24/7 nausea, abdominal discomfort, swelling and bumps all over, fever, headache, weakness...etc.?

Question

My friend (20 yrs, healthy and active) has been experiencing a wholllee bunch of symptoms this past week or so.

During the 'first wave' (as I will call it), it was nausea, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea. He usually gets these symptoms when he hasn't gotten enough sleep, so it was sort of normal.

Second wave. Next day or so, he suddenly comes down with a bad migraine, fever, nausea, chills. So he rested for about two days and it was pretty much gone except for the nausea (which had lightened up but was still there) and he would still get some headaches here and there.

Third wave. Though it seemed like things were getting better, he was suddenly struck with more nausea, abdominal discomfort, bumps all over his body, and a swollen face (he can hardly open his eyes).

Throughout this whole time, he couldn't eat as much as usual, though he says he still has appetite. He has also been experiencing weakness. He will be seeing a doctor asap, but tomorrow is Christmas..

Answer 1

Thank you for emailing me about this situation. I hope I can offer you and your friend useful help.

I wish I could observe firsthand the facial swelling and "bumps" so that I could see exactly what this is. Does he have itching or pain with the "bumps"? Are they red? Scattered around on the body or in groups more or less localized on certain parts of the skin? I don't think he's having true migraines but severe headaches which aren't the same thing, although I won't dismiss the fact that the headaches may have been quite painful.

Has he eaten anything unusual? Anything he doesn't ordinarily eat the rest of the year? Any changes in his urine or bowel elimination patterns? Any vomiting? When you say he had fever, what exactly has his temperature been? Can you give me a range or some examples? Has he had any bites or skin injuries preceeding these symptoms?

On the face of it, this sounds like a viral infection but he absolutely needs a work up to get an accurate diagnosis. I would imagine that by now (12/27/07) he's already seen a doctor and I'd be interested to know what the doctor thinks.

Again, thank you for contacting me and I truly hope all turns out well for your friend. Please do let me know the outcome.

Answer 2

Um, hey.. Preachers Wife? Allergic reactions.. especially those that cause swelling like this can be VERY life threatening... it doesn't take much of a change for the heart to start acting up or for the throat to start swelling.. and 10 minutes later he'd be blue in the face. So maybe you should think about things like that before you spout off about "People shouldn't tell them to go to the ER" blah blah blah.

It does sound like an allergy. If it doesn't start getting better.. and especially if it does start to get worse he should seek immediate medical attention ... but if not he should see a Doc as soon as possible.

Answer 3

The swollen face is the most alarming symptom, and I also suspect an allergic reaction. If you factor out the swollen thing, the symptoms could possibly be hepatitis. See if his eyes seem yellow. Ask him if his urine is unusaully dark in color?
I don't think an ER visit is unreasonable is his symptoms get worse, or if new ones develop. Good luck....

Answer 4

Wow, if he has that many symptoms, I would suggest he go to the ER. As he been taking anything or eating anything out of the ordinary? The swollen face really scares me. If it swells around his neck, he won't be able to breathe. The bumps and swelling sound like a major allergy to me......

Answer 5

It pi**es me off when people say OH just go to the ER. Emergency rooms are for EMERGENCIES. your friend still has an appetite, and so on and so on. Make a freakin doctors appt. That's EXACTLY why people have heart attacks and crap like that in the waiting room, is because the nurses are taking care of nonsense patients. Not that your friend isn't in need of medical care, not at all what i'm saying. Just tell him to make an appt. now with his regular dr. so he can be seen before he gets worse. Sorry, bettyboo just pi**ed me off all of a sudden.