Normal blood tests-what's left? - Infectious Diseases Message Board

lynne11 · 09-10-2003, 05:00 PM

Hi all. My doctors are a bit puzzled. I've been sick around 2.5 months now. Temp has been around 100 (recorded at about 4 dr. visits), when it is normally around 98.4 ish. I've had decreased appetite and some nausea, have lost 20 lbs. used to be 130 lbs and am now underweight.
They have done CBC, thyroid, sed rate, and abdominal, pelvic, and chest ct. All these tests came back completely normal.....
They were nervous about cancer given my symptoms and family history. I get pressure and slight pain in my front upper ribs and chest and am pretty weak lately.
They now want me to see an infectious disease dr. and have suggested an HIV test given I still feel weak and tired and have had the above symptoms for a while. I have no risk factors at all for HIV. They don't seem too worried about that either (my husband and I never slept with anyone else, and he is fine.)
My question:
If cbc and sed rate were normal how can I have a virus or some kind of infectious disease??? WOuldn't something have shown up in my bloodwork as an infection or something. Do you really think the infectious disease dr. is necessary?? what else could they possibly test me for??

Thanks all...

Sarah68 · 09-11-2003, 02:34 AM

Is your white cell count raised at all? If so, this is an indicator of bacterial infection within the body.

Also, your sed rate does not necessarily need to be raised in the case of a long-term or chronic infection. Sed rate is a non specific marker of inflammation within the body that you probably would not have in the case of a long-term illness.

Have they tested your CRP at all? This is C-Reactive Protein and can be high in cases of long term infection.

Other possibilities that you may like to consider are Lyme Disease. This can be non specific and if you have been unwell for sometime, this should be considered.

Also, have you ever been tested for Mono? Although sometimes presenting as an acute illness, you can get symptoms such as this low grade fever, loss of appetite, weight loss and mono does have a habit of taking a long time to get over, so mention this to them and it is worth getting tested for this.

Have you been travelling anywhere recently? If you have, then there are the tropical diseases that need to be considered.

Good luck

michell · 09-28-2003, 07:15 PM

Hey, this sounds just like what I have been going through. All of my tests came back okay except I haven't had a chest CT. My left tonsil is swollen also. I read if only one is, without other symptoms it could mean a tumor possible lymphoma and I am starting to freak out because I have a 20 month old and a 6 yr. old. If you find anything else out let me know please. Michell

rubindj · 10-12-2003, 11:48 PM

None of tests they have run (other than sed rate) would have picked up a viral infection, including a WBC. Given your area of the country, Lyme disease (which a sed rate should have been off on), or West Nile, could be candidates, but FUO -- Fever of Unknown Origin, is never a fun thing to diagnose. It sounds like a viral or autoimmune problem, so either a infectious disease, but a more thourough workup would seem to be in order before referral. As of now, you haven't even ruled out rhumatoid arhtritus and a variety of other issues.