Strange symptoms

[pegm]

I have had these 'spells' ever since high school -- had another one last night, and was wondering if anyone has any idea what the cause could be? (If you read my post from 2 days ago, you'll understand why I do not ask my doctor about this).

It seems that I hurt all over -- well, at least I have these very tender spots in various areas of my body -- it's painfull when a child or a pet sits on my lap unless I shift their weight so there's no pressure on the tender areas.

I also get SOOOOOOO tired! I seem to need more sleep during this time. Then, I'll feel like I have the flu -- ache all over, and CHILLS -- I told my husband that I don't know how anyone can be this cold and still be alive! Nothing helps -- I feel like I'm freezing to death. I'll pile on tons of blankets, go to sleep, and sleep 10 or 12 hours, then wake up still feeling tired, but no more chills or flu-like symptoms.

I seem to get these bouts of chills and exhaustion periodically -- maybe anywhere from 3 to 6 times a year. The tenderness and feeling tired a lot comes and goes -- I was feeling good for a couple of months, but the sore spots returned a couple of weeks ago, then had the chills and aches last night.

Does anyone have any idea what could cause this? I usually get about 7 hours sleep per night on weekdays and 9 hours weekends.

Any ideas? or suggestions?

Thanks

[Holly]

What does your doctor say? I dont know if anyone can diagnose symptoms on the net.

Have you ever done any research on fibromyalgia?

Holly

[pegm]

I'm looking for a new doctor -- the one I have blames everything on my weight -- and I've had these bouts for 35 years (and I've not been overweight for all those years), so I only mentioned the pain to my doctor, and she told me that it was arthritis from being overweight and being tired was a combination of being overweight and lack of exercise. I have been exercising at least 6 days per week -- aerobics 3 - 5 days per week and weights 3 days, and the problem is persisting -- this last bout was one of the worst I've had. That's why I'm looking for suggestions, such as the one you made to check out fibromyalgia -- at least I have some idea what to look for, and when I find a new doctor I can maybe suggest it to her/him.

Thanks again.

[doreen T]

Yes, fibromyalgia was my first thought too ... especially when you mentioned the tender points, which are unique to fibro or possibly M.E. (myalgic encephalitis or chronic fatigue syndrome). Arthritis is inflammation of the joints, not muscles. If you have muscle aches, fatigue, feel unrefreshed after sleep, and the tender points, you may have fibro. The actual pain comes and goes ... but the tender points are usually always present .. you don't realize they hurt until someone or something presses them ... even clothing can hurt.

Check out the Fibromyalgia resources at About.com (http://chronicfatigue.about.com/cs/fibromyalgia/) Fibro. guide picks. Here's a checklist you might find helpful.How to Tell if You Might Have Fibromyalgia (FM)

There is no specific diagnostic test for fibromyalgia, but a qualified medical practitioner can make the diagnosis. Here are some things to look for.
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Here's How: You might suspect you have fibromyalgia (FM) if you have a history of widespread pain (on both sides of the body, above and below the waist).

Be aware of other symptoms characteristic of FM, including fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, or cognitive difficulties.

Make an appointment with a rheumatologist (a doctor who specializes in FM) or another practitioner familiar with the condition.

Prepare for the appointment by writing down your symptoms and how long they have been bothering you, along with any other information you think is pertinent.

Ask the doctor to perform a "tender point" exam; a diagnosis of FM requires that you experience pain when pressure is applied to at least 11 of 18 places on the body.

Be sure that the doctor orders standard laboratory tests to rule out any other problems that might be causing your symptoms.

Share your list of symptoms and other information about your medical history.

Discuss with your doctor his or her conclusions based on your physcial exam.

Follow up with another appointment to find out the results of your lab tests.

Discuss your diagnosis and potentional treatment options with your physician. Tips:

If you don't feel comfortable with your doctor's evaluation, seek a second opinion with another physician.

Don't try to diagnose yourself or treat your symptoms without consulting a medical professional.Low thyroid can also cause similar symptoms, except for the tender points.

Do check out the link I gave you, and maybe print out some of the info. to take to your doctor. There is no blood test or x-ray to diagnose FMS. If the doctor believes you may have fibro. I urge you to get a consultation with a fibro specialist, usually a Rheumatologist or Rehab. Medicine specialist.

Doreen

[doreen T]

The tender points in fibro appear in specific areas. You must have active points, meaning they are extremely tender and painful when pressed (but not painful otherwise) ... and you must have 11 out of the 18 points in order for the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia to be made. The tender points must also be on both sides of the body. I have tender points all over my body, not just the ones pictured here ... many fibromites do.

