23 year old male, 6'8", started at 214 lbs in July, now 263. Military lifestyle, married with a daughter, healthy diet, previously plenty of excercise, now absolutely none.
The first sign of anything was August of last year. I got very sick and it looked to be strep throat, had swab and cultures taken and was immediately given augmentin to treat without confirmation. After a couple days and my throat nearly shutting, I called for the results and the guy I spoke to said they came back negative. I went to the ER and they confirmed infectious mononucleosis so I was given a steroid shot and a one week pack and ceased the Augmentin.
[Turned out not to be negative but showed beta-hemolytic non-group A colonies. Could this turn into anything if untreated since I stopped taking the Augmentin?]
Two months and 30 pounds of weight GAIN later, I finally think I'm better and resume normal life. Not long after, I start having extreme cognitive dysfunction and go back to the doctor. I thought maybe I have a thyroid problem with all the weight gain. Thyroid tested fine but monocites were back up. Then it was another rapid decline from there. Cognitive dysfunction, terrible muscle aches, extreme fatigue, awful sweats, joint pain and locking joints, two bouts with vertigo, insomnia, increased urination, dry skin, lack of sex drive (which has come back recently but was gone for half a year), headaches, etc. I'm sure I'm forgetting something, as forgetfulness is another complaint.
After a couple months of this (some days better than others), I finally saw the infectious disease doc I was referred to. He ordered quite a few tests and all that came back abnormal was ANA at 1:180, and off the chart Epstein Barr titres. B12 was also slightly high (930) which to me is strange considering how exhausted I am, but I'm no doctor. Also found low vitamin D (19.7, have been on D2 for 5 weeks). He then ordered the confirmatory ANA tests and again ANA was positive at 1:203 as well as RNP at 2.2. Other titres were normal.
My infectious disease doc referred me then to a rheumatologist thinking Mixed Connective Tissue Disease. She heard a heart murmur so ordered an echo, some xrays of joints and my chest, she also tested for Marfan's, acromegaly, and redid the ANA and RNP as well as a bunch of other things.
Abnormalities with the echo were a dilated right atrium and ventricle, and regurgitation. I had an echo about five years ago that came back completely normal so why the change? Everything else was now normal.....including the ANA and RNP. As soon as I found this out I stomped over to my primary care manager and asked for him to redo the ANA since I've already had two positive ANAs and a positive RNP. Two weeks later I get the results of another high positive ANA, but my rheumy seems to think I'm crazy for thinking one false negative is more likely than three false positives.
I need help. I know it could just be me getting over mono, but it's been so long and I feel so bad and I feel like the symptoms just keep growing.
23 year old male, 6'8", started at 214 lbs in July, now 263. Military lifestyle, married with a daughter, healthy diet, previously plenty of excercise, now absolutely none.
The first sign of anything was August of last year. I got very sick and it looked to be strep throat, had swab and cultures taken and was immediately given augmentin to treat without confirmation. After a couple days and my throat nearly shutting, I called for the results and the guy I spoke to said they came back negative. I went to the ER and they confirmed infectious mononucleosis so I was given a steroid shot and a one week pack and ceased the Augmentin.
[Turned out not to be negative but showed beta-hemolytic non-group A colonies. Could this turn into anything if untreated since I stopped taking the Augmentin?]
Two months and 30 pounds of weight GAIN later, I finally think I'm better and resume normal life. Not long after, I start having extreme cognitive dysfunction and go back to the doctor. I thought maybe I have a thyroid problem with all the weight gain. Thyroid tested fine but monocites were back up. Then it was another rapid decline from there. Cognitive dysfunction, terrible muscle aches, extreme fatigue, awful sweats, joint pain and locking joints, two bouts with vertigo, insomnia, increased urination, dry skin, lack of sex drive (which has come back recently but was gone for half a year), headaches, etc. I'm sure I'm forgetting something, as forgetfulness is another complaint.
