2.2.1 Login and update/save slow

I am having a significant slow down issue when I try to login or update/save any options (posts, pages, plugins, etc.) in the Admin panel. It has just appeared about two to three weeks ago. I have deleted the pingomatic option,

I have optimized my db, read the forums, searched google, spoke to my host and still the same issue. I am running 2.2.1 with PHP 5.1.6, MySQL 5.0.27 standard, and Apache 1.3.37.

Any help you can provide would be mostly appreciated.