Dear all,

My son, 17, had a flu about two weeks ago. Just before flu symptoms began (he says), he began to experience weakness in his legs during exertion. He's the captain of his school track team and has been able to run for miles without noticeable change in strength other than normal tiredness. But this new experience has stopped him after a mile when, all of a sudden, his legs give out. Now he even has a little trouble climbing stairs and walking with his heavy back pack -- he keeps going but says his legs feel weak.

I took him to his homeopath/pediatrician and she checked his reflexes and nerves. She found an insensitivity to stimulation along the sides of his right foot. It was his right leg that collapsed under him when he fell during running last week. His hom doc also found a heart murmur, and his heart beat was 86/m. The murmur wasn't evident in his yearly physical last spring. His blood pressure is 60/120.

Also, I've noticed that his hands/fingers are very cold (Reynauds-like). I've spoken to his athletic coach at school, and she says he's often cold when others are comfortable, that he has to wear extra clothes compared to others. I'm going to take him to a cardiologist and a neurologist on the recommendation of his homeopath/pediatrician. But I wonder if you have any thoughts. His mood is good -- he doesn't seem frightened by his symptoms (the way I am). Who knows, maybe he's grateful he doesn't have to push so hard -- he has a doctor's excuse to get out of athletics this week.

He's 17, 6 feet tall, thin, the president of his school, gets all A's these days. Thank you so much for any insights.

Best,
Margaret in Boston