After a couple months of this (some days better than others), I finally saw the infectious disease doc I was referred to. He ordered quite a few tests and all that came back abnormal was ANA at 1:180, and off the chart Epstein Barr titres. B12 was also slightly high (930) which to me is strange considering how exhausted I am, but I'm no doctor. Also found low vitamin D (19.7, have been on D2 for 5 weeks). He then ordered the confirmatory ANA tests and again ANA was positive at 1:203 as well as RNP at 2.2. Other titres were normal.
My infectious disease doc referred me then to a rheumatologist thinking Mixed Connective Tissue Disease. She heard a heart murmur so ordered an echo, some xrays of joints and my chest, she also tested for Marfan's, acromegaly, and redid the ANA and RNP as well as a bunch of other things.
Abnormalities with the echo were a dilated right atrium and ventricle, and regurgitation. I had an echo about five years ago that came back completely normal so why the change? Everything else was now normal.....including the ANA and RNP. As soon as I found this out I stomped over to my primary care manager and asked for him to redo the ANA since I've already had two positive ANAs and a positive RNP. Two weeks later I get the results of another high positive ANA, but my rheumy seems to think I'm crazy for thinking one false negative is more likely than three false positives.
I need help. I know it could just be me getting over mono, but it's been so long and I feel so bad and I feel like the symptoms just keep growing.
Hi Alexander, are you able to seek a second opinion from a specialist in rheumatology or neurology? I have zero medical knowledge but it sounds like it would be good to get another opinion. Keep being your own advocate and searching for an answer!
Did you find out anything? I have a LOT of your same symptoms, and a positive ANA 4 times now. All my other inflammatory blood work is normal, so in a wait and watch pattern. Meanwhile, I'm feeling crappy daily, and have no life. Hope you received answers, and are recovering.
Welcome to Connect, @debdeb. Thanks for joining the conversation. I appreciate the insight and advice @johnbishop provided to @aman_23_23 earlier. I'm also providing some information from Mayo Clinic on ANA - it includes different resources offered by Mayo as well as tips/advice for what you can expect during the test, following the test, etc. (http://mayocl.in/1gcCt8h). Even though you have gone through this before, I thought it would be an additional resource for you.
Do you have a solid support system or hobbies that you're able to participate in? Keep your spirits up!
Did you find out anything? I have a LOT of your same symptoms, and a positive ANA 4 times now. All my other inflammatory blood work is normal, so in a wait and watch pattern. Meanwhile, I'm feeling crappy daily, and have no life. Hope you received answers, and are recovering.
Welcome to the forum. Didn't they do any further testing to drill down on possible autoimmune diseases? Seems odd that they would find a positive ANA and just stop at that, especially considering your symptoms. Any skin manifestations?
23 year old male, 6'8", started at 214 lbs in July, now 263. Military lifestyle, married with a daughter, healthy diet, previously plenty of excercise, now absolutely none.
The first sign of anything was August of last year. I got very sick and it looked to be strep throat, had swab and cultures taken and was immediately given augmentin to treat without confirmation. After a couple days and my throat nearly shutting, I called for the results and the guy I spoke to said they came back negative. I went to the ER and they confirmed infectious mononucleosis so I was given a steroid shot and a one week pack and ceased the Augmentin.
[Turned out not to be negative but showed beta-hemolytic non-group A colonies. Could this turn into anything if untreated since I stopped taking the Augmentin?]
Two months and 30 pounds of weight GAIN later, I finally think I'm better and resume normal life. Not long after, I start having extreme cognitive dysfunction and go back to the doctor. I thought maybe I have a thyroid problem with all the weight gain. Thyroid tested fine but monocites were back up. Then it was another rapid decline from there. Cognitive dysfunction, terrible muscle aches, extreme fatigue, awful sweats, joint pain and locking joints, two bouts with vertigo, insomnia, increased urination, dry skin, lack of sex drive (which has come back recently but was gone for half a year), headaches, etc. I'm sure I'm forgetting something, as forgetfulness is another complaint.
