Long-term low grade fever/other symptoms

[aberration]

I'm hoping someone out there might be experiencing these same things and might be able to help me.

For three months I have had a low grade fever (usually between 99.0-100), swollen lymph nodes in my neck, an inflamed joint in my neck, and abdominal pain with diarrhea about twice a week. All my blood work came back normal, no sign of inflammation or infection. I have been tested for everything under the sun: mono, lyme's, RA, lupus, west nile, cat scratch, thyroid. All negative.

A CT scan found lesions and increased blood in my pelvis and uterus. Laparoscopic surgery showed that I had scar tissue that had attached my colon to my uterus. They do not know what caused that since I've never had surgery before and it wasn't endometrial growth although they do suspect I have endrometriosis since they did find endometrial growth on my cervix (which is also very rare). Scar tissue is usually caused by previous surgeries or infection. The surgeon felt certain that this scar tissue was causing my symptoms, but they have no idea what caused the scar tissue in the first place.

However, it's now 2 weeks after surgery and the fevers and other symptoms are continuing. He now wants me to have all those horrible procedures (colonoscopy, barium enema, etc) done to determine if I have crohn's disease or ulcerative coleritis. I don't want to have to go through these awful procedures if I don't have to.

Has anyone else experienced symptoms like these? If so, do you have a diagnosis? Do you have any suggestions for me? Please help - I'm desperate.

[aberration]

A related discussion, No Diagnosis: Low grade fever, swollen lymph nodes, for many months was started.

[aberration]

Thanks, Doctornee! I will certainly talk to my doctor about TB.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Since you have a lymph node enlargement and scarring, you should test for tuberculosis. It may not show up on CT scan. Abdominal pain with occasional diarrhea too could be due to TB. Increase your water and fluid intake and see if it helps. Also a CT of the inflamed joint in the neck should be done. This could also be the cause of the lymph node. Again this could be tubercular. Hope this helps. Take care!

[aberration]

Thanks for responding doctornee.

I had asked to be tested for TB, but they said it was unnecessary because it would have showed up in the CT. I was tested for STD, all negative. They gave me Flagyl just in case I did have PID or endometritis, but symptoms didn't improve. In the laparoscopy, they didn't find any cysts on my ovaries, just a few fibroids in my uterus, which were benign. The scar tissue puzzled the surgeon, but he said it is possible it could have formed from an infection after I had my son 5 years ago. We don't know if it's related to my current illness or not, so that's why I have to go to the gastroenterologist now.

I have researched IBDs, and I'm not certain that's what my illness could be. I don't get diarrhea that often, and I don't have blood in my stools. Also, could an IBD cause an inflammed joint in my neck and swollen lymph nodes? It just doesn't seem to fit.

Also, I had one doctor tell me that 99.5-100 degrees isn't considered a fever, but everything I've researched online says it is and it is definitely a cause for concern. What is your opinion?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
I am sorry to say that but your doctor could be right. You could be having an inflammatory bowel condition such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, Celiac disease (gluten intolerance), lactose intolerance or IBS or irritable bowel syndrome.
Since scarring was found on laparoscopy, rule out tuberculosis too. You can go for this test before the procedures for diagnosing the inflammatory bowel condition.
Polycystic ovary, STD and PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) should be investigated for. Dehydration is a frequent cause of low grade fever with malaise. So drink plenty of fluids and see. Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!