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Almost a year of mysterious symptoms... please help!
I'm about to turn 22, and my problems started right after I turned 21. Started with some spells of fatigue and nausea, then in April I came down with some kind of viral infection... might have been coxsackie because I had a lot of chest/rib inflammation but I never figured out what it was. Recovered and felt pretty good for two weeks, then in the middle of May I started getting the dizzy/fatigued/nauseous spells telling me I was getting sick again, and then I got what I thought was a stomach virus but it never fully went away. For a while I was waking up every morning and vomiting like a pregnant woman, and I could barely eat anything. But I did have good days where I felt pretty good. The symptoms were really off and on. I was also constantly lightheaded/dizzy, and had some weird symptoms like hair loss and slight weakness in the left side of my body. I also had a lot of gas and bloating and would belch all the time. I had heart palpitations and anxiety, and headaches a few times a month. Finally, I started noticing that I had to eat at least every two hours or I would get really lightheaded, and because I was nauseous a lot I had to force myself to eat.
So that's how I felt from May to September with gradual improvement. In October, November, and December I felt better but hit a plateau. The main symptoms that lingered were the off and on lightheadedness, needing to eat frequently, on and off nausea, and gas pains. Then in January I started getting slightly worse... more stomach issues than I'd had in the last couple months, more lightheaded feelings, couldn't go as long without eating, etc. February has been horrible. Fatigue, nausea, feeling like my blood sugar is crashing even though it's normal, headaches, lightheaded, and more.
I have been tested for HIV, hepatitis C, had a CBC with differential, complete chemical profile, lyme disease test, gluten intolerance test, thyroid (was borderline hyperthyroid but had no antibodies), ANA antibodies, and more. Does anyone have any other ideas?
So that's how I felt from May to September with gradual improvement. In October, November, and December I felt better but hit a plateau. The main symptoms that lingered were the off and on lightheadedness, needing to eat frequently, on and off nausea, and gas pains. Then in January I started getting slightly worse... more stomach issues than I'd had in the last couple months, more lightheaded feelings, couldn't go as long without eating, etc. February has been horrible. Fatigue, nausea, feeling like my blood sugar is crashing even though it's normal, headaches, lightheaded, and more.
I have been tested for HIV, hepatitis C, had a CBC with differential, complete chemical profile, lyme disease test, gluten intolerance test, thyroid (was borderline hyperthyroid but had no antibodies), ANA antibodies, and more. Does anyone have any other ideas?
I would recommend you have your thyroid further investigated. Ask for a referral to an Endocrinologist.
Blood sugars ok?
Any imaging of your abdomen done?
Blood sugars ok?
Any imaging of your abdomen done?
Thanks. I wanted a referral for an endo but I don't think my doctor will do it. The last time I went she said I was fine and she couldn't do anything for me. I will try and ask about it again.
Celiac has been ruled out, I had the blood tests, but I have tried gluten-free for a while and felt slightly better. I think I'm going to do it again.
I had an abdominal ultrasound and it was all normal.
Celiac has been ruled out, I had the blood tests, but I have tried gluten-free for a while and felt slightly better. I think I'm going to do it again.
I had an abdominal ultrasound and it was all normal.
You do seem to be in the wars. Sorry to hear you have been feeling so ill when you should be enjoying life to the full at your age.
You have been through a lot of tests and all sorts of problems have been ruled out.
I am not diabetic, but am glucose intolerant. When the urge for hunger comes on I feel like vomitting with headache. Have you been tested for diabetes or glucose intolerance? There is a diabetic blood test that takes an average reading over a three month period. Can't remember what it is called, but you would be able to find it out on the web.
Other problems with lightheadedness and nausea can stem from the ears.
The inner ear which controls our balance. Other infections in the body too will make you feel unwell and lightheaded, throat infections and sinus infections as well as water infections.
If you blood pressure is too low or too high that to can cause lightheadedness.
If you have neck problems, you can also suffer from lightheadness - this is called postural hypertension. You'll usually experience this when you get up quickly from a sitting or lying position.
As you have had an infection that too can upset your tummy.
When you had the Halibactor Pylori test, was this done by blood test, faeces or breath? My daughter has suffered from HPylori and we looked into it at the time and found that blood tests do not give an accurate reading. Blood tests may show up negative even when the bacteria is still present. She had the stool test and the breath test done.
Are you drinking plenty of water. Dehydration can make you feel lightheaded too.
Avoid all junk food, alcohol and fizzy drinks and fried foods to settle the stomach. If you find you get a worse reaction from any food or drink you consume keep a note of it and avoid anything that makes you feel worse.
Don't know about the hair loss and the weakness on the side of your body. Hair loss may be due to the anxiety you have been experiencing
What did the doctor say it was?
Take care
All the best
You have been through a lot of tests and all sorts of problems have been ruled out.
I am not diabetic, but am glucose intolerant. When the urge for hunger comes on I feel like vomitting with headache. Have you been tested for diabetes or glucose intolerance? There is a diabetic blood test that takes an average reading over a three month period. Can't remember what it is called, but you would be able to find it out on the web.
