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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    What is the cause of ongoing fatigue and multiplying symptoms? Who should I see?

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    Acne Allergy Pain
    I had a mystery virus in 2000 which caused extreme fatigue, hair loss, bad acne, muscle pain ( lower legs) & constant thirst. I came good gradually over 3 years. A second & third bout of fatigue followed in 2006 & 2012. I get very dark rings under my eyes before each bout of fatigue and my immune system then seems to collapse. 12 months ago an alternative medical practitioner diagnosed me with a dairy allergy and gluten intolerance (causing IBS). I thought my health problems were fixed. However, now I have a fourth bout of fatigue. My ANA - homogenous is 640, albumin is 34, c-reac protein is 6, TSH is 0.28, free TS4 is 17.3 and TS3 is 4.1. My GP is recommending a referral to a rheumatologist. I am also being treated by a physio for hip pain due to muscle weakness. I have started experiencing swelling in my lower legs and feet. I am 45 years old. Is a rheumatologist a good suggestion and what else should I do to get to the bottom of what is going on?
    • 1 answer
    • Dr Simon Easterbrook-Smith
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  • Dr Simon Easterbrook-Smith

    Health Professional

    My research interests include immunology and the mechanisms of amyloid formation. The latter has implications for people who are dealing with Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease … View Profile

    I am not a clinical health professional but, from my knowledge of biomedical science:

    Your ANA titre is high - this may indicate systemic lupus erythematosus. A specialist rheumatologist would be a good person to investigate this.

    Your TSH, T3 and T4 levels seem to be outside normal ranges. There are many possible explanations for this, linked to thyroid gland function. A referral to a specialist endocrinologist might help here - s/he will be able to carry out further investigations and (depending) discuss treatment options with you.

    All the best.

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