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Flu-like Malaise/Fatigue and GI Issues for 4 weeks

Hello MedHelp community!

I'm 27 years old. For the last 4 weeks I've been MISERABLE. It's a feeling I can only describe as "flu-like," though it never quite reached that threshold (my temperature has never exceeded 99.2 degrees). While these symptoms by themselves would never be a cause for concern (we've all had a cold, right?), their persistence - unresponsive to changes in diet, physical activity, or intake of vitamins and supplements  - is what's truly frightening me.

Here's what I'm experiencing RIGHT NOW:

1. General malaise, debilitating fatigue, achy muscles/bones (focused, but not limited to, lower back and legs), increased intolerance to exercise, light/intermittent nausea. These symptoms had a relatively slow onset (That is, I was still able to go to work and function somewhat normally for the first 2 weeks). Perhaps they've gotten worse, or I've just grown intolerant, but for the last 2 weeks, I've been stuck in bed for about 15 hours a day, and if I'm lucky, can squeeze 4-5 productive hours from my day.

2. Vague tenderness/discomfort and bloating in left mid-lower abdomen. Unrelieved by bowl movements or OTC gas/antacid medication. At present, the sensation has a evolved to a palpable cramp. Stools have been an orange/brown, tawny color, rancid smelling, and ranged from extremely loose (not quite diarrhea, but damn close) to soft and formless. Note: These symptoms predated the flu-like symptoms by about a month.

Health History:

1.Tested positive for Epstein-Barr virus late in 2000. Mono symptoms lasted for 12-14 days. Full recovery.

2.Received tic bite in Spring 2008. Characteristic rash manifested. Symptoms were mild at the time, then disappeared. Have since tested negative on 2 occasions (mid-2008/mid-2009) for Lyme Disease. Not sure which Lyme test was applied...

3.Complained of headaches late 2009. Did not follow up with neurologist, as symptoms disappeared mid-January 2010.

4. One episode similar to issue I'm currently having following a viral infection in early 2009. Symptoms lasted for 12-14 weeks, on and off. Sought medical attention at the time and was unresponsive to course of antibiotics. Blood work showed nothing abnormal. Symptoms were never so severe or debilitating as to cause me to miss work.

Any advice and/or insight from anyone out there who's experienced these symptoms would be enormously appreciated.  I'm currently awaiting the results of blood work, and have an appointment for an abdominal ultrasound next month. Upon physical examination, my PCP could only suggest Vitamin-D deficiency or stress as possibly culprits.

I am open to the idea this is all stress and psychosomatic...
9 Responses
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Avatar universal
Usually not considered is a deficiency in Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) or B12.
Also the need for Acidophilus supplementation at times.
And to increase the amount of water you drink.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
A related discussion, Could this be caused by gallstones? was started.
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the info.

I'm scheduled to see a gastroenterologist soon. I will also be seeing an immunologist to look into EBV-related conditions (as well as Lyme's). There's a GI doc at UM Jacksoin who actually specializes in EBV/Inflammatory Bowel Disease co-morbidity (he hasn't returned my calls...).

Lyme has always been quickly dismissed in the past by my PCP since some of the cardiac, joint, and neurological symptoms we haven't seen (at least not yet). What persists, however, is a profound fatigue and body aches/weakness (focused especially in the legs) and the ongoing GI problems. I've performed so many diet restrictions, each having no effect, so I'm inclined to rule out allergies/celiac on my own. Crohn's and UC both seem rather extreme based on the symptoms reported (something that might prompt one to  visit the ER), and I should say that my problems are much more subtle in nature (but no less distressing/disturbing - especially stool shape and consistency, and ever-present cramp.) Happy to say my appetite is great, and I have no fever or other signs of infection.

Thanks for your advice, and I shall keep everyone posted. Happy holidays.
Helpful - 0
351246 tn?1379682132
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!L lyme’s. This could mean persisting Lyme’s infection and this needs to be looked into.
You could also be suffering from an inflammatory bowel condition such as Celiac Disease/Ulcerative Colitis/Irritable Bowel Syndrome/ Crohn’s disease. All these result in tender abdomen, loose stool or loose stools alternating with constipation, abdominal distention, cramps etc. Parasites in the gut like threadworm, tape worm, giardiasis etc can behave this way. Hence a stool test is a must. Problems of gall bladder and liver or that of pancreas too cannot be ignored. Possibility of H pylori infection should be looked into by carbon urea breath test.
I would strongly recommend you to see a gastroenterologist (a specialist who looks after the diseases of our digestive system). Hope this helps. Take care!
Helpful - 0
1353650 tn?1429463374
I was diagnosed last year with an elevated rheumatoid factor and fibromyalgia. I searched out further testing through an endocrinologist and found that I have reactive hypoglycemia, low thyroid and a possibility of insulin resistance. My husband and son both got tested through this same endocrinologist and she found they both have a blood sugar issue and low thyroid as well. She said we should get tested for lyme because she has never seen three people from the same family at the same time have the same conditions. We all went to get tested for lyme from a lyme specialist. This is key because if you don't show positive they will still treat you for the condition because you have all of the symptoms. We all got tested and the results were inconclusive. We will be retested after about 2 months of antibiotics because the doctor said the treatment activates your antibodies and will help show a result on testing. Your lyme you previously had may not have been completely irradicated. Usually our bodies can take care of lyme and keep it under control. The reason we suffer from lyme is because our bodies are going through or have gone through a stressful event, like surgery, an accident, injury, loss of a loved one or constant every day stress. Our bodies can't keep the invader under control when our bodies are overwhelmed with stress. This is what happened to my family and myself. We new something happened about 10 years ago and continued to notice changes in our health until the present date. I had surgery to remove my gall bladder and that sent my body into a constant pain state. We all suffer with digestion issues, fibromyalgia and flue like symptoms. Lyme can cause your body to become low thyroid, to have poor digestion, have adrenal problems, have blood sugar problems and cognitive problems. I recommend that you see a lyme specialist. You can search for one in your area by going to Lymenet.org, log in and go to search for doctor. It is very important that you go to an endocrinologist who is current. Find one that goes by the new TSH levels which are 0.5-3.0 otherwise you will be wasting your time. When you find an endo you should have your blood sugar checked along with insulin in a 3 hour glucose tolerance test. You also need to have your thyroid levels checked. In order to fix your condition and help your body fight off lyme you also need to treat the problems it causes and reduce the stess on your body. We are all on armour thyroid med. and a high fiber-low glycemic diet 5-6 small meals a day. We also take digestive enzymes with every meal. Antibiotics are not the only thing you have to do when you have this condition. We have all seen improvement in our health since starting the antibiotics a little over a month ago. Just realize that going to a regular doctor and getting tested for lyme is a waste of tyme. It is very difficult to test for. Since I have been treated my pain has dropped over 50% and I can now do physical activity with some discomfort that goes away with activity. My muscles have been out of commition for 2 years and any activity makes them sore. The key is that the soreness goes away once I warm my body up it doesn't get worse. You should take a look at my journal pages. They will tell you everything about our journeys with this condition. Bridgeovertroubledwater is a friend of mine. We met while discussing this relentless pain and flue like symptoms. Good luck and message me if you have any questions.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
A few signs point to Chronic EBV infection. Still scratching my head over the GI problems.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You should also have your gallbladder looked at.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for the info!

I'll definitely follow up on the Lyme angle. From what I understand, it's notoriously tricky to diagnose, and their doesn't seem to be much consensus on treatment. I haven''t had any of the hallmark neurological symptoms associated with Lyme, but then again, it seems Lyme is something special...so who knows.

Problem is - you mention Lyme to your PCP and the condescension begins ("Oh, but you already tested negative....")

Anyway, thanks again.

Helpful - 0
1376367 tn?1319226427
I read over what you've written and I thought lyme right off the bat with the intial symptoms.  I've experienced a host of crazy symptoms and still have not received a diagnosis, only to do a cleanse and land up in the hospital with low sodium and chloride.  I was taking salt and vitamin C with 12 glasses of water before this cleanse and then I suddenly stopped the salt remedy.  On the third day of the cleanse I was put on by a naturopath I felt so bad I had nitroglycerin and used it cause I was having chest pain and difficulty breathing.  My blood work from the hospital shows a few things are out of sorts like my red blood cells, amylase, bilirubin was high, triglycerides high and HDL cholesterol was low.  So was the sodium and chloride below normal as well.  I was feeling real good doing the salt remedy.  I took 3 grams of vitamin C crystals in a glass of water with 3 grams of sodium chloride 4 times a day with food and drank 12 glasses of water.  This is a self remedy for lyme and it reduced my pain all over my body and still is.  Now I need to sort out with my doctor about medications that are causing me terrible side effects so I stopped them and get to the bottom of the blood work.  I hope you get something from what I've written and good luck with your health issues.  
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