Aa
post viral syndrome
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
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
Dear Joan, can we have your story? Or maybe some symptoms? Any Vision problems?
Thank you,
chris
Thank you,
chris
HI ALL,
I had a severe case of sinusitis in December 99 and Jan. 00 and had vertigo along with it, caused by a virus. I have had most of the same symptoms you discribed ever since. I have been taking Paxil since April, for the depression and anxiety and also menopause. One day you feel okay the next terrible. I hope that it goes away soon. I hope you all feel better soon also.
I had a severe case of sinusitis in December 99 and Jan. 00 and had vertigo along with it, caused by a virus. I have had most of the same symptoms you discribed ever since. I have been taking Paxil since April, for the depression and anxiety and also menopause. One day you feel okay the next terrible. I hope that it goes away soon. I hope you all feel better soon also.
Wow....I have been reading this site for 9 months now, hoping to find answers with my illness....and reading your posts here has made me feel a bit better. I guess misery loves company eh?
I had Pneumonia Jan00 and then a child virus called "fifth's disease" in March...and since then I have had the incredible and awful symptoms of burning hands, feet and face; terrible joint pain that sent me to the emergency room a couple times; a strange rash on my hands; and eye problems.
I, too, have had massive bloodwork, MRIs and Neurology testing, all within normal limits.
My doctors have made me feel like this is psychological and nothing physically is wrong.
I just want answers....and to know there will be some relief soon.
I wish you all good luck and quick recovery. Please keep us posted, any of you who find answers and relief!
Tia
I had Pneumonia Jan00 and then a child virus called "fifth's disease" in March...and since then I have had the incredible and awful symptoms of burning hands, feet and face; terrible joint pain that sent me to the emergency room a couple times; a strange rash on my hands; and eye problems.
I, too, have had massive bloodwork, MRIs and Neurology testing, all within normal limits.
My doctors have made me feel like this is psychological and nothing physically is wrong.
I just want answers....and to know there will be some relief soon.
I wish you all good luck and quick recovery. Please keep us posted, any of you who find answers and relief!
Tia
Hey Chris,
Starting on Oct 4 of this year I suddenly came down with all the symptoms you listed. I also had/have a mild intention tremor. It came on after a 3 week long "flu." My symptoms are *gradually* clearing up (its been 7 weeks now), but they come and go with good days and bad days. My GP first thought it was "anxiety" - something I've never had any problems at all with before (I am a 30yr old male). My neurologist has diagnosed me with an acute post-viral polyneuropathy, perhaps a "mild" case of Guillain-Barre syndrome. Evidently milder cases of GBS are much more common than many think and are somewhat overlooked by the medical establishment for several reasons. I know this thing I have could be much worse; nevertheless it's been hell. Your case sounds so similar to mine I wonder if we both caught the same bug. I hope you have somebody looking out for you. My wife has been a life-saver for me. Feel free to e-mail me just to talk or get some of the info I have found.
Hang in there,
Doug
***@****
Starting on Oct 4 of this year I suddenly came down with all the symptoms you listed. I also had/have a mild intention tremor. It came on after a 3 week long "flu." My symptoms are *gradually* clearing up (its been 7 weeks now), but they come and go with good days and bad days. My GP first thought it was "anxiety" - something I've never had any problems at all with before (I am a 30yr old male). My neurologist has diagnosed me with an acute post-viral polyneuropathy, perhaps a "mild" case of Guillain-Barre syndrome. Evidently milder cases of GBS are much more common than many think and are somewhat overlooked by the medical establishment for several reasons. I know this thing I have could be much worse; nevertheless it's been hell. Your case sounds so similar to mine I wonder if we both caught the same bug. I hope you have somebody looking out for you. My wife has been a life-saver for me. Feel free to e-mail me just to talk or get some of the info I have found.
Hang in there,
Doug
***@****
Dear TIA, have you improved any at all? Do you experience severe cramps in arm/chest and legs? I sure do..
Chris
Chris
Chris, I have an 'embarrassment' of symptoms, some have resolved.
In November of last year, I had a bad head cold, followed by two weeks of nausea. Right before Thanksgiving, I was having pains in the quad muscles of both legs-felt like I'd been climbing mountains. This went on for a few days, followed by vertigo, followed by severe weakness in my legs. Saw the doc then, he did some bloodwork, said I had a virus and it would be better in a couple weeks. He also made an appointment with a neuro, just in case it didn't. Saw the neuro about a month later. He thought it might be mild Guillain Barre, but ruled that out with an MRI of the brain and Cspine. He also thought it was a virus and would resolve quickly.
