Aa
Symptoms don't seem to add up...
Honestly, I don't know where to go with all this.
Since I was a teen (we're talking YEARS ago - I'm now 42) I've had odd symptoms that no doctor seems able to figure out. In my teens I had this weird rash-like discoloration around my ankles and feet. It stayed there for years. I didn't really think much of it since it never hurt or iched. Not until I was about 22yrs old did any doctor mention he wanted to find out what it might be. I was sent for a biopsy of the tissue and it came back as "related to hypoglycemia." I thought that was really strange, but accepted it as there is a history of low blood sugar issues with my mother and I had serious boarderline gestational issues while pregnant. (Did the glucola test and passed out an hour after the second blood draw. Oooops...that wasn't fun)
While pregnant I also suffered from really horrible heartburn! Really horrible to the point of mere water would trigger my reaching for the antacids bottle!
Then at 28yrs old I suddenly had several bouts with extremely swollen toncils which were eventually removed. But noone bothered to find out why. I had a really nasty doctor at that time who actually accused me of intentionally having oral sex with an infected partner!!! Needless to say I NEVER went back to that doctor ever again. Thanks, but no thanks! (truth be told I was no seeing anyone and wasn't having sex of any kind at that time)
Then at about 29yrs old I noticed the glands at the base of my skull were swollen and extremely tender. I went to the ER because it was making me lightheaded and the ER physician said it was a Bee sting...but that was just rediculous! I'd think I'd remember being stung by a bee!
(That happened again about ten years later...and like before it went away on it's own)
Around the same time I had problems with joint pain, tenderness and swelling in my right foot, just before the toes. I was tested for RA but that came back negitive. (Whew) But the pain and swelling didn't go away for a couple of weeks after intence anti-inflamitory treatment...along with Prevacid because I complained of stomach pain from the drugs.
Then at 30yrs old I tore my ACL. Stupid household accident, but I managed to rip it out from both ends! (Clever trick) It was replaced with an allograph, which left me with two titanium screws in my leg. Yeah..hmmm
Then for the next few years it was on and off major depression, strange joint pains here and there, typical flus and colds (thankfully no more soar throats!) But nothing seemed to add up.
I mentioned this all to my PCP at the time who suggested I add more calcium to my diet! I thought that was strange since I am a dairy products addict as it is! I actually do drink milk and eat my cheese and yogurt faithfully.
At about 32yrs old I had made lunch for my son, a peanut butter sandwhich...which I indulged and had one along with him. Well that triggered a nightmare of a time. For three days I couldn't eat anything without feeling nausious (although I never vomit...I'm just one of those types who just doesn't...unless I'm dying)
My partner took me to the ER where I was given an ultrasound and CT to check my gallbladder. Both tests came back negative. So I was given an liquid pain med to numb my stomach temporarily and a prescription for more Prevacid and told to go see a Gastro. Which I did. He looked at the CT and Ultrasound results and diagnosed GERD along with another prescription for more Prevacid. (Mind you the Prevacid seemed to be helping that's why I was continually prescribed it.)
Well since I worked as a temp, I didn't have medical insurence so I would go on and off the Prevacid and anytime I went off it the stomach pain, irregular bowl movements, bouts of on and off diarrhea and GERD would return with a vengance!
At 39yrs I had a bad car accident when my vehicle was struck head on by a driver who had fallen asleep at the wheel, while on my way to work. I didn't realize I was injured until about 12 hrs later when my partner and I went out to diner, I didn't feel like cooking that evening, and when we went to leave I realized I couldn't get up from my chair without incredible pain!
X-rays were done and it was inconclusive but they diagnosed me with a fractured tailbone...maybe. I followed up with my PCP who also noticed I had two sprained wrists as well and then ordered an MRI of my ENTIRE SPINE! Yikes~
Didn't realize I was clostrophobic until then! YIKES again. Man that was painful! Because I had a panic attack while in the MRI my back locked up completely and I had to have two orderlies help me just to get upright! (Embarassing!)
When my PCP got those results she informed me I had scolicis! WHAT???? When did that happen? She had no answer, just kept repeating..."Nope, you have scoliosis..." but didn't recommend anything be done about it.(GRRRRRrrrrr...I hate doctors who are too afraid of law suits due to MVA's to actually TREAT their patients! )
I just thought the diagnoses I was given previously were the best they could do and I would just have to suffer along with it. For Years!
