A few mos ago my husband was a healthy, energetic marathon runner. He's just turned 30, a vegetarian that never touches sweets or anything with butter- the epitomy of healthy. Today I had to help him take a shower because he was too weak to do it himself. Because the dr's have been unable to come up with a diagnosis, I'm looking for any possibility for my husband's illness. In January, he started feeling pains in his elbows and he assumed it was tennis elbow. A few mos later, the pains had increased and spread to every joint in his body as well as the muscles. He has now developed nearly a full page of symptoms (listed below) and a rather severe heart condition that cause constant chest pains. In the last 5 days he's been in the hospital, all the expected tests were done; blood-work (all reported to be normal), Brain MRI, Bone Scan, Lung tests, echocardiogram, and a few other minor tests; all of which turned out normal except for the cardiology tests. The infectious disease dr at the hospital didn't seem to take his case seriously believing it was from another origin, however the ID Dr he was seeing prior to being hospitalized seems to believe there is a virus at large here and is planning to continue testing.
They have already ruled out the following: Neg for Lyme on multiple accounts (although we are not ruling this one out)/neg lupus/neg cancer/neg MS/neg HIV/neg Hep/neg Rheumatoid factor. I am looking for ANY suggestions- weird virus, similar occurrances, ANYTHING to bring up to my husband's Dr. THANK YOU!

Overall symptoms:
Joint pain and swelling/gushy feeling around joints.
All joint pain has been symetrical; if one shoulder hurts, they both hurt.
?Hot? joints (bright red in addition to being ?hot?)
Muscle pain/stiffness/weakness- increases with use
Numbness occurrs after exertion.
Stiffness; esp in the morning- but pain is less in the morning.
Constant cracking/popping in joints. ?Bone-on-bone? feeling in knees, ankles and elbows
Soft lumps under the skin in shoulders, neck, elbows, knees (reoccurring).
Tenderness/stiffness along spine, esp at lower neck.
Weight loss- unusual since exercise routine has seized (-10 lbs in 1 month).
Difficulty breathing- pain with deep breaths
Headaches. (Often accompanied by blurred vision).
Freezing hands and feet- often to the point of numbness
Rash across face, minus forehead- also on body. Started June 17.
Skin changes- dry, discolorations, marks left easily
Irreg heartbeat/palpitations and heavy heartbeat- prevents sleep
Chest Pains: ?like someone?s punching me in the chest.?
Recently found heart murmur (June 12)
Inner mouth sores- April
Outer mouth sores- June 17th
Swelling in feet, lower legs and knees- June 19th
Unexplainable bruising (one on left foot- increasing in size)
Fatigue
Mild fever
Sleeplessness
Night sweats
Indigestion
Diarrhea
Mouth sores
Nausea

Current Medications (starting with most recent):
Steroid/anti-inflammatory (name?/180mg daily)- discontinued 6-18-02
Doxycycline? /60mg/2x daily?)- discontinued after two days to avoid masking tests.
Methylprednisolone 4mg- improvement seen within 2 days but doesn't last.
Advil taken minimally prior to above
Medications since onset:
Vioxx 25mg
Meloxicam 75mg
Naproxen 500mg

No known allergies
Non-smoker/Drinks rarely/Vegetarian (no meat of any kind, but still includes some dairy).


Family history: Italian/Polish background
Father- hypertension, high cholesterol
Sister- high cholesterol
Grandmother- Lupus, Parkinsons Grandfather- Prostate Cancer
Cousin- lymphoma
Heart disease runs in both sides of family.

THANKS AGAIN,
Jeni