Joint pain in hands, wrists ankles, feet: nausea: rash on arms/legs, fatigue

[mrsdennen]

I have had severe pain in my hand/feet joints, knees, base of neck.  Swelling in my hands/feet, a rash on my calves and forearms (like dermatitis, yet no change in soap/detergents, etc.), temperature ranging from 97.6-100.9 daily for many months now, daily nausea and diarreah, increased migraine activity and mental fogginess and eye problems (loss of focus/dry)as well as unprovoked anxiety.  Have had blood tests and all come back within normal parameters.  Symptoms are getting worse over time.  I am miserable and can't live life like this.  I am a teacher and highly depended upon.  Stress is a major factor in my life.  Job quality is being lost due to these problems.  What tests should I be asking for?  What diseases can I suggest?  I used to live up north (Cape Cod, MA) and now live in South (FL).  I have been told I have FM, but these latest symptoms (pain especially) are totally different and excrutiating.  Can anyone help me?

[PlateletGal]

fibro sympdromes.

oops - I meant fibro "symptoms".

[PlateletGal]

Hi mrsdennen,

To my understanding, fibromyalgia does not affect the joints. Also, the swelling and fever you have, I don't believe could be related to the fibro. It sounds like you could have lupus or now have CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome), along with fibro. Rashes can appear with fibro, but not CFS. Also, dermatitis is common in patients who have lupus. Sometimes people diagnosed with fibro will get CFS and CFS patients' get fibro sympdromes. I do know that 65% of people diagnosed with CFS have joint pain and 85% of people with CFS have a fever or sensation of a fever.

I would schedule an appointment with your physician ASAP and ask him to rule out lupus and other autoimmune conditions. He should order a bunch of labwork, including an ANA test. It sounds like they probably did this in the first place, but now you have more symptoms).

To check a list of symptoms for CFS, go to google.com and type in "CFS symptoms" + "Dr. David Bell". For a list of lupus symptoms, visit the Lupus Foundation of America website.

Please let your physician know how these symptoms are affecting your daily life and especially with work. If worse comes to worse, they can put you on short term disability or the FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act).

Good luck !