post viral syndrome

[lori]

Dear Drs.
I have seen several posts regarding post viral syndrome (which I have been diagnosed with after viral labrynthitis and viral meningitis this summer) but I have a question I don't believe has been addressed.  It has been six months and I still have poor balance, dizzy, and a host of neurological sensations that every doctor says is puzzling because all MRI's, blood work and evoked response are normal.  Burning skin, tingling, shivering, involuntary head movements like shaking head "no" and visual problems are just some of the symptoms.  Doctor has me on Clonazepam and Zoloft to try to settle the nervous system.

I understand from what I have read in this forum ( very helpful) that it will just take time to recover.  My question is, can post viral syndrome cause anything else later or permanently damage my health?  And how is it that the symptoms last so long after the acute attack.

Thank you for any insight.  You provide a great service.
Lori

[Allison191]

A related discussion, post viral sydrome was started.

[caldy]

A related discussion, heart was started.

[melanie]

After being assured I did not have to be in perfect health for a flu shot,I had a flu shot Dec.18 at the end of a severe two week head cold.  Within 5 hours I had pains radiating in my left (shot) arm and within a week severe pains in both my left arm & chest.  All of this was diagnosed 12/26 as inflammed chest cartilege from probably a viral infection.  During the next week symptoms intensified with sweating hands& feet, left breast pain, tremors, heart attack similar chest pain, & chest pressure.  After two trips to the emergency room I was sent to a cardiologist(Grant Hospital) who ruled out heart problems.  My doctor then started treating my problems (anxiety/panic) attacks as neuro-chemical imbalance problems although I did go to a couselor who ruled out psychological releasing me after two visits.  Currently I am taking 5mg. of Valium 3 times per day and 20 Mg. of Celexa hoping within a month to be off the Valium.  I am a 50 year old female (hormone & thyroid tests OK)H.S.teacher who is not used to being sick (I missed 20 work days in Jan!) and I want my life back.  Any similar stories or advice?

[dawn campbell [email protected]]

wow, i'm so blown away by what i've just read. i also am thankful after hearing some of the intense cases of post viral, gbs, lymes whatever.  i'm a rn healthy athletic 37y.o.  i received my flu shot end of november and began with nausea and fatigue end of dec. i had what seemed like a gi flu but i began having tingling sensations t/o my legs and forearms that turned to a crawling skin sensation.  i had nausea and no appetite and began losing weight.  on the night that i had my acute flu symptoms  i was (sorry to be graphic) vomiting, having diarrhea, sweating profusely, and i couldn't sit up.  i fainted and couldn't get off the floor.  i had the most amazing buzzing feeling t/o my body.  i felt i could hear the buzz and well as feel it. i truly thought i was dying.  

that was 7 weeks ago.  i am much better but continue to have stomach dysfunction, i'm on meds for my low blood pressure.  i have a couple good days(feel strong "normal" then i have a couple bad days i.e. fatigue, tremors, feel cold to the bone, no appetite, h/a, dizziness, occas feet go numb.

my neurologist said stress, anxiety.  i am here for you all i feel your pain  i feel your discouragement.  i was sure i was going crazy because it does sound crazy and as you all wrote every damn test came back negative.  i got to a point where i longed for a positive test.  i cried when my ebv test came back negative because i needed something to grasp. maybe more like i needed something to tell people so they could, i don't know, believe me easier, not look at me or tell me how stessed i'd been and how i over do it.  

well i've gone on long enough.  my e-mail is ***@****  i feel like i just discovered long lost family.  thanks  dawn

[Beth]

I too had a flu shot about three weeks before I felt like I had the flu...my legs felt like someone was pulling on them....then I got the rash that started in the inside of my elbow and spread to my neck upper arm and chest...it itched....was treated for tinea, scabies, ringworm, excema..nothing worked...then my ankle start to hurt....then my knee...now my lower back and down my leg...always on the left side....had all of the tests..all negative...now on Celebrix...it still hurts/pain....and it goes on...but I am glad to see that I am not crazy....

[Toni]

I've been following these posts and have sat silently, but I have to say...after reading the posts about vaccines...even the polio vaccine if not infallible.  I had polio at the age of 12 after having all the polio shots.  The doctors think I may have contracted the virus from the shot itself.  Since then, I don't get flu shots.  I figure if I'm going to get the flu, I'll get it.  My heart aches as I read what you all have been going through.  I have my own story which I'll share with you in another post.