After a couple months of this (some days better than others), I finally saw the infectious disease doc I was referred to. He ordered quite a few tests and all that came back abnormal was ANA at 1:180, and off the chart Epstein Barr titres. B12 was also slightly high (930) which to me is strange considering how exhausted I am, but I'm no doctor. Also found low vitamin D (19.7, have been on D2 for 5 weeks). He then ordered the confirmatory ANA tests and again ANA was positive at 1:203 as well as RNP at 2.2. Other titres were normal.
My infectious disease doc referred me then to a rheumatologist thinking Mixed Connective Tissue Disease. She heard a heart murmur so ordered an echo, some xrays of joints and my chest, she also tested for Marfan's, acromegaly, and redid the ANA and RNP as well as a bunch of other things.
Abnormalities with the echo were a dilated right atrium and ventricle, and regurgitation. I had an echo about five years ago that came back completely normal so why the change? Everything else was now normal.....including the ANA and RNP. As soon as I found this out I stomped over to my primary care manager and asked for him to redo the ANA since I've already had two positive ANAs and a positive RNP. Two weeks later I get the results of another high positive ANA, but my rheumy seems to think I'm crazy for thinking one false negative is more likely than three false positives.
I need help. I know it could just be me getting over mono, but it's been so long and I feel so bad and I feel like the symptoms just keep growing.
Sounds like a bizarre situation. It sounds like you did eventually improve but, if not, have you gotten any follow up tests? Given the global nature of the symptoms and the seemingly abrupt onset I would guess, and I emphasize guess, an infection targeting multiple systems. You know that you can have a positive ANA and it not be a smoking gun for autoimmune disease right? Smokers have a higher percentage of positive ANA without AID for example. Anyway, curious since it sounds like you were hit pretty hard in multiple domains. Hope that you didn't follow up because you got much better.
23 year old male, 6'8", started at 214 lbs in July, now 263. Military lifestyle, married with a daughter, healthy diet, previously plenty of excercise, now absolutely none.
The first sign of anything was August of last year. I got very sick and it looked to be strep throat, had swab and cultures taken and was immediately given augmentin to treat without confirmation. After a couple days and my throat nearly shutting, I called for the results and the guy I spoke to said they came back negative. I went to the ER and they confirmed infectious mononucleosis so I was given a steroid shot and a one week pack and ceased the Augmentin.
[Turned out not to be negative but showed beta-hemolytic non-group A colonies. Could this turn into anything if untreated since I stopped taking the Augmentin?]
Two months and 30 pounds of weight GAIN later, I finally think I'm better and resume normal life. Not long after, I start having extreme cognitive dysfunction and go back to the doctor. I thought maybe I have a thyroid problem with all the weight gain. Thyroid tested fine but monocites were back up. Then it was another rapid decline from there. Cognitive dysfunction, terrible muscle aches, extreme fatigue, awful sweats, joint pain and locking joints, two bouts with vertigo, insomnia, increased urination, dry skin, lack of sex drive (which has come back recently but was gone for half a year), headaches, etc. I'm sure I'm forgetting something, as forgetfulness is another complaint.
After a couple months of this (some days better than others), I finally saw the infectious disease doc I was referred to. He ordered quite a few tests and all that came back abnormal was ANA at 1:180, and off the chart Epstein Barr titres. B12 was also slightly high (930) which to me is strange considering how exhausted I am, but I'm no doctor. Also found low vitamin D (19.7, have been on D2 for 5 weeks). He then ordered the confirmatory ANA tests and again ANA was positive at 1:203 as well as RNP at 2.2. Other titres were normal.
My infectious disease doc referred me then to a rheumatologist thinking Mixed Connective Tissue Disease. She heard a heart murmur so ordered an echo, some xrays of joints and my chest, she also tested for Marfan's, acromegaly, and redid the ANA and RNP as well as a bunch of other things.
