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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?
They drained my finger a little yesterday and it's looking better. I've been feeling a lot better today. Not sure if that's got anything to do with it or not...
Thanks for the info! I didn't think I had lyme because I was feeling gradually better for a while, and my symptoms aren't the common lyme symptoms (like I don't think the stomach issues and need to eat frequently could be lyme related). I don't remember any tick bites but I did live in an apartment where a lot of bugs got inside and there were deer right outside the door sometimes.
I normally don't post in general health, I came here by accident when I saw your threads.
I see that you are from West Virginia. Have you ever came in contact with tick directly or indirectly? I see you have been tested for lyme diseasae, and I'll assume it was considered negative. You need to keep in mind it may be false negative.
There is controversial issues involving the Lyme disease diagnosis and testing protocols. Why don't you drop by Lyme disease community, and sharing your story, and see what others think.
By the way I have been diagnosed with Lyme disease by neurologist after a long battery of tests and visits to varioius specialists (rheumatologist, hematologist, endocrinologist, etc..), including negative lyme tests for a long time before antibodies started to lit up on it.
Likewise, many Lyme disease community members had to see so many specialists pursuing various possibilities to find the answers.
I had many same symptoms as you describes here for a long time with no significant relief. I even tried diet route, and so on. I have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, and the list goes on before lyme antibodies starts to show up. Many of those conditions actually improves when I underwent Lyme disease treatment.
In only few illness you would feel worse with antibiotics, one of such illness is Lyme disease and it is perfectly normal. It happens to me, and over the time, I would start to improves as these"side effect" lessen.
Your reaction to antibiotics tells me you are dealing with some kind of spirochete or bacteria infection whose die off results in such symptoms including fever if not allergic reaction. Look up Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. I am too ill to explain it in depth, but there are members of lyme disease community who can elaborate on it.
Once again, based on your onset of illness, symptoms and reaction to antibiotics, to me it sound too lyme-like (although I could be wrong), so I am strongly encourage you to drop by Lyme disease community for insight--you have nothing to lose but potential lot to gain.
P.S. FYI -The kind of infection like your fingertip infection can occurs with Lyme disease because immune system is in tiolet, making a person vunerable to anything she/he come in contact with. I had skin staph infection from time to time.
I see that you are from West Virginia. Have you ever came in contact with tick directly or indirectly? I see you have been tested for lyme diseasae, and I'll assume it was considered negative. You need to keep in mind it may be false negative.
There is controversial issues involving the Lyme disease diagnosis and testing protocols. Why don't you drop by Lyme disease community, and sharing your story, and see what others think.
By the way I have been diagnosed with Lyme disease by neurologist after a long battery of tests and visits to varioius specialists (rheumatologist, hematologist, endocrinologist, etc..), including negative lyme tests for a long time before antibodies started to lit up on it.
Likewise, many Lyme disease community members had to see so many specialists pursuing various possibilities to find the answers.
I had many same symptoms as you describes here for a long time with no significant relief. I even tried diet route, and so on. I have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, and the list goes on before lyme antibodies starts to show up. Many of those conditions actually improves when I underwent Lyme disease treatment.
In only few illness you would feel worse with antibiotics, one of such illness is Lyme disease and it is perfectly normal. It happens to me, and over the time, I would start to improves as these"side effect" lessen.
Your reaction to antibiotics tells me you are dealing with some kind of spirochete or bacteria infection whose die off results in such symptoms including fever if not allergic reaction. Look up Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. I am too ill to explain it in depth, but there are members of lyme disease community who can elaborate on it.
Once again, based on your onset of illness, symptoms and reaction to antibiotics, to me it sound too lyme-like (although I could be wrong), so I am strongly encourage you to drop by Lyme disease community for insight--you have nothing to lose but potential lot to gain.
P.S. FYI -The kind of infection like your fingertip infection can occurs with Lyme disease because immune system is in tiolet, making a person vunerable to anything she/he come in contact with. I had skin staph infection from time to time.
You sound just like me regarding the sleeping. I usually feel better in the evenings too. It's like a viscious cycle, I'm trying to get a routine of early to bed, early to rise, but I struggling with that. I was up most of the night with sore sinus and drank Lemsip for relief, ended up geting up out of bed at 3 this afternoon.
Keep the finger dry and clean (easier said than done when it's on our hands).
Any chance of you seeing the medics regarding the antibiotic making you feeling sick? Some people have allergic reactions to some antibiotics. The feeling of sickness may not be related to the antibiotic, but if you started to feel more sick after taking the antibiotic, then it sounds that this particular antibiotic does not suit you. It is difficult if you have to pay for medical attention and for prescriptions. You could ride it out so to speak, but it is early days since you started the antibiotic to have killed off the infection yet.
I know I said ealier to keep your finger dry and clean, but a good home remedy is to bathe it in cooled boiled water with salt added. Brine does have healing properties. You could try to soak your finger in a solution of this and then tap it genty dry. Is there any puss oozing out of the infection or is it very red and swollen with no open wounds?
If there are no open wounds, a drawing ointment that can be purshased from the chemist can be applied with care following the directions on the container. Just been looking for my drawing ointment to let you know what it's called, but can't find or remember the name of it at the mo. (I think it's called magnesium sulphate, but not 100% sure as I am suffering from mental blocks). The pharmasist will know though. You will have to ask for it, as it probably will not be displayed on the shelves (not in the UK anyway).
Best of luck, wishing you a speedy recovery.
Keep the finger dry and clean (easier said than done when it's on our hands).
Any chance of you seeing the medics regarding the antibiotic making you feeling sick? Some people have allergic reactions to some antibiotics. The feeling of sickness may not be related to the antibiotic, but if you started to feel more sick after taking the antibiotic, then it sounds that this particular antibiotic does not suit you. It is difficult if you have to pay for medical attention and for prescriptions. You could ride it out so to speak, but it is early days since you started the antibiotic to have killed off the infection yet.
I know I said ealier to keep your finger dry and clean, but a good home remedy is to bathe it in cooled boiled water with salt added. Brine does have healing properties. You could try to soak your finger in a solution of this and then tap it genty dry. Is there any puss oozing out of the infection or is it very red and swollen with no open wounds?
If there are no open wounds, a drawing ointment that can be purshased from the chemist can be applied with care following the directions on the container. Just been looking for my drawing ointment to let you know what it's called, but can't find or remember the name of it at the mo. (I think it's called magnesium sulphate, but not 100% sure as I am suffering from mental blocks). The pharmasist will know though. You will have to ask for it, as it probably will not be displayed on the shelves (not in the UK anyway).
Best of luck, wishing you a speedy recovery.
Thanks, I really do need to try to go to bed earlier and get up earlier... the bad thing is I usually feel better at night so I stay up late! My sleep pattern is pretty regular, it's just not at the right hours.
I think thyroid problems have been pretty much ruled out so I'm not sure why I was borderline hyperthyroid for a while. The levels are more normal now though. My finger isn't looking much better today and the antibiotics seem to be making me sick but I guess I have to finish them.
I think thyroid problems have been pretty much ruled out so I'm not sure why I was borderline hyperthyroid for a while. The levels are more normal now though. My finger isn't looking much better today and the antibiotics seem to be making me sick but I guess I have to finish them.
LOL about you sleeping into the afternoon.
If you go to seelp in the early hours of the morning then yes you will be sleeping into the afternoon.
Trouble is, if you need to be somewhere for an appointment mid morning say, you haven't had the sleep your body needs, so you will be falling asleep later in the afternoon, then you won't feel ready to sleep until the early hours of the morning. You need to have a regular pattern of sleep and not sleep during the day. I do not have good sleep hygiene, but am endeavouring to get into a routine of going to bed ealier and not sleeping in the day.
I have read the responses with suggestions regarding thyroid problems.
I do know that if the thyroid is underactive, this will slow down the metabolism. People with an underactive thyroid will feel the cold (even when it is hot) and will gain weight or have difficulty losing weight even when being on a strict calorie controlled diet.
With an overactive thyroid, the metabolism is going at a fast pace and people are using running around and are active and losing weight and will fell tired.
Let me know how you get on with your infected finger and with your food diary.
Bes wishes
If you go to seelp in the early hours of the morning then yes you will be sleeping into the afternoon.
Trouble is, if you need to be somewhere for an appointment mid morning say, you haven't had the sleep your body needs, so you will be falling asleep later in the afternoon, then you won't feel ready to sleep until the early hours of the morning. You need to have a regular pattern of sleep and not sleep during the day. I do not have good sleep hygiene, but am endeavouring to get into a routine of going to bed ealier and not sleeping in the day.
I have read the responses with suggestions regarding thyroid problems.
I do know that if the thyroid is underactive, this will slow down the metabolism. People with an underactive thyroid will feel the cold (even when it is hot) and will gain weight or have difficulty losing weight even when being on a strict calorie controlled diet.
With an overactive thyroid, the metabolism is going at a fast pace and people are using running around and are active and losing weight and will fell tired.
Let me know how you get on with your infected finger and with your food diary.
Bes wishes
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