Rheumatic Fever and Anemia

[JenniferG]

I have a difficult time explaining my questions and making long stories short. So here goes.......

 

Before Meg was diagnosed she had high fevers(103-105) for 6 months on and off. Neg strep cultures, vomiting and sore throat tho. The Pedi tested her iron, it was really low, so they put her on iron. Just about the same time she was diagnosed PANDAS and put on abx. Fevers gone, anemia gone.

 

Fast forward to now.....you all know her deal....out of school since Sept...OCD/ANXIETY, C DIFF (now gone), H Pylori, parasites. Nausea frequently. Chest "hurting spots", some infrequent dizziness, SOB upon exertion, decrease in appetite, chronic fatigue and pale and now some hand tremors.I have tried on numerous occasions to feel/listen to her heart when it hurts..nothing, except tonight....I caught a flutter.

 

 

She is currently on Alinia for 2 weeks. And acyclovir.

 

 

I am wondering if:

 

A. She has Rheumatic Fever because of the not being covered by abx. This is why the chest hurting spots, SOB

 

B. She is anemic. Also because of not being covered by abx and possibly Rheumatic Fever.

 

C. Her nausea seems to be improving since starting the Alinia. ( killin parasites and H Pylori)????

 

D. She has had a problematic belly for a long time. NSAIDS and ABX has given her many "bellyaches". Could the H Pylori be causing an ulcer? Which might explain nausea and no appetite. And why she grows more pale and nauseous each we restart ABX??

 

Just thinking and thinking and thinking............

[ChrissyD]

Rheumatic fever is a clinical diagnosis based on signs & symptoms and supported by lab work. If you google "Jones criteria" you can see the criteria for diagnosis. You need at least two major criteria, or one major and two minor criteria.

 

Anemia is not associated with rheumatic fever, that I know of.

 

Yes H pylori could definitely cause nausea due to stomach irritation (gastritis) or even an ulcer.

 

I hope you get to the bottom of things and she is feeling better soon.

[Hopeny]

Can I ask if Lyme is in the picture? It can cause heart block

[JenniferG]

She has been tested. Everything neg except pos 41 band. Could be the H Pylori (Spirochete).

 

Heart block? As in clogged artery?

[Hopeny]

Band 41 is inconclusive in regards to Lyme, but typically this would warrant a re-test. Did you test through Igenex or Stonybrook? If SB did they report all bands? Otherwise if it was Quest etc I wouldn't hold too much stock and would re-test with Igenex.

 

Heart block with Lyme is an aryythmia and usually causes fainting as I understand, I am not a doctor so this is a bit out of my pay grade, I know about it because my DD fainted at school and the pediatrician told me about it: http://www.ilads.org/lyme_research/lyme_articles2.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17577848

Stomach problems can be a Lyme flag, many of the symptoms you are describing below were also my daughter's symptoms who has Lyme, PANDAS, high MycoP, and are typical symptoms of Lyme & the co infections. Recurring fever as you describe can come with Babesia, Lyme co infection and malaria like illness, also a parasite.

 

If it were me I would take her to a cardiologist and also have an evaluation by an LLMD. Have you had a full workup by an infectious disease doc? To rule out things like those lake diseases, Powassan, etc? I would not count on an ID doc in regards to testing for Lyme but for all of those other things, Powassen etc. just in case this is not Lyme.

 

Sorry I can't answer about rheumatic fever but based on the combination of symptoms you are describing I would look to do some very thorough testing.

 

If you are in New York area I can send you info on a pediatric ID doc if it would be helpful.

 

She has been tested. Everything neg except pos 41 band. Could be the H Pylori (Spirochete).

 

Heart block? As in clogged artery?

[JenniferG]

Band 41 is inconclusive in regards to Lyme, but typically this would warrant a re-test. Did you test through Igenex or Stonybrook? If SB did they report all bands? Otherwise if it was Quest etc I wouldn't hold too much stock and would re-test with Igenex.

 

Heart block with Lyme is an aryythmia and usually causes fainting as I understand, I am not a doctor so this is a bit out of my pay grade, I know about it because my DD fainted at school and the pediatrician told me about it: http://www.ilads.org/lyme_research/lyme_articles2.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17577848

Stomach problems can be a Lyme flag, many of the symptoms you are describing below were also my daughter's symptoms who has Lyme, PANDAS, high MycoP, and are typical symptoms of Lyme & the co infections. Recurring fever as you describe can come with Babesia, Lyme co infection and malaria like illness, also a parasite.

 

If it were me I would take her to a cardiologist and also have an evaluation by an LLMD. Have you had a full workup by an infectious disease doc? To rule out things like those lake diseases, Powassan, etc? I would not count on an ID doc in regards to testing for Lyme but for all of those other things, Powassen etc. just in case this is not Lyme.

 

Sorry I can't answer about rheumatic fever but based on the combination of symptoms you are describing I would look to do some very thorough testing.

 

If you are in New York area I can send you info on a pediatric ID doc if it would be helpful.

 

She has been tested. Everything neg except pos 41 band. Could be the H Pylori (Spirochete).

 

Heart block? As in clogged artery?

We saw ID. He told me her anxiety was from watching the news. Ugh. He gave me Amoxicillin for 12 months and sent me on my way. We see a LL DO here in CT. Her lyme test were through Clonical Lab Partners, a CT based lab. I have a couple of times about Babesia and Lyme. He didn't offer to redo tests and didnt seem too impressed with her results. We did find 3 parasites in her gut. The copy of the Metamatrix results I received are in black and white. I saw the sample online in color seems easier to read as far how "positive or negative" they are. I have child psychologist pushing Celexa....I have been delaying. I just KNOW their is something causing her anxiety/OCD and I don't want to band aid it. What else could we possibly test for?