Question: Hi, I am trying to work out why I feel nausea everyday and lost weight suddenly 15kgs in 3 weeks) and most blood results are just within the normal range. Ct and Mri scans show small calcified lesions in spleen, base of right lung and frontal lobes. My cholesterol is a little high 5.6-5.8. I have had the E.BVirus but outside of the current timeframe. My last colonoscopy / endoscopy was clear of polyps or growths but 2 years ago 3 polyps (bowel) and an unidentified lesion was removed from my stomach. I do have an abscess on my gum since 2012 that repeated antibiotics has not removed. Recently I have had bouts of cellulitis and been diagnosed with blepharitis. My last CT scan showed sinus infections but no tumours or lesions. I am a smoker - giving up but have decided to give up drinking alcohol. My liver and kidney blood tests are in the middle of normal but the trend is dropping. My MCH is at 32.8. My wbc was a little high but falling. My b12 is just above normal but my iron saturation has dropped substantially from 33 to 20. Doctors are either at a loss or just say everything appears to be normal. I am nauseated everyday, experience regular fevers 2-3 / week with sudden drops in energy levels. Dizziness and leg weakness has been brought under control by diet and stress management. I have served the Army in the Solomons and PNG but negative results to ever having malaria. I am 49 years old and a teacher. Can you or your colleagues suggest my next step I am desperate.

Hi, just had fever after eating just then and have been feeling a little feverish have all day. Will try and type results as don't have online. To date 2012 abyss tooth and colonoscopy that removed 3 polyps. 2014 colonoscopy removed 3 polyps and an area of hyperplasia from stomach. Series of scans and strong antibiotics - 2 courses as I became quite ill following colonoscopy. ESR went to 11 but in recent times fallen back to 2. 2015 series of tests done including MRI's. Found areas of calcification of around 5 mm front lobe brain, lungs and 7 mm (grown from 3 mm in early 2014). Other tests done by an immunologist found e.b.v virus and ruled out t.b which the calcifications may have looked like. Monoclonal A was an issue. I believe he also ruled out more obvious things like hepatitis etc. I did have sti tests done in 2009 that were negative and no reason to redo. I have given blood since with no screening issues. This year blepharitis diagnosed by optometrist and in recent times treated for cellulitis for fingers both hands. Recent endoscopy and colonoscopy found no polyps but waiting for results from biopsies. Last cat scan sinus infection. Last year also tried 6 months psychotherapy (including) drugs as doctors were concerned that it was a reaction to the death of a family member mid 2015. Drugs had no impact upon symptoms. Latest bloods (where big difference to previous test, I will indicate):
Iron now 13.3 was in 7/04/15 23.6
Transferrin 2.72, 2.55
Saturation 20, 37
Ferritin 118. 108

Sodium 143 142
Potassium 4.5 4.4
Chloride 109, 109
Bicarbonate 27, 27
Urea 5.3, 5.2
Creatinine 75, 80
Egfr 90^
Urate 0.37
Calcium 2.38, 2.43
Adja 2.44, 2.38
Magnesium 0.86, 0.86
Phosphate 1.03, 1.08
T protein 69, 69
Albumin 40, 39
Alp 94, 88
Bilirubin 10, 14
Ggt 28, 23
Ast 21, 17
Alt 22, 18

Total cholesterol 5.8 5.4
Hdl 1.2 (2015)
Ldl 3.7 (2015)
Triglyceride 0.9, 1.2
Hdl / ladle ratio 3.1 (2015)
Chol / Hdl ratio 4.5 (2015)

Glucose 4.9, 4.9

Haemoglobin 167, 168
Rbc 5.14, 5.12
Pcv 0.47, 0.48
Mcv 94, 93
MCH 32.5, 32.8
McHc 346, 353
Rdw 13.2, 13.2
Wcc 7.9, 9.8 (was 11.8 late 2014)
Neutrophils 4.3, 6.3
Lymphocytes 2.8, 2.6
Monocytes 0.6, 0.8
Eosinophils 0.2, 0.2
Platelets 304, 317 (was above 350 late 2014)
Esr 2 (2015) (was up to 11 late 2014)

Vitamin B12 470, 323
Folate 24.2, 20.7

Urine current 7 ph

Thanks for getting back to me, some other things not mentioned above 2015 sputum test negative for bacteria, lung function normal, faeces tests no blood. Can trace glandular fever to pre 2009 . 2001 very sick with similar but more intense symptoms Kokoda track (5-7 days into trip)

Weight loss was just after colonoscopy in 2014.

Also right ventricular valve in early 2014 just on cusp of being a problem but cholesterol was above 8

Only medication, apart from antibiotics in 2014 has been nexium.

Was offered statins and bp meds early 2014 but refused, preferring to exercise and diet. When feverish Bp can fall. It rises quite high in Arvos but normally sits around 133/88

No swelling in ankles but occasional and unexplained joint pain - some osteo arthritis in spine

Cannot think of anything else apart from faulty hemochromatosis gene but only 1 not 2

Could it be either staphylococcus infection or malaria (though test is negative for having had it) or a combination of small but significant things adding up to a medium problem?

Thanks

Thanks,

Malaria no positive tests but did have a letter from Red Cross stopping me from giving blood as a batch that I had given blood to after, returned positive (I wasn't singled out). In PNG 2 weeks each 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2006. XXXXXXX Islands 8 months 2007. Symptoms fevers, nausea, loss of appetitive, aches and initially flu like symptom. Usually quite mild, 2-3 times year. Similar symptoms but accompanied by stomach pain and diarrhoea late 2014,

Faeces tests last year for occult blood

Urine test this week

If it wasn't for negative malaria tests I would swear that that was what it is.

Will purchase thermometer and monitor before this conversation expires

Thanks again, might get sti's tested again if you think warranted but don't think needed. I suspect the answer is obvious from the above but want to rule anything else out???

Please get back to me with your thoughts whilst I monitor temperature as I suspect that writing everything down may achieve clarity and direction - thanks heaps!

Hi, temperature rises by about 1 degree. Very mild but the fever is mild. My thoughts are that I contracted a very serious infection during first colonoscopy in 2014. This created a small infection in brain, spleen, lungs and ongoing in stomach. This was made worse by my body already fighting E.B.V and possibly malaria. Bloods would indicate a slow recovery, hampered by stress of family member dying and work. But still lingering fear of something more sinister or developing.

And still no treatment. I was almost hospitalised in 2014 but was already on long service leave

What do you think?

I think you have confirmed my thoughts. My CRP, ESR etc were high in 2014. Pity my gastroenterologist was going on holidays and brushed me off without clear guidance. I will meet half way and discount anything serious but will continue my journey

No I am upset , I was a little ill before 2014, went to hospital and ended up sleeping on a plastic sheet in the kitchen for a week due to diarrhoea and have felt really ill ever since. all I have been offered 2 different types of psych drugs and nexium. This could be as simple as a food allergy, it could be psychos emetic or it could be getting over a serious infection or finally, the start of something serious. I just want a plan that will lead to effective treatment.

As soon as docs decide that it is in my head it is "look the other direction" but when you wake in a cold sweat vomitting 2 years down the track, for any of the above options, I deserve to be treated. NAPLAN results were good for my school and all my relationships a e great (both personal and professional) - not a cloud in the sky and yet last night I woke up sweating and vomitting