Other problems with lightheadedness and nausea can stem from the ears.
The inner ear which controls our balance. Other infections in the body too will make you feel unwell and lightheaded, throat infections and sinus infections as well as water infections.
If you blood pressure is too low or too high that to can cause lightheadedness.
If you have neck problems, you can also suffer from lightheadness - this is called postural hypertension. You'll usually experience this when you get up quickly from a sitting or lying position.
As you have had an infection that too can upset your tummy.
When you had the Halibactor Pylori test, was this done by blood test, faeces or breath? My daughter has suffered from HPylori and we looked into it at the time and found that blood tests do not give an accurate reading. Blood tests may show up negative even when the bacteria is still present. She had the stool test and the breath test done.
Are you drinking plenty of water. Dehydration can make you feel lightheaded too.
Avoid all junk food, alcohol and fizzy drinks and fried foods to settle the stomach. If you find you get a worse reaction from any food or drink you consume keep a note of it and avoid anything that makes you feel worse.
Don't know about the hair loss and the weakness on the side of your body. Hair loss may be due to the anxiety you have been experiencing
What did the doctor say it was?
Take care
All the best
I haven't been tested for diabetes or glucose intolerance, I've just had blood sugar checked. It's always normal. I mentioned the A1C test to the doctor and he said they might do it next time.
My blood pressure is always perfect, it's been a little higher lately (was staying around 110-116/70, then a couple weeks ago it was 130/70 and last week it was 118/82) but still nothing abnormal. I don't think it would be any inner ear or neck problems because I don't have any other symptoms of those things and it's a different kind of lightheadedness. It's more of a vague feeling that seems to be more related to eating than anything else... I'll get it if I haven't eaten and sometimes I'll be lightheaded after I eat.
My blood pressure is always perfect, it's been a little higher lately (was staying around 110-116/70, then a couple weeks ago it was 130/70 and last week it was 118/82) but still nothing abnormal. I don't think it would be any inner ear or neck problems because I don't have any other symptoms of those things and it's a different kind of lightheadedness. It's more of a vague feeling that seems to be more related to eating than anything else... I'll get it if I haven't eaten and sometimes I'll be lightheaded after I eat.
Your blood pressure does seem fine. It will go up if you take your reading soon after exercise as well as a hot drink. Also don't talk whilst taking taking your blood pressure. The Systolic is great. The Diastolic is creeping up a little though.
The A1C test is better because it will give the doctor your percentage blood sugar reading over a 3 month period. And the glucose test will show if you have an intolerance to sugar. Mine showed that I am interolerant to sugar. I thought I might have been because after the glucose drink I could not quench my thirst - I'm not diabetic yet, but if I don't watch my diet and take exercise, I am highly likely to become diabetic within 10 years (so the doc told me).
If you feel it is related to eating and especially when you have not eaten, then this is definitely hypoglycemia - you don't have to be diabetic to suffer from this. I have never heard of Idiopathic postprandial syndrome that you came across, which I find interesting so will learn more about it, thanks for sharing that information.
The important thing then is to eat little and often. Don't eat highly refined foods like cakes, chocolates, white bread etc. (these are OK as long as you combine them with foods that are slow release). These will give you a sugar rush and then it will drop dramatically. Eat fresh fruit and veg and wholemeal bread, foods not refined, fish and white meats (not fried), nuts and pulses. If you like porridge try that. The type of foods you need to eat are those that release the energy slowly. Don't wait until you get so desparately hungry. You could look at the Diabetic website for more information with regard diet.
Don't forget to drink at least 2 litres of water each day.
Hope you get sorted out real soon.
Love to know how you get on.
Best wishes
The A1C test is better because it will give the doctor your percentage blood sugar reading over a 3 month period. And the glucose test will show if you have an intolerance to sugar. Mine showed that I am interolerant to sugar. I thought I might have been because after the glucose drink I could not quench my thirst - I'm not diabetic yet, but if I don't watch my diet and take exercise, I am highly likely to become diabetic within 10 years (so the doc told me).
If you feel it is related to eating and especially when you have not eaten, then this is definitely hypoglycemia - you don't have to be diabetic to suffer from this. I have never heard of Idiopathic postprandial syndrome that you came across, which I find interesting so will learn more about it, thanks for sharing that information.
The important thing then is to eat little and often. Don't eat highly refined foods like cakes, chocolates, white bread etc. (these are OK as long as you combine them with foods that are slow release). These will give you a sugar rush and then it will drop dramatically. Eat fresh fruit and veg and wholemeal bread, foods not refined, fish and white meats (not fried), nuts and pulses. If you like porridge try that. The type of foods you need to eat are those that release the energy slowly. Don't wait until you get so desparately hungry. You could look at the Diabetic website for more information with regard diet.
Don't forget to drink at least 2 litres of water each day.
Hope you get sorted out real soon.
Love to know how you get on.
Best wishes
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