Need Help with Son's diagnosis - Chronic Fatigue Message Board

CJ · 11-21-2000, 07:51 AM

Two and a half months ago my son was a healthy energetic teenager starting high school. Now he's in a wheelchair outside the house, crutches inside-this is due to severe joint pain especially in the knees. He can no longer read because of the severe headaches that emerge from the constant background headaches he has. He is always tired, sometimes has tremors, dizziness, some short-term memory problems and irritable bowel. This all began with hives and joint achiness. The hives are gone but the joint problems remain. He had negative results on all tests so far (blood work, ANA, lyme titer). The doctor says its probably a virus and will go away on its own. The more I learn it seems that it takes months sometimes to test positive on any of these tests. My son feels the doctors don't feel anything is wrong we feel something is. Any thoughts - we'd like to hear them. Thanks, Debbie

Scooby · 11-21-2000, 10:31 AM

In 1997 I had joint pain, hives, fever, and ulcers in my throat they originally called it a viral synovitis (which means a virus settled in the joints) I too tested negative for Lyme etc. However, 3 years later I am now diagnosed with
EBV, CFS, and Fibromyalgia. I am now 34 years old with a 13 & 14 year old and have not been able to work. My whole life has changed to say the least I went to 2 Rhuemotologists and finally my Internal Medicine doctor diagnosed me because they wouldnt.
I hope this helps shed some light and if you get any new information pass it on Good Luck to you and your son
Luv Scoobs

orion · 11-25-2000, 12:33 AM

I had similar symptoms with extreme fatigue (sleeping up to 16 hours a day), bad headaches, also dry skin and dry eyes and other weird symptoms that came a went. They thought I had lupus, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, arthritis ... Turned out I had a problem with my pituitary gland. It wasn't producing hormones anymore.

Go to your GP and have blood tests done for prolactin, TSH, cortisol, IGF-1 and testosterone. Prolactin is a female hormone and if it is elevated in a male, you have pituitary problems. Have IGF-1 check to be sure growth hormone is still working. It has been shown that a lack of growth hormone causes fatigue, mental problems, and muscle and joint pains.

JB* · 11-28-2000, 05:37 PM

Doesn't it drive you nuts when they do a few blood tests and say you're fine. If you were fine you wouldn't be there. I agree with orion, and have the hormones looked at again. There is new information out about thyroid testing and differing opinions regarding results. The most common test is the TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) Most of the time they won't treat thyroid if TSH isn't over 6 or under .5. (HYPOthyroid) There is new information out that maybe they should treat for hypothyroid if the TSH if over two and you have the symptoms. A lot of the symptoms you mentioned could be hypothyroid. There are something like 50 symptoms for hypothyroid. For more information on thyroid go to About.com and check out health/thyroid. Mary Shoman's site. Good luck

Administrator · 12-02-2000, 12:57 AM

Try the healthboards Thyroid Board also.