Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Mouth Ulcers, Swollen Tongue, Joint Pain In The Wrists And Swollen Glands?
Question: My boyfriend has been experiencing mouth ulcers, swollen tongue, joint pain in the wrists, swollen glands and keeps saying he feels like "he's burning up inside"...particularly in his chest area. He is exhausted, very very tired, feels "fuzzy" and unfocused. This has been happening on and off for about a year. Can last for days - about 10 from end to end. Happens about once a month, particularly when he's overworked or pushed himself too hard. He's otherwise a healthy, 35 yr old. He doesn't take any medicine, eats cleanly, normal active lifestyle, non smoking, no drugs and no alcohol. We are very perplexed.
Brief Answer:
physician evaluation advisable
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX....
Welcome to healthcare Magic!
Your boyfriend is having multiple generalized problems and mouth ulcers.
The syndrome may be related to vitamins deficiency state, please get his serum Vitamin D and Vitamin B12 levels.
Also get him evaluated by a local physician to rule out a stressed state or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or fibromyalgia.
These conditions are long standing and recurrent and require specific treatment that has to be continued for months together.
I hope the advise would be informative and useful for you.
Take Care!
physician evaluation advisable
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX....
Welcome to healthcare Magic!
Your boyfriend is having multiple generalized problems and mouth ulcers.
The syndrome may be related to vitamins deficiency state, please get his serum Vitamin D and Vitamin B12 levels.
Also get him evaluated by a local physician to rule out a stressed state or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or fibromyalgia.
These conditions are long standing and recurrent and require specific treatment that has to be continued for months together.
I hope the advise would be informative and useful for you.
Take Care!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
he's had the mouth ulcers diagnosed, with blood work and they are not the herpes virus, they are another type that are not contagious, etc
This cycle he goes through begins with areas in his mouth "burning"...and then the ulcers appear. He currently has 8 in his mouth making it very difficult to eat or talk. They are not open sores but rather sore bumps/areas in his mouth. When these start...we know that the rest of the symptoms are not far behind..usually within hours or days..he feels the inflamed burning in his chest, his tongue is swollen, he can't focus, he's wilts under the exhaustion.
Are you familiar with Mold Illness? We were told it's an inflammatory disease that once in the system becomes hereditary. He was told by a mold specialist that his cortisol was very low, hormones were off, etc etc. And that if he could take a year of rest that he would be better. Should we look more into the Mold Illness?
We've heard everything from Lupus to Parasites. We will look into Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as well. but the mouth ulcers/soreness does not seem unrelated, it's become our only sign of the incoming downslide.
Could this possible be a highly sensitive reaction to plastic? When he eats a certain food (microwaved or boiled in a plastic bag) it seems to trigger the issue?
Oh, and he also has had sharp pains in his lower back...liver or kidney area..can't remember during this time. And he has had swollen testicles before during this time.
His sleep is horrible - wakes up yawning and tired most every day.
This cycle he goes through begins with areas in his mouth "burning"...and then the ulcers appear. He currently has 8 in his mouth making it very difficult to eat or talk. They are not open sores but rather sore bumps/areas in his mouth. When these start...we know that the rest of the symptoms are not far behind..usually within hours or days..he feels the inflamed burning in his chest, his tongue is swollen, he can't focus, he's wilts under the exhaustion.
Are you familiar with Mold Illness? We were told it's an inflammatory disease that once in the system becomes hereditary. He was told by a mold specialist that his cortisol was very low, hormones were off, etc etc. And that if he could take a year of rest that he would be better. Should we look more into the Mold Illness?
We've heard everything from Lupus to Parasites. We will look into Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as well. but the mouth ulcers/soreness does not seem unrelated, it's become our only sign of the incoming downslide.
Could this possible be a highly sensitive reaction to plastic? When he eats a certain food (microwaved or boiled in a plastic bag) it seems to trigger the issue?
Oh, and he also has had sharp pains in his lower back...liver or kidney area..can't remember during this time. And he has had swollen testicles before during this time.
His sleep is horrible - wakes up yawning and tired most every day.
Brief Answer:
Local glycerine and treatment for syndrome
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX...
Welcome back.
Patients with chronic issues are typically more susceptible to environmental pollutants, so avoid dusts, fumes or plastics....
Using microwave is absolutely okay buy cooking should take place in microwave compatible utensils.
I know mold diseases, have diagnosed and treated them for long.
The features of your boy friend hardly match mold.
recurrent oral ulcers with white base and red painful ragged margins are typical of aphthous ulcers and not molds.
Good oral hygiene, Chlorhexidine gargles thrice a day and local application of Glycerine based local anesthetics is mostly all that is required for ulcers.
Was his cortisol levels measured if so then please tell me the levels and at which hour of the day the sample of blood was collected?
I do not find much support for Molds or Lupus in his case.
Chronic fatigue syndrome or Fibromyalgia are the putative diagnoses.
Please revisit a qualified local physician with reports and provide detailed history to him so he may do focused physical assessment.
I hope the advise will be helpful for you.
Local glycerine and treatment for syndrome
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX...
Welcome back.
Patients with chronic issues are typically more susceptible to environmental pollutants, so avoid dusts, fumes or plastics....
Using microwave is absolutely okay buy cooking should take place in microwave compatible utensils.
I know mold diseases, have diagnosed and treated them for long.
The features of your boy friend hardly match mold.
recurrent oral ulcers with white base and red painful ragged margins are typical of aphthous ulcers and not molds.
Good oral hygiene, Chlorhexidine gargles thrice a day and local application of Glycerine based local anesthetics is mostly all that is required for ulcers.
Was his cortisol levels measured if so then please tell me the levels and at which hour of the day the sample of blood was collected?
I do not find much support for Molds or Lupus in his case.
Chronic fatigue syndrome or Fibromyalgia are the putative diagnoses.
Please revisit a qualified local physician with reports and provide detailed history to him so he may do focused physical assessment.
I hope the advise will be helpful for you.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