Finally at 41yrs I had an attack of incredible abdominal pain and vomiting! This was too much! My partner rushed me to the ER (once again, but in a new state since we had moved just a year before) and this time the ultrasound showed at least three visible gallstones! CRUD!
So, I was refered to a surgeon who assumed there were fatty lessions attached to my liver as well, until he actually got in there, removed the gallbladder and realized my liver was perfectly healthy and the lessions were actually attached only to the gallbladder! HOLY COW! LESSIONS ON MY GALLBLADDER!??!?!?! After discusing this with the surgeon he determined that my gallbladder hadn't been functioning for YEARS! Probably even as far back as my pregnancy! (So the bout ten years earlier may very well have been a gallbladder attack and I was improperly diagnosed back then!...and by the Gastro who treated Walter Payton of the Chicago Bears...no less! I was angry, but also relieved it was finally going to be over!)
Or so I thought!
A year later I was still dealing with severe stomach issues. GERD, pain, irregular bowl movements, occassional bloody & Loose stools. So, my regular PCP put me back on Prevacid and ordered up an Endoscopy. That was done and it was found that I have Barrett's Esophogus! Great that's all I needed.
He wanted to do a liver panel just to make sure everything was working well. The blood was drawn and it took nearly THREE MONTHS to have the follow up appointment! (Grrrr...not happy there)
Still suffering from back pain caused by the MVA three years earlier and still having painful issues with my stomach I asked my PCP about it all. He looked at me and said "Well, you could stand to loose some weight. Other than that, there's nothing I can do.'
Pain is NOT NORMAL!
A few days later I noticed symptoms that just didn't seem right. I felt heavy and weak and all I wanted to do was sleep...forever if possible. I was dizzy and achy all over. I thought I was comming down with the flu but no fever ever came. So I called into the Dr's office and requested to see another doctor.
An appointment was made for the next day.
The new Doctor and I talked for over an hour. We went over my presistent back pain, my cronic stomach and intestinal issues as well as the most resent symptoms and some of my old ones. She seemed to truly be concerned and ordered blood tests to rule out: Mono, Lyme, Thyroid, Celiac and Lupus.
OMG!!!
ok...now I'm a bit concerned. Mono? Really? Ok...well that's out of the blue and my symptoms don't really fit.
but then again, they don't fit for any of those really. Not really.
So, here I am awaiting results that should be in today. I've been off work for a week now and I'm getting antsy!
I don't know what to think.
HELP!!
Since I was a teen (we're talking YEARS ago - I'm now 42) I've had odd symptoms that no doctor seems able to figure out. In my teens I had this weird rash-like discoloration around my ankles and feet. It stayed there for years. I didn't really think much of it since it never hurt or iched. Not until I was about 22yrs old did any doctor mention he wanted to find out what it might be. I was sent for a biopsy of the tissue and it came back as "related to hypoglycemia." I thought that was really strange, but accepted it as there is a history of low blood sugar issues with my mother and I had serious boarderline gestational issues while pregnant. (Did the glucola test and passed out an hour after the second blood draw. Oooops...that wasn't fun)
While pregnant I also suffered from really horrible heartburn! Really horrible to the point of mere water would trigger my reaching for the antacids bottle!
Then at 28yrs old I suddenly had several bouts with extremely swollen toncils which were eventually removed. But noone bothered to find out why. I had a really nasty doctor at that time who actually accused me of intentionally having oral sex with an infected partner!!! Needless to say I NEVER went back to that doctor ever again. Thanks, but no thanks! (truth be told I was no seeing anyone and wasn't having sex of any kind at that time)
Then at about 29yrs old I noticed the glands at the base of my skull were swollen and extremely tender. I went to the ER because it was making me lightheaded and the ER physician said it was a Bee sting...but that was just rediculous! I'd think I'd remember being stung by a bee!
(That happened again about ten years later...and like before it went away on it's own)
Around the same time I had problems with joint pain, tenderness and swelling in my right foot, just before the toes. I was tested for RA but that came back negitive. (Whew) But the pain and swelling didn't go away for a couple of weeks after intence anti-inflamitory treatment...along with Prevacid because I complained of stomach pain from the drugs.
