Cold-like symptoms after exercise

Hi!

Thanks for your answers! I do have "summer allergy", think it is to grass and mugwort(?). It is not a very serious one. I guess that the red areas on the tongue implicates some kind of allergic reaction?

I cannot think of any beverage or food that I consume that synchronize with the symptoms. During periods I have felt no symptoms at all, like last winter I could exercise 100% for like 4-5 months with no symptoms whatsoever. Then I got a cold and after that I did not get back (and still haven't) to like I was before. 

There is an "Allergy clinic" at my hospital, should I try to get sent there?

Best regards Bjorn

Actually all your symptoms are consistent with allergic disorder, not just the tongue sores.

Most of your symptoms including tongue sores are also however consistent to certain extent with fibromyalgia and scattered symptoms of some auto-immune problems. However for auto-immune something would likely have come up as off in your immunology screen...Then there is the distant possibility of either primary or latent syphillis which i am not sure if broad testing can pick-up - another thing to bring up with a doctor?

The onset following exercise and transient nature of the condition you describe could also be related to some other underlying conditions or overall exhaustion - I am assuming diabetes has been ruled out? I am assuming you were tested for HIV? (getting all the tougher ones out of the way I am assuming you checked for anaemia? And basic deficiencies (vitamins or minerals)?

I would discuss both with a doctor and see what they think.  Something is up and should definitely be addressed. Not sure why hospital is not looking into this. It could be something totally simple, but could be more serious.

What tests were conducted so far?

Hi,

diabetes and HIV have been ruled out. Diabetes test was done, HIV was tested for when I donated blood. Anaemia was also checked recently. Fibromyalgia or other auto-immune disorder sounds possible but maybe, as you say, that should be seen in the tests? I have gotten an appointment at the neurologist next week, maybe they can find something. But in some way I hope they don't...

One reason I have had problems getting help could be that they suspect stress-related issues to be part of my situation. Probably that has some kind of impact but I don't know what to think anymore

They have taken blood tests, immunological tests, ECG, blood pressure, lung X-ray, thyroid etc. I have no exact test results for more than a few of the tests.

I'll discuss the stuff you suggested with my doctor next time, thanks for helping me.

//Bjorn 

you would have to be under really notable stress to develop geographic tongue along with malaise and pain.

I would be more concerned in case of stress about your possible defficiencies.

I too hope nothing serious is found and it is just that you have been pushing yourself too hard on too little!

Please let us know how it goes!

Hi!

Today I visited the neurologist, they examined me but could not find any sign of neurologic disorder. They took blood test to check defficiencies, we'll see what that gives. They said they might do some kind of measurement of nerv signals to the muscles to exclude something.

//Björn

Today I gave blood for testing: metabolism, B12 vitamin (and some more "details" about B12 vitamins according to them) and neuroborrelios. I'll get results next week. 

Yesterday and the day before I walked for roughly 40 minutes, yesterday evening I saw that the "geographical tongue fields" started to appear. Today at lunch time I started feeling the "numbness" in arms and legs.  and then the "brain fog" started. This is certainly a mystery....

Good that you mentioned that! Actually liver check is included in the test done today so we'll see next week Forgot that one.

Looking forward to hearing those test results. I thought for some reason that lyme disease had already been excluded. Maybe I am mixing it up with someone else. They are not checking for latent syphillis? Which I don't wish upon you LOL, just seems pertinent to rule out  rather promptly.

I don't think they have tested for lyme disease before, no. I can ask them to check latent syphilis. I've gotten a referral to "Ear/Nose/Throat" specialist, hopefully they can find something. I clearly feel that I am "swollen" in my throat, the more I have walked (exercised), the further down in the throat I feel swollen.  

Hi again! Just as information, this week my problems escalated a bit. My hands are now shaky and my fingers don't work normally. Also, the "numbness" described before starts more or less during/following exercise, without delay, so to speak. Triceps, forearms become numb and fingers shake and are not 100% controllable. My general feeling is that the root cause for these problems are the same. I also am a bit more sore in the throat today (after walking yesterday).

//Bjorn

I don't feel comfortable with that progression. When do you see your doctor for further tests? You were going to go to ENT? Did you get lyme disease and deficiencies results back yet?

Hi,

No, it does not feel good at all. Right now I am waiting for the visit to ENT, we'll see if they can help, to be honest I'm not too hopeful right now I got test results yesterday (don't know all names in english):

Glucose

Tyroxine (T4)

Kobalamine 

Folate

Homocysteine

ASAT

ALAT

GT

Kreatinkinas

Tyrotropin 

Everything "looked good". So I guess it must be something else They sent me to do a neurography to see how my nervs work. They told me it will most probably look good but it can rule out some stuff as I understand it.