[mrsvvt2001]

My answer is going to sound very strange to you, it does to everyone. I had what you have for years, starting when I was about 17 and lasting until just a few years ago. I was lucky that I only got it 2 or 3 times a year, it lasted only 1 day, like you I was exhausted the next day, but ok. Went to many Drs over the years and finally when I was about 40 a Dr. told me that it was tonsilitis! Well I had my tonsils out when I was about 7, but he said obviously they had left the small nodes in the throat and I was getting an infection ever so often that my body fought off. He told me it was best to leave them alone and a few years ago I noticed I hadn't had an attack in quite awhile, been a long time now and I hope gone for good! It's not fun, a very strange feeling that no one understands.
Good luck.

[pegm]

Thanks for all of the tips -- I did check out the link to the site, and found a lot of useful info. If I do have fibromyalgia, does anyone have any suggestions of anything that's worked for them? Does what helps vary with each individual? I did notice that I seem to feel much better since going low carb, is that typical? This is actually the first bout I've had since I began low carb 4 months ago.

[Ka3n]

If I do have fibromyalgia, does anyone have any suggestions of anything that's worked for them? Peg, Check your yellow pages or ask at your local healthfood store to find an MD that also uses alternative medicine in her/his practice. You'll find that they will be knowledgeable about FM treatments. Some regular docs might try to tell you that it's psychosomatic--it's not, they just seem to put anything they can't understand back onto the patient as being psychosomatic. Keep looking until you find someone who understands what you're going through.

A well-trained Naturopathic Physician or an MD who practices Alternative Medicine is trained to look for the cause of the symptoms and then cure the cause. In medical schools, MDs are trained to treat the symptoms through suppression with medicine. NOt that it's bad, only there isn't a drug to manage or cure FM. But there are a lot of things that you can do. Doreen's post here and elsewhere in the forum covers a lot about treatments.

Just a thougt. Is there anything that is going on immediately before your 'spells'. Like nearby pesticide or herbicide applications. Perhaps doing something new in your home, like paint, carpet, pesticide application, etc? Toxic (chemical) exposures can cause those symtoms as well.
Best of luck to you.

[Ka3n]

It's not fun, a very strange feeling that no one understands. Charlotte, I do understand. It makes perfect sense. Several people have had chronic infections that went undetected for years and once it was taken care of, their symptoms went away. The symptoms of fever and inflammation is the body working on something. It's a symptom of something greater at work. I'm glad that you doc was able to be a good detective and healer for you. :)

[Elihnig]

I may be totally off the wall, but the first thing that occurred to me when I read your post is that maybe you have malaria?

It does come in cycles and people can live with it for a long time, once you have it you can never get rid of it totally but you can treat it.

Fever happens with that but so do chills and aching. I am not an expert so disregard me if I'm being stupid.

Elihnig

[pegm]

I'm grateful for all suggestions. I'm not very familiar with malaria, but I think it's found in the tropics, and I've never been to the tropics -- I live in Wisconsin and have not traveled very far. If I'm wrong, please let me know. Thanks for your help!

[Ka3n]

With global warming, malaria may become a concern for Wisconsin in the future, but not now. Unless Pegm's been traveling. I don't think that you're being stupid, I think that you're being helpful, malaria does have recurrant symptoms like that. A friend of my family got Denge fever in Brazil this year. He was so sick, and the doc told him he was lucky that it was mild. I'm so glad that we don't have to worry about that here.

[Ka3n]

Hi Pegm,
We must have posted about the same time! How are you feeling? Better, I hope.

[pegm]

Yes, I'm feeling much better thanks! I really wonder if either fibromyalgia and/or CFS could be the problem. I also had Lyme's disease a few years ago, and wonder if it could be some residual affect of that? But since I began low carb, I think that the bouts have become more infrequent and much shorter in duration -- maybe they'll just slowly fade away? I can always hope. Thanks again for your suggestions and concern.

[Ka3n]

I also had Lyme's disease a few years ago, and wonder if it could be some residual affect of that? Did you take all of your antibiotics? Did you have follow-up bloodwork done? If yes, then since you've had these episodes since high school, I wouldn't think that the current episode is because of Lyme. BUt, it might be worth another check up with the doc.