Then at 30yrs old I tore my ACL. Stupid household accident, but I managed to rip it out from both ends! (Clever trick) It was replaced with an allograph, which left me with two titanium screws in my leg. Yeah..hmmm
Then for the next few years it was on and off major depression, strange joint pains here and there, typical flus and colds (thankfully no more soar throats!) But nothing seemed to add up.
I mentioned this all to my PCP at the time who suggested I add more calcium to my diet! I thought that was strange since I am a dairy products addict as it is! I actually do drink milk and eat my cheese and yogurt faithfully.
At about 32yrs old I had made lunch for my son, a peanut butter sandwhich...which I indulged and had one along with him. Well that triggered a nightmare of a time. For three days I couldn't eat anything without feeling nausious (although I never vomit...I'm just one of those types who just doesn't...unless I'm dying)
My partner took me to the ER where I was given an ultrasound and CT to check my gallbladder. Both tests came back negative. So I was given an liquid pain med to numb my stomach temporarily and a prescription for more Prevacid and told to go see a Gastro. Which I did. He looked at the CT and Ultrasound results and diagnosed GERD along with another prescription for more Prevacid. (Mind you the Prevacid seemed to be helping that's why I was continually prescribed it.)
Well since I worked as a temp, I didn't have medical insurence so I would go on and off the Prevacid and anytime I went off it the stomach pain, irregular bowl movements, bouts of on and off diarrhea and GERD would return with a vengance!
At 39yrs I had a bad car accident when my vehicle was struck head on by a driver who had fallen asleep at the wheel, while on my way to work. I didn't realize I was injured until about 12 hrs later when my partner and I went out to diner, I didn't feel like cooking that evening, and when we went to leave I realized I couldn't get up from my chair without incredible pain!
X-rays were done and it was inconclusive but they diagnosed me with a fractured tailbone...maybe. I followed up with my PCP who also noticed I had two sprained wrists as well and then ordered an MRI of my ENTIRE SPINE! Yikes~
Didn't realize I was clostrophobic until then! YIKES again. Man that was painful! Because I had a panic attack while in the MRI my back locked up completely and I had to have two orderlies help me just to get upright! (Embarassing!)
When my PCP got those results she informed me I had scolicis! WHAT???? When did that happen? She had no answer, just kept repeating..."Nope, you have scoliosis..." but didn't recommend anything be done about it.(GRRRRRrrrrr...I hate doctors who are too afraid of law suits due to MVA's to actually TREAT their patients! )
I just thought the diagnoses I was given previously were the best they could do and I would just have to suffer along with it. For Years!
Finally at 41yrs I had an attack of incredible abdominal pain and vomiting! This was too much! My partner rushed me to the ER (once again, but in a new state since we had moved just a year before) and this time the ultrasound showed at least three visible gallstones! CRUD!
So, I was refered to a surgeon who assumed there were fatty lessions attached to my liver as well, until he actually got in there, removed the gallbladder and realized my liver was perfectly healthy and the lessions were actually attached only to the gallbladder! HOLY COW! LESSIONS ON MY GALLBLADDER!??!?!?! After discusing this with the surgeon he determined that my gallbladder hadn't been functioning for YEARS! Probably even as far back as my pregnancy! (So the bout ten years earlier may very well have been a gallbladder attack and I was improperly diagnosed back then!...and by the Gastro who treated Walter Payton of the Chicago Bears...no less! I was angry, but also relieved it was finally going to be over!)
Or so I thought!
A year later I was still dealing with severe stomach issues. GERD, pain, irregular bowl movements, occassional bloody & Loose stools. So, my regular PCP put me back on Prevacid and ordered up an Endoscopy. That was done and it was found that I have Barrett's Esophogus! Great that's all I needed.
He wanted to do a liver panel just to make sure everything was working well. The blood was drawn and it took nearly THREE MONTHS to have the follow up appointment! (Grrrr...not happy there)
Still suffering from back pain caused by the MVA three years earlier and still having painful issues with my stomach I asked my PCP about it all. He looked at me and said "Well, you could stand to loose some weight. Other than that, there's nothing I can do.'
Pain is NOT NORMAL!
A few days later I noticed symptoms that just didn't seem right. I felt heavy and weak and all I wanted to do was sleep...forever if possible. I was dizzy and achy all over. I thought I was comming down with the flu but no fever ever came. So I called into the Dr's office and requested to see another doctor.
An appointment was made for the next day.