Abnormalities with the echo were a dilated right atrium and ventricle, and regurgitation. I had an echo about five years ago that came back completely normal so why the change? Everything else was now normal.....including the ANA and RNP. As soon as I found this out I stomped over to my primary care manager and asked for him to redo the ANA since I've already had two positive ANAs and a positive RNP. Two weeks later I get the results of another high positive ANA, but my rheumy seems to think I'm crazy for thinking one false negative is more likely than three false positives.
I need help. I know it could just be me getting over mono, but it's been so long and I feel so bad and I feel like the symptoms just keep growing.
Good luck to you young man if I get a chance will look up tests results was a med school student till I broke my leg? I will try to help you understand
Did you find out anything? I have a LOT of your same symptoms, and a positive ANA 4 times now. All my other inflammatory blood work is normal, so in a wait and watch pattern. Meanwhile, I'm feeling crappy daily, and have no life. Hope you received answers, and are recovering.
I had the "bucket of blood" lab work, and all my other testing was good. I tested positive many years ago, then, upon retest, I was negative. My positive number keeps going up and down. My rheumatologist gave me Plaquenil, but I think it has made me more nauseous than I already am, so stopped taking it. I am diagnosed with thrombocytopenia, so I have the petechia bumps from that, and severe dry skin, major hair loss, no appetite, weight loss, back pain, digestive issues....the list goes on. I have been to tons of specialists and had/am currently having, a ton of scans and tests, but no reason for all this yet. On top of that, I think I'm going through menopause! Husband thinks it's mostly related to that and AID.
Welcome to Connect, @debdeb. Thanks for joining the conversation. I appreciate the insight and advice @johnbishop provided to @aman_23_23 earlier. I'm also providing some information from Mayo Clinic on ANA - it includes different resources offered by Mayo as well as tips/advice for what you can expect during the test, following the test, etc. (http://mayocl.in/1gcCt8h). Even though you have gone through this before, I thought it would be an additional resource for you.
Do you have a solid support system or hobbies that you're able to participate in? Keep your spirits up!
Thank you for the info. My support system is weak, and can't really participate in too much of anything right now, feeling too sick and I'm basically a couch potato.
Deb your post could be mine ! My quality of life is gone so far down .well now we all have one another very nice people on here and understanding Wish I could say something to make you feel better ! I am on my phone so cant see everuthing but seen your post I am sorry you feel like me Deena
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23 year old male, 6'8", started at 214 lbs in July, now 263. Military lifestyle, married with a daughter, healthy diet, previously plenty of excercise, now absolutely none.
The first sign of anything was August of last year. I got very sick and it looked to be strep throat, had swab and cultures taken and was immediately given augmentin to treat without confirmation. After a couple days and my throat nearly shutting, I called for the results and the guy I spoke to said they came back negative. I went to the ER and they confirmed infectious mononucleosis so I was given a steroid shot and a one week pack and ceased the Augmentin.
[Turned out not to be negative but showed beta-hemolytic non-group A colonies. Could this turn into anything if untreated since I stopped taking the Augmentin?]
Two months and 30 pounds of weight GAIN later, I finally think I'm better and resume normal life. Not long after, I start having extreme cognitive dysfunction and go back to the doctor. I thought maybe I have a thyroid problem with all the weight gain. Thyroid tested fine but monocites were back up. Then it was another rapid decline from there. Cognitive dysfunction, terrible muscle aches, extreme fatigue, awful sweats, joint pain and locking joints, two bouts with vertigo, insomnia, increased urination, dry skin, lack of sex drive (which has come back recently but was gone for half a year), headaches, etc. I'm sure I'm forgetting something, as forgetfulness is another complaint.
