, with minimal symptoms.  But I guess there is a small percentage of poor souls who have it linger.
Again, thank you Joan for your suggestion, it was well taken.
Tia