The new Doctor and I talked for over an hour. We went over my presistent back pain, my cronic stomach and intestinal issues as well as the most resent symptoms and some of my old ones. She seemed to truly be concerned and ordered blood tests to rule out: Mono, Lyme, Thyroid, Celiac and Lupus.
OMG!!!
ok...now I'm a bit concerned. Mono? Really? Ok...well that's out of the blue and my symptoms don't really fit.
but then again, they don't fit for any of those really. Not really.
So, here I am awaiting results that should be in today. I've been off work for a week now and I'm getting antsy!
I don't know what to think.
HELP!!
Hi Lilly,
I went back and re-read your first post. It would help me if you could just list the symptoms you are having currently. My brain just don't follow details like it used to. I need things simplified. Thanks.
I went back and re-read your first post. It would help me if you could just list the symptoms you are having currently. My brain just don't follow details like it used to. I need things simplified. Thanks.
Yes, I got all my labs back and they all came back negative.
The list of symptoms doesn't really apply to me at all.
I have no hair loss
but I do have fatigue
I have mild muscle pain, but it's not an issue
I only get dizzy when my blood sugars are too low because I forgot to eat
I only have memory problems for the same as above
I only get headaches for the same as above
I do get tingling in my hands, but personally I believe that's more carpel-tunnel related
I only get diarrhea at the beginning of my period
I've always had bloating issues
I've had weight GAIN, not loss
I only had abdominal pain right before I had gallbladder surgery
I only have blurred vision first thing in the morning
I've battled a-symptomatic depression most of my post-pubescent life
I've never had palpitations
Never had raynauds, but my mother does
I"m not abnormally intolerant to cold
Haven't had a soar throat since my tonsils were removed fifteen years ago
Most of my symptoms are unrelated.
I had my gallbladder removed about two years ago and yes, it was found to have stopped functioning as many as eighteen years before that! That was really amazing to me that I went that long with no one having diagnosed that one!
I still have to take Prevacid and will need to for the rest of my life because I was found to also have Barrett's Esophagus.
I ended up having a second MRI of my spine done and this time it came back "normal" With no signs of Scoliosis???
Doctor recommended physical therapy, which did seem to help some.
Just recently I had an incident with my "repaired" knee. Dang, if it's not one thing its another! I'm really just sick and tired of feeling sick and tired! My dog charged at me, when we were playing outside, and body slammed my knee. I heard an unsettling "pop" sound...one remember hearing when I snapped my ACL ten years ago. This time it was accompanied with excruciating pain...not that sickening numb feeling. So, now I'm dealing with a bum knee again. I can't seem to bend it enough to squat or kneel without feeling like there's something stuck in there and a lot of pain. I may have injured the remaining PCL this time...which I'm not thrilled about. When I had my ACL replaced we did the allograft procedure because the recovery time was so much shorter than the ham string or patellar resection. So, this means I have no nerve endings to my ACL so it would be impossible for me to feel pain if I had re-injured it.
I'm only 43yrs old and I feel like I'm falling apart!
If it's not one thing, its undoubtedly something else. If it's not my back its my knee, if its not my knee its my feet, if its not my feet it's something else entirely.
I'm just sick of this repeating pattern.
The list of symptoms doesn't really apply to me at all.
I have no hair loss
but I do have fatigue
I have mild muscle pain, but it's not an issue
I only get dizzy when my blood sugars are too low because I forgot to eat
I only have memory problems for the same as above
I only get headaches for the same as above
I do get tingling in my hands, but personally I believe that's more carpel-tunnel related
I only get diarrhea at the beginning of my period
I've always had bloating issues
I've had weight GAIN, not loss
I only had abdominal pain right before I had gallbladder surgery
I only have blurred vision first thing in the morning
I've battled a-symptomatic depression most of my post-pubescent life
I've never had palpitations
Never had raynauds, but my mother does
I"m not abnormally intolerant to cold
Haven't had a soar throat since my tonsils were removed fifteen years ago
Most of my symptoms are unrelated.
I had my gallbladder removed about two years ago and yes, it was found to have stopped functioning as many as eighteen years before that! That was really amazing to me that I went that long with no one having diagnosed that one!
I still have to take Prevacid and will need to for the rest of my life because I was found to also have Barrett's Esophagus.
I ended up having a second MRI of my spine done and this time it came back "normal" With no signs of Scoliosis???
Doctor recommended physical therapy, which did seem to help some.