After a couple months of this (some days better than others), I finally saw the infectious disease doc I was referred to. He ordered quite a few tests and all that came back abnormal was ANA at 1:180, and off the chart Epstein Barr titres. B12 was also slightly high (930) which to me is strange considering how exhausted I am, but I'm no doctor. Also found low vitamin D (19.7, have been on D2 for 5 weeks). He then ordered the confirmatory ANA tests and again ANA was positive at 1:203 as well as RNP at 2.2. Other titres were normal.
My infectious disease doc referred me then to a rheumatologist thinking Mixed Connective Tissue Disease. She heard a heart murmur so ordered an echo, some xrays of joints and my chest, she also tested for Marfan's, acromegaly, and redid the ANA and RNP as well as a bunch of other things.
Abnormalities with the echo were a dilated right atrium and ventricle, and regurgitation. I had an echo about five years ago that came back completely normal so why the change? Everything else was now normal.....including the ANA and RNP. As soon as I found this out I stomped over to my primary care manager and asked for him to redo the ANA since I've already had two positive ANAs and a positive RNP. Two weeks later I get the results of another high positive ANA, but my rheumy seems to think I'm crazy for thinking one false negative is more likely than three false positives.
I need help. I know it could just be me getting over mono, but it's been so long and I feel so bad and I feel like the symptoms just keep growing.
Any ideas?
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Helpful -
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2 ReactionsHi Alexander, are you able to seek a second opinion from a specialist in rheumatology or neurology? I have zero medical knowledge but it sounds like it would be good to get another opinion. Keep being your own advocate and searching for an answer!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsDid you find out anything? I have a LOT of your same symptoms, and a positive ANA 4 times now. All my other inflammatory blood work is normal, so in a wait and watch pattern. Meanwhile, I'm feeling crappy daily, and have no life. Hope you received answers, and are recovering.
Welcome to Connect, @debdeb. Thanks for joining the conversation. I appreciate the insight and advice @johnbishop provided to @aman_23_23 earlier. I'm also providing some information from Mayo Clinic on ANA - it includes different resources offered by Mayo as well as tips/advice for what you can expect during the test, following the test, etc. (http://mayocl.in/1gcCt8h). Even though you have gone through this before, I thought it would be an additional resource for you.
Do you have a solid support system or hobbies that you're able to participate in? Keep your spirits up!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsWelcome to the forum. Didn't they do any further testing to drill down on possible autoimmune diseases? Seems odd that they would find a positive ANA and just stop at that, especially considering your symptoms. Any skin manifestations?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionSounds like a bizarre situation. It sounds like you did eventually improve but, if not, have you gotten any follow up tests? Given the global nature of the symptoms and the seemingly abrupt onset I would guess, and I emphasize guess, an infection targeting multiple systems. You know that you can have a positive ANA and it not be a smoking gun for autoimmune disease right? Smokers have a higher percentage of positive ANA without AID for example. Anyway, curious since it sounds like you were hit pretty hard in multiple domains. Hope that you didn't follow up because you got much better.
Good luck to you young man if I get a chance will look up tests results was a med school student till I broke my leg? I will try to help you understand
I had the "bucket of blood" lab work, and all my other testing was good. I tested positive many years ago, then, upon retest, I was negative. My positive number keeps going up and down. My rheumatologist gave me Plaquenil, but I think it has made me more nauseous than I already am, so stopped taking it. I am diagnosed with thrombocytopenia, so I have the petechia bumps from that, and severe dry skin, major hair loss, no appetite, weight loss, back pain, digestive issues....the list goes on. I have been to tons of specialists and had/am currently having, a ton of scans and tests, but no reason for all this yet. On top of that, I think I'm going through menopause! Husband thinks it's mostly related to that and AID.
Thank you for the info. My support system is weak, and can't really participate in too much of anything right now, feeling too sick and I'm basically a couch potato.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionDeb your post could be mine ! My quality of life is gone so far down .well now we all have one another very nice people on here and understanding Wish I could say something to make you feel better ! I am on my phone so cant see everuthing but seen your post I am sorry you feel like me Deena
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions