I posted the other day in general health about my undiagnosed illness that ive had since september...in short - constant brainfog/spacey feeling, reoccuring fevers (every couple of weeks at least), fatigue, general malaise, eye & ear problems, joint pain in fingers..etc etc but those are the main ones.

I also a strange rash on my forearm and chest/shoulder area. It started off kind of like a heat rash..just little red raised bumps..the ones on my chest are still like that but starting to go circular..the one on my arm is now red dry and raised and circular with a clear centre..which ive heard sounds similar to an autoimmune rash.

Ive been to see an Infectious disease doc who said he tested me for lupus & rheumatoid arthritis..came back negative. Is there still a change I could have a autoimmune problem..like Cogan's Syndrome for example or should this have also showed up in the test?

Ive also been on antibiotics for 6 weeks which has made my 'ill' feeling and fever get better but everything else is the same..just takes the edge off. Does the fact that im responding to antibiotics rule out autoimmune?

Ive got my follow up with my ID tomorrow and just wanted to know if it was anything significant. He hasnt seen the rash this has appeared since i last saw him.

Thanks

This sounds like it could be Lyme's disease. I see you are from the UK, and I don't know the specifics about Lyme's there, but the rash and joint pain, malaise and the fact that antibiotics have helped somewhat seem to suggest an infection of some kind. There IS a type of Lyme that is chronic and can persist, but I would ask your ID to run a Western Blot Lyme test, not just titers.

I am going through a lot of health problems also, and just wanted to post and give you some support, I know how frustrating it is to be undiagnosed for a long time. Hang in there!

Had my appointment today. He said the rash looked like a drug reaction (so probably the antibiotics) but didnt seem that interested so im guessing its not spelling anything out. I didnt ask about Lyme as hadnt read your post till after id been but i dont think its that common in the UK. Even so i do agree that my symptoms fit very well. The problem is my symptoms fit a lot of things..or at least parts of them. He deciced to keep me on the Augmentin for a further 6 weeks and has also added 4 weeks of Ciprofloxacin (which has some lovely side effects!). He's calling me in 2 weeks to see how Im getting on. He said glands in my neck were swollen (i cant feel them?) so my bodys still fighting something off...

It really is frustrating just not knowing whats wrong. If i knew what was wrong..even if there was no treatment i could get on with my life and try and deal with it..but not knowing just gives you very little control and your constantly wondering. Thankfully my ID doctor is wonderful..and although he dosent yet have a clue..hes not patronising..he dosent doubt that theres something wrong (like my GP did!) he dosent try and blame it on anxiety/depression/post viral like many have...and he does seem to be doing all he can so i cant complain in that respect.

Have you looked into Adult Onset Still's Disease?

May be worth reading up on.

Good luck with a diagnosis (I'm 2.5 years in to this whole mess, with no diagnosis and no ideas what's wrong with me).

Christine