new here, don’t know where I belong | Arthritis Information

I am 37 yo mother of 3. Married to DH for nearly 2 years now, one year of that I have been sick. I have had a fever every day for over a year. It is not a 24 hr fever, but I get fevers off and on throughout my day, every day. Typically between 99.5 and 101. My regular temp used to be about 97.5. Last Jan/Feb went to GP and he sent me to Internal doc who ran many many tests. Dx, chronic fatigue/fibro. Well, I didn't accept that. For one thing, I had no pain. Just generalized flu symptoms, fever, exhaustion, some weight gain, etc. This past fall I saw my GP after the flu and he asked "you still getting these fevers??" Yes, and when I told him the Internal's Dx he said "I don't think you have that. We will get to the bottom of this". I have had a lifelong history of const/diar also. So after he ran tests, the only thing that showed was high CRP. 1st one was 8.8 and a few days later ran another one and it was 10.7. So he said go to gastro. This was early Dec. I went to gastro early Jan. and he said they would run some tests and that I may need to see Rheumatologist. After the tests, scan, bloodwork (ANA and anti-endomysial are normal), and colonoscopy, no Crohn's or UC (sorry, trying to give y'all the short version) probably IBS. This is what I got from the doc that did the colonoscopy. I am waiting to hear back from the gastro that ordered all this as to if I need to see a Rheumatologist or what. I saw the gastro on Jan 4, colonoscopy on Jan 5 and here I sit waiting waiting. I still get the fevers, feel just awful several days a week and I am sooooo frustrated. I do not have any joint pain or swelling so I am confused as to why gasto might suggest rheum. doc?? I have had some pain in my feet and legs the last few months but I also have varicose veins so I wonder if that is from that. My ribs are often painful to the touch, but this is not something I have told any dr. The past few days have been hard to catch my breath or to take a nice big breath but I don't know if my asthma (usually very mild) is acting up or if I am having anxiety. I am really stressing about my health and also some issues in my personal life.

Please, anyone with questions to me, or symptoms like mine PLEASE let me know. Thanks so much

Have you been tested for Celiac Disease? It's often misdiagnosed as IBS.

http://www.celiaccentral.org/Do_I_Have_Celiac_/Do_I_Have_Cel iac_/278/

If we can help in anyway we will. Any and all are welcome. Let us know what we can do to help. We've got a lot of researchers here....so hopefully something will sound fimiluar to someone.

Again; Welcome.

doxigal, I imagine because of the continuous fevers that your doctor is thinking that you have some kind of inflammatory disease going on. Rheumatologists treat all kinds of autoimmune diseases and it's possible that you have one. IBS is common with both RA and FM. In fact, it was one of the markers my doctor considered.

You need to bring up the chest pain as it might help them figure out some of what is going on. Maybe they will do an xray.

When I first started having symptoms, I had fevers a lot. So it could still be RA, just not quite showing itself yet. But it sounds like you have a good doctor. Just keep following up on it and don't let them stop looking until they have the answers. It might take awhile. But the more you post about your particular problems, someone here has probably had something similar or can point you in the right direction. Glad you decided to post.

Hi doxigal! Welcome.Hello!! So sorry you're having a hard time getting a diagnosis :( Do stick around! We actually have quite a few people who aren't "official" yet :) Hehe I hope you get some more answers very very soon!The fevers make me think of Lyme disease, have you been tested for that? Of course, most average Labs are not equipped to test for Lyme adequately. Do you live in or have you visited an area where this could be a possibility? All the best, PatI was thinking Lyme disease too. Are you having headaches or stomach
upset and morning stiffness? I had fevers on and off and felt lousy for 5
years before i saw a rheumy. With a high CRP, you have some sort of
inflammation going on. I had many of the same symptoms along with
weight gain before the pain set in. The pain is not severe now but I still feel
lousy. I would certainly ask to be checked for Lyme Disease.

My gastro finally called me today. He said as far as the gastric symptoms, it is "possibly Irritable Bowel Syndrome" but that he was going to speak to a rheumy and get back to me on Thurs. as far as the CRP and the fevers.

I guess I have not been checked for Lyme. I also have had alot of lower back/hip type pain that is fairly new to me, last couple of months. I have had years and years of neck problems. Also, about a month ago, I was having pain in my ankles, heels, and the achilles tendon area and have not been doing anything different as far as activity.

Ho-hum...just would love some answers and to relieve the fevers, nothing makes them go away...and sometimes I feel very flu-like when I have them, but not always.