rash, joint pain, palpable lymph nodes, fatigue, weight loss, night sweats

[sosleepynow]

Need advice please. Rash on trunk with concentration on stomach and breasts (rash was pink/red and hurt when clothes touched it, not pimply and not in a band or just one side of body) and sudden joint pain beginning 6/8. Went to urgent care on 6/12 because rash was worse and so fatigued I was having a hard time functioning. Normal blood work. IV to hydrate me, motrin for pain-dx'd as viral exanthem. Rash, fatigue, migratory joint pain continued. Went back to urgent care on 6/19; still had rash, vague joint pain, but both sides of neck hurt so bad from jaw to collar bone that I'd been sleeping with heating pad on neck for two nights--still very fatigued. Dr was dismissive, did do blood work though (all normal, mono spot negative, strep culture negative). Sent me with 5 days of prednisone and told me urgent care is for life threatening emergencies, not diagnostics. Started prednisone on 20th in a.m., had worst back pain of my life late that evening. Almost went to e.r. but took 4 motrin and went to bed with heating pad. 6/21 I was still having bad back pain moving into hips/glutes; sides of neck slightly tender but not bad. 6/22 sides of neck hurt again. Feel like glands under jaw are swollen. Definitely have swollen lymph nodes on right side of neck, not huge, but palpable when they never had been before. Also have one that is palpable in collar bone hollow on left side. 6/24, rash is flaking now (prednisone worked?). 6/25, skin pain so bad I can't have sheet on me, it hurts to sit/lay, etc. 6/26 body aches and skin pain, still have swollen lymph nodes, woke up drenched.
I stopped making calendar entries on the 26th because it was pointless. Whatever this is doesn't want to go away. Im tired, have nightly sweats that wake me shivering and I have to change, I've lost 13 lbs in 4 weeks, for the last week my right inner thigh/groin hurts when I'm sitting or laying down and the ball of my right foot hurts at rest and when I walk. Also have mild pain at bottom of ribs on both sides and aching under armpits. Have not had a high fever that I know of, it's been running 99.5-100 in afternoons/evenings. Very fatigued still, still having joint pain but not as severe as first couple weeks. Neck is tender on side still tonight. Any ideas? I have no insurance and am not immersed in having a doctor be dismissive with me again and then pay a $1500 bill. On the other hand if it could be serious, I don't want to wait too long. Would a viral exanthem, as the first doc said, last this long? When will it go away?
No clue if it's related, but one week before the initial onset, I had a headache that started like someone driving an ice pick in my head for about 2 seconds at a time every 5-10 minutes for about three hours. This stopped and later that night I woke up with a headache so severe I was bawling. I took two aspirin and 2 motrin and then drank a bottle of water. I was home from work on the couch the entire next day sleeping. Felt great the following days until the rash/joint pain began.
I normally have a couple cold each year and might miss two days of work every 12 months. I've never been sick like this before.

[salenieD]

i agree with the other post that you should see another doctor. and completely understand about the issue of finances. i have been having an ongoing health issue as well and know the pains of being tossed around from doctor to doctor and the ERs that are no more than a band aid station. but as you are for sure feeling, daily life cannot go on this way and it is better to try to get some answers than waiting too long and finding out it was something so simple you could have avoided all these bothersome symptoms or worse yet you've waited too long and now it is a big issue. the lymph node symptom is very worry some as they are such an important part of what goes on in our bodies behind the scenes. i would set up an appt with a family doctor and go from there, speak with them about financial help too and also maybe contact your local job and family services about some aid. also teaching hospitals or university hospitals may be of help.

[mkh9]

I am sorry for all the problems you have been having. You really need to see a doctor. It sounds like it could be an infection on the one hand but then you also have some symptoms that sound like a autoimmune disease.. It would be good to get a rhematoid arthritis test and some other tests such as for a complete blood count and some tests for autoimmune and infectious diseases. If you can try a family practice doctor and at least have them look at the lymph nodes and start with a few blood tests. It is hard to pin point what you have without more lab work and tests done.  The weight loss is worrysome and you really need to see a doctor. The ER doesn't diagnose people much. So, you really need someone to delve into your problem. There may be some kind of assistance you can get to help with the finances. Maybe someone here will have a better idea. The headache that was severe could be migraine but it also could be related to whatever else is going on.  Sorry I can't be more helpful.