Just recently I had an incident with my "repaired" knee. Dang, if it's not one thing its another! I'm really just sick and tired of feeling sick and tired! My dog charged at me, when we were playing outside, and body slammed my knee. I heard an unsettling "pop" sound...one remember hearing when I snapped my ACL ten years ago. This time it was accompanied with excruciating pain...not that sickening numb feeling. So, now I'm dealing with a bum knee again. I can't seem to bend it enough to squat or kneel without feeling like there's something stuck in there and a lot of pain. I may have injured the remaining PCL this time...which I'm not thrilled about. When I had my ACL replaced we did the allograft procedure because the recovery time was so much shorter than the ham string or patellar resection. So, this means I have no nerve endings to my ACL so it would be impossible for me to feel pain if I had re-injured it.
I'm only 43yrs old and I feel like I'm falling apart!
If it's not one thing, its undoubtedly something else. If it's not my back its my knee, if its not my knee its my feet, if its not my feet it's something else entirely.
I'm just sick of this repeating pattern.
Did you ever hear back from your labs? I had a sick gallbladder and didn't eat for 4 weeks. The dr. finally did a hidascan which showed my gallbladder was not functioning. That is probably what happened to yours, and the dr. just didn't think to do this real simple test.
Some of your symptoms could be related to hypoglacimia, low thyroid, lymes, and many others.
All I know abou is lupus. I'll list the criteria for lupus along with some of the most common sympotms. Keep in mind that most people don't get a "fast" dx of lupus. It is a long drawn out process of testing and retesting and looking at symptoms.
There are 11 criteria for a lupus dx. You must have at least 4 of the 11 to recieve a dx.
They are:
1. malar rash over cheeks (butterfly rash)
2. discoid rash, red raised patches
3. photosensitivity - reaction to sunlight, resulting in skin rash
4. oral and nose ulcers
5. arthritis
6. serositis - inflamation of the lining of the lung or heart
7. reanl disorder - excessive protein in urine and/or cellular casts
8. neurologic disorder - seizures, or psychosis
9. anemia or low white blood countor lymphopenia or low platelet count
10. positive ANA
11. positive anti-DNA or anti-Sm, or antiphospholipid antibody or false pos. syphilis test
Other symptoms are:
hair falling out
fatigue
muscle pain and weakness
dizziness
poor memory
headaches
tingling in extremities
diarrhea
bloating
weight loss
abdominal pain
blurred vision
depression
palpitations
raynauds (where fingers turn white when cold)
intollerance to cold
sore throat
...to name a few
Keep in mind that fibromyalgia, CFS, MS and lymes disease also have similar symptoms.
Hope this helps, please keep us posted,
God bless, Kara
Some of your symptoms could be related to hypoglacimia, low thyroid, lymes, and many others.
All I know abou is lupus. I'll list the criteria for lupus along with some of the most common sympotms. Keep in mind that most people don't get a "fast" dx of lupus. It is a long drawn out process of testing and retesting and looking at symptoms.
There are 11 criteria for a lupus dx. You must have at least 4 of the 11 to recieve a dx.
They are:
1. malar rash over cheeks (butterfly rash)
2. discoid rash, red raised patches
3. photosensitivity - reaction to sunlight, resulting in skin rash
4. oral and nose ulcers
5. arthritis
6. serositis - inflamation of the lining of the lung or heart
7. reanl disorder - excessive protein in urine and/or cellular casts
8. neurologic disorder - seizures, or psychosis
9. anemia or low white blood countor lymphopenia or low platelet count
10. positive ANA
11. positive anti-DNA or anti-Sm, or antiphospholipid antibody or false pos. syphilis test
Other symptoms are:
hair falling out
fatigue
muscle pain and weakness
dizziness
poor memory
headaches
tingling in extremities
diarrhea
bloating
weight loss
abdominal pain
blurred vision
depression
palpitations
raynauds (where fingers turn white when cold)
intollerance to cold
sore throat
...to name a few
Keep in mind that fibromyalgia, CFS, MS and lymes disease also have similar symptoms.
Hope this helps, please keep us posted,
God bless, Kara
I am no doctor but You should also look at Crohn's disease. I have been ill with a mystery illness for sometime ow an I do a lot of research looking for my answer. Crohn's is and auto immune disease and would in fact case many of your symptoms...hope this helps!
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