An interesting story, I have FM-- lots of fatigue, pain, frequent fever, etc. I went on an extended camping trip came back totally wiped out. Found out later that I'd gotten Lyme. The symptoms are so similar that I didn't pick up on it, I just had a bunch of tests run to rule things out, and never imagined it could be Lyme.
But since I began low carb, I think that the bouts have become more infrequent and much shorter in duration -- maybe they'll just slowly fade away? I can always hope. Thanks again for your suggestions and concern. Good thing that you found this WOL! I hope that they fade away, too. It is totally possible and I'll hold that thought with you! We do care about you, so do keep us posted. I've been wondering how you were. Next time, I'll just ask ;) . Take care

[pegm]

Yes, I did take all of the antibiotics. I had three ticks within a few days, then I got flu-like symptoms, but it was not quite like any flu I'd ever had before -- something was different about it, so I went to my doctor. She ordered a blood test for Lyme's, but started me on the antibiotics right away before the tests came back (it took a week for the test results back then). She also told me that I could test negative if I had not had it long enough for the test to detect the Lymes, but take the antibiotics anyway. The test did come back negative. I have never had another test and a doctor has never told me that I should.

[Ka3n]

If you decide to see a doc regarding FM, I suggested a Doctor trained in Alternative Medicine, I still do. I wanted to say that I also concur with Doreen's suggestionI urge you to get a consultation with a fibro specialist, usually a Rheumatologist or Rehab. Medicine specialist. If they're familar with FM, the treatments will be more than *just* pain killers and a pat on the head. T
hat happens all too often and with such a serious problem as FM it leaves one feeling helpless and more confused instead of in control and getting better. There's some great info on the links that Doreen has put here and at http://forum.lowcarber.org/forumdisplay.php?forumid=47&s= Great stuff for you doc as well. She might want to try some of the Treatments.

I'm glad that you've taken control of the LC part of whatever it is, and good luck with getting to the root of it.

[surlymel]

Don't mean to butt in, but have any of your symptoms occured very badly after a meal? I had bouts of fatigue, "cold" spells, and arthritic pain (and a host of other things) for years before I found out that the culprit was a particular food.

I know it's a little out of the blue, but just a suggestion if you haven't thought of it already.

[pegm]

Guess I really never thought about it before, so I'm glad you suggested it could be food-related. I'll be certain to write down what I ate during the hours before one of these 'spells' to see if there is a connection. Thanks for the input!

[quietone]

My girlfriend has severe FM and has found one of the best things for her is Effexor.

Actually, I was using it because I had SAD and I have chronic back problems, and told her that I noticed that my back problems went away with taking the Effexor. After research, we found that it does indeed affect the pain centers of the brain. So, she has been on it since this past February and LOVES it.

I have symptoms of FM that seem to flare up along with my SAD (usually Jan/Feb and July/Aug). I have not been diagnosed with it, because my GP sent me to someone for my back/neck and shoulder pain who did not believe in FM, so I never got dianosed and then just started researching and trying to cope on my own.

I have a new doctor now. And my husband is just about fed up with my snoring and constant sleep interruptions. And I am tired of being tired all the time! So I am planning a visit soon.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand, my friend also got a hot tub which the insurance company paid for because of her diagnosis.

She also gets massages weekly.

She went to a naturlist when she didn't lose weight on Atkins. She has been following that diet for about 6 months. She looks and says she feels great.

Hope this helps some.

[m1whowaits]

This might sound wierd, but here's my story. I've had various, seemingly unrelated illnesses my ENTIRE life. Mysterious rashes as a child, treatment for a duodenial ulseration at age 10(!), all the symptoms with all the pain points for fibromyalga, and all the symptoms of cronic fatigue including a low grade fever that lasted for months, migraines that put me in the hospital at 16, clinical treatment for anemia twice, strep throat and broncitius more times than I can remember. I read all the time trying to find some physiological problem to correct it all. I think I found it. A Candida overgrowth can cause it ALL!!! Everything I had would last several months to several years. The freezing cold and shaking I've had too. Still do on occasion. What it could be is you inadvertently did something to cause a die off. I'm on an elimination plan and I took my yeastie killer before bed and woke up to answer natures call at midnight shaking so hard I hardly walk down the hall. Candida can also affect your thyroid. Here's a web site to check out, lots of good info: candidapage.com (http://www.candidapage.com) There's also a good thread going here too. Hope this helps!

Liz

[puppetlady]

Wow this has been a very interesting read for me as I have had fibro for about 6 years . The tonsil connection is very interesting because every once in a while I get infections in my glands in the back of my throat but never suspected that as part of the problem .I have had that since highschool, then the fibro and of course living in Maine we have ticks as well but I never really considered Lyme Disease either. It is all pretty interesting...
Debbie

[m1whowaits]

Puppetlady, just for you're own curiosity take the quiz on the link at the bottom of this post and see how you do!!

Liz