Dazed and Confused

[AliBriggs]

Hi, I'm a 20 year old female and for about a year and three months, I've been battling with a plethora of symptoms that make working and trying to have any kind of a social life very, very difficult. Some days are worse than others but even on a good day, I'm at least a little dizzy, nauseous, and my head feels foggy. On a bad day, which there seem to be a lot of, I battle with strong dizziness and nausea, tingly hands, feeling shaky all over, feeling uncoordinated and off balance, feeling weak and lethargic, stomach/abdominal pain, cramping and bloating, feeling tired ALL THE TIME and moments where it feels like my