During December and January, I still had the vertigo, the weakness in my legs, and then the arms. Had a constant headache, sore throat, body temp was in the mid 90's. Slight rash on my neck and upper chest. Had a tremor in my hands and head. Had double vision for several hours. Lost feeling in the toes on my right foot. Was freezing all the time, and if my toes got cold, it took hours for them to warm up. Strange sensations in my legs-like there was water on them, and a cobwebby feeling on my lower legs. Also started having urine retention. Went back to neuro, he did an MRI of the thoracic spine. No abnormalities
In January, the joint pain set in. Both hips, shoulders and jaws. Also, constant pain in the tissue between my ribs. Doc did a rheumatoid blood panel-negative.
Doc sent me to an infectious disease doc, who did a second Lyme test-negative. Finally saw a rheumy in May, and he diagnosed me with post-viral, after running another 14 blood tests that were all negative.
In June, I was starting to feel better, but relapsed. Told my PCP this, and he sent me to another neurologist, who suspected myasthenia gravis or myositis, but that bloodwork was also negative. She did an EMG on my weaker leg, which showed abnormalities. Had an MRI of the lumbar spine, which showed degenerative disc disease, which was no surprise-I've had back trouble for years. She was noncommital as to whether that was causing the urine retention or my leg weakness, so I still have no answers there. She also ordered a spinal tap, but has never called with the results, so I presume they were negative.
All this, and unrelenting fatigue. I go back to bed in the afternoon and sleep like the dead for 2 or 3 hours.
Some things are better-the tremors have ceased, unless I overdo. I'm a bit stronger, but still can barely lift 20 pounds. Can't do too much walking. The vertigo, for the most part, left in June, but I continue to have gait problems due to the reduced feeling in my feet.
I've been on a bunch of anti-anxiety and anti-depressants, which seem to only make me dizzier and tireder. Had to stop taking Celebrex for the joint pains because I developed an ulcer.
Doesn't this just sound pathetic! *grin*
In November of last year, I had a bad head cold, followed by two weeks of nausea. Right before Thanksgiving, I was having pains in the quad muscles of both legs-felt like I'd been climbing mountains. This went on for a few days, followed by vertigo, followed by severe weakness in my legs. Saw the doc then, he did some bloodwork, said I had a virus and it would be better in a couple weeks. He also made an appointment with a neuro, just in case it didn't. Saw the neuro about a month later. He thought it might be mild Guillain Barre, but ruled that out with an MRI of the brain and Cspine. He also thought it was a virus and would resolve quickly.
During December and January, I still had the vertigo, the weakness in my legs, and then the arms. Had a constant headache, sore throat, body temp was in the mid 90's. Slight rash on my neck and upper chest. Had a tremor in my hands and head. Had double vision for several hours. Lost feeling in the toes on my right foot. Was freezing all the time, and if my toes got cold, it took hours for them to warm up. Strange sensations in my legs-like there was water on them, and a cobwebby feeling on my lower legs. Also started having urine retention. Went back to neuro, he did an MRI of the thoracic spine. No abnormalities
In January, the joint pain set in. Both hips, shoulders and jaws. Also, constant pain in the tissue between my ribs. Doc did a rheumatoid blood panel-negative.
Doc sent me to an infectious disease doc, who did a second Lyme test-negative. Finally saw a rheumy in May, and he diagnosed me with post-viral, after running another 14 blood tests that were all negative.
In June, I was starting to feel better, but relapsed. Told my PCP this, and he sent me to another neurologist, who suspected myasthenia gravis or myositis, but that bloodwork was also negative. She did an EMG on my weaker leg, which showed abnormalities. Had an MRI of the lumbar spine, which showed degenerative disc disease, which was no surprise-I've had back trouble for years. She was noncommital as to whether that was causing the urine retention or my leg weakness, so I still have no answers there. She also ordered a spinal tap, but has never called with the results, so I presume they were negative.
All this, and unrelenting fatigue. I go back to bed in the afternoon and sleep like the dead for 2 or 3 hours.
Some things are better-the tremors have ceased, unless I overdo. I'm a bit stronger, but still can barely lift 20 pounds. Can't do too much walking. The vertigo, for the most part, left in June, but I continue to have gait problems due to the reduced feeling in my feet.
I've been on a bunch of anti-anxiety and anti-depressants, which seem to only make me dizzier and tireder. Had to stop taking Celebrex for the joint pains because I developed an ulcer.
Doesn't this just sound pathetic! *grin*
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