//Bjorn

Hi again,

As an example of a "normal case" for me:

Yesterday I went for a longer walk in the evening, and took the bike to the grocery store, not an intense exercise by normal standards, but relative to my current state, it is. Today, in the afternoon (roughly 2 p.m) I start feeling the brain fog and the numbness in my legs and arms. Then it stays that way until 7-8 p.m when it decreases. After that it is not good but not that intense.

//Bjorn   

What you describe today is consistent with some sort of exhaustion. But is the tongue blistering up again?

...ok so we know your B12 levels seem to be ok, that you are not malnuorished and that your mouth problems are not related to B12 (cobalamine), folate  or homocysteine levels.

Your Thyroid workup is also clear (T4 and TSH).

Liver function - clear.

CK normal indicative of no muscle injury  or damage. As a bonus you also get to know that your brain and heart are in good order - I have a question here - is your urine normal colour or darker after exercise?

I will be a bit forward now, apologies: Do you take any kind of supplements? And, IF you use recreational drugs, specifically stimulants such as cocaine, you could be reacting to this. The latter is not a question obviously. Just a thing to consider for you so please do not be offended.

However if the above is clear, I would (brainstorm):

- ask for those neuroborreliosis test results (are they not ready yet?).

- follow up on latent syphillis!

- Have you seen a rheumatoid specialist yet by the way??

- Has anyone considered parasites or screened for them?

- Heavy metal poisoning? Pesticide overload?

- And while you are at it - one thing that is fairly straightforward and perhaps should have been checked for sooner...perhaps they could look at Coeliac disease just in case. I know it is very modern now LOL but in your case it may actually be pertinent. They may proceed to check for several other intolerances. Then allergic disorders...

I would also try to go back in time to when the symptoms first started. Is there any incident you remember where you may have had a viral infection of some kind just before the onset of these unusual symptoms?

Were you abroad somewhere a few weeks to couple of months prior to onset? Specifically any travel to Asia or Africa?

Is there anyone in your family with any similar conditions?

Those were some more things for you to ponder.

With test results coming in exclusive it is, as I suspected it would be, a little complicated. I do feel for you. Wishing for a swift resolution and definitely hoping you feel better soon!

Hi,

Thanks for all your help! Actually this time the tongue did not blister that much, but it is noticable. Urine colour is "normal", cannot see any difference at all. When it comes to supplements I only eat some multi vitamin pills, no drugs (have never even tried ). Alcohol - below average I would say.

Regarding neuroborreliosis tests, good that you mentioned that. Have not seen any results of that. When I gave the tests the lab guy said he was taking that one but the doctor did not mention it and cannot see it in the results. Have to ask them about that one.

Have not seen rheumatoid specialist. I have a time to meet a physiotherapist in two weeks. Maybe they can point out something.

I don't think they checked parasites, poisoning or pesticide. Can "any doctor" take those tests? Celiak has not been checked and I am planning to ask my doctor if he could refer me to a specialist to exclude intolerancies. Only trip (two week vacation) I did before this started was within Europe. That year I tested positive for streptococcus bacteria and had antibiotics and it disappeared. But symptoms were still the same after that. I have tried to remember if something happened around that time but have not been able to see what it could be. Last year, after having no symptoms for 4-5 months, I caught a cold and it "transformed" to the state where I get the mentioned symptoms. But that could be (and probably was) a coincidence.

I will summarize your suggestions and discuss with my doctor. Thanks for your support, I appreciate it a lot!

//Bjorn    

Hi,

By the way, I read somewhere that B12 defficiency could be the case even if values are "ok", that symptoms of it might occur anyway. Do you think the below values should rule out B12 defficiency? First one is low in the reference interval while the second one is high in the corresponding interval. But maybe that is good enough?

P--Kobalamin  199 pmol/L         (reference 150-700)

P--Homocystein  12,3 µmol/L    (reference <15)

P--Folat  12 nmol/L                    (reference >7)

//Bjorn

I do think that the above results rule out B12 deficiency yes.

ANy doctor can order tests to rule out underlying parasitosis, heavy metal poisoning. Pesticide poisoning is a bit more complex but there are certain tox screens that should be able to detect anomalies.

Any news meanwhile?

"That year I tested positive for streptococcus bacteria and had antibiotics and it disappeared. But symptoms were still the same after that. I have tried to remember if something happened around that time but have not been able to see what it could be. Last year, after having no symptoms for 4-5 months, I caught a cold and it "transformed" to the state where I get the mentioned symptoms. But that could be (and probably was) a coincidence."

Unlikely to be a coincidence.

Any seasonality relation? Symptoms in winter more than in summer?