Almost a year of mysterious symptoms... please help!

[lindsay0891]

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?

[jemma116]

Great news to hear that you have been to the clinic and have been given antibiotics for the infection for your finger.  Hopefully it will get it sorted out soon and you will start to feel better.  I'm glad that at least something is being sorted out for you.

Heavy periods can deplete your iron levels.  Don't forget to keep a diary of what you eat and drink and when to see if there is anything in your diet (or lack of it) that is causing you the other problems you mention.

All the best
Keep in touch as I will be interest to know how you get on.

[lindsay0891]

I ended up going to a clinic tonight for my finger just in case that's what's making me feel tired and weak. They said it is infected and gave me two different antibiotics.
Yes, the results for iron were normal. I probably should take some iron supplements because I have really heavy periods.

[jemma116]

In that case as your finger has been like that for two weeks with no signs of healing, I would suggest you see the doc.

Multivitiminis are fine.  You may have had your iron levels checked, but did the result come back normal?  Multivitimins with iron would probably be better because having monthly menstrual cycles can deplete your levels of iron.

I will check the board for any reply tomorrow.  I am going to go to bed as it is 1240 am in the UK.

Bye for now and take care.

[lindsay0891]

My finger has been like this for about two weeks.
I don't think I'm anemic, I've had my iron levels checked. I have been taking multivitamins for a while.

[jemma116]

Because your symptoms seem to be related to  food (or lack of it) I don't think your symptoms are related to the infection on your finger, unless you have been scratched or bitten by an animal or insect or through being scratched by some shrubbery.

How long have you had this infection on your fingertip?  Have you treated it and is it healing?  Any cut or puncture to the skin is a potential source for bateria to enter and this can then cause an infection in the lower skin level (cellulitis) and poison to spread to other parts of the body.  Cellulitis is extremely painful and if not treated can be fatal if not treated adequately.

I would suggest you get this fingertip infection seen by a doctor in the event you may need a course of antibiotics if it has shown no signs of improving since you first noticed it.  Do not neglect small infections.

You could be feeling weak and tired becaue if you are not eating right, you may be anaemic.  A blood test to check for anaemia would give you the answer.  But it sounds like you would benefit from a multi vitamin and iron tablets.  It takes about 3 months for the haemoglobin to reach the right levels of iron should you be anaemic.

Best wishes

[lindsay0891]

Thanks. I haven't eaten anything really different lately but maybe you're right.
You mention a bacterial infection... I do have a very small infection on one of my fingertips. It's not bad but it's not getting better either. Could this be making me feel tired and weak?