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What Causes Fatigue When Diagnosed With CIDP?

Posted on Thu, 27 Apr 2017

Question: I had the flu shot in November last year. Three days later I could not lift my left arm. This lasted for about a week. My blood pressure went up to 190/90 (usually 120/70) I could barely walk my legs felt so heavy and I was so tired. After 2 weeks of this I went to my doctor. She said she thought I had CIDP and said if I didn't feel better in 2 weeks to go for a blood test. The nurse took 5 vials of blood. My blood came back negative and that was the end of it as far as my doctor was concerned. Then my left groin started to give me a lot of pain and I could barely walk. Today I still can't walk upstairs one foot after the other because of the groin pain. Finally I went back to my doctor and she sent me for an Xray because she thought it was arthritis of the hip. Her office called me today to say I had minimal arthritis of the hip. After much internet research I am convinced I have Guillian Barre Syndrome brought on by my flu shot. She was quick to think that I had CIDP and I don't understand why she didn't think of GBS since they are so similar. I have to see her next week and will mention my thoughts on GBS. She is old time thinking and probably won't like me diagnosing myself. How can I get her to consider what I am telling her. I'm getting much better but am still very tired all the time and and I never know when I'm going to get pain in my finger tips, shoulders etc. I read on the 'net that I have a mild case. On a scale of 6 I was a 2 which means a recovery time of 4-6 months. It is now 5 months and I am far from recovered.

Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
My answer as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Welcome on HCM!

I carefully passed through your question and would explain that GBS and CIDP are similar disorders.

GBS is also called acute inflammatory demylinating polyradiculoneuropathy (also called AIDP). While CIDP stands for chronic inflammatory demylinating polyradiculoneuropathy.

The only criteria to differentiate GBS from CIDP is time. In GBS symptoms last less than 6 weeks (as a single episode with gradual recovery), while CIDP is a chronic condition with periods of aggravation and remission.

Anyway, your symptoms seem to be compatible with CIDP as you have been having problems for some months.

I would recommend consulting with a neurologist for a careful physical exam and a nerve conduction study to confirm the diagnosis. Further tests may be needed.

Hope to have been helpful!

Kind regards,

Dr. Iliri

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ilir Sharka (5 hours later)

Is it possible to have blood tests for CIDP come back negative and still have GBS. I was a very healthy woman before I got the flu shot. I take no medication whatever, weigh 120 lbs., 5ft 1" and was very active. Suddenly I'm an old woman.

Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
My answer as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hello again!

You should know that blood lab tests are usually normal in CIDP (besides an elevation of PCR and ESR).

CIDP (as GBS) is an autoimmune disorder, triggered by an environmental factor like flu shots, a viral infection, a bacterial infection, etc..

But, you should know that the best tests to confirm the diagnosis would be:

- a nerve conduction study
- a lumbar puncture (cerebrospinal fluid analysis)
- a spinal cord MRI study.

You should discuss with a neurologist on the above issues. You may need to take steroids if the diagnosis of CIDP is confirmed.

Hope to have been helpful to you!

Kind regards,

Dr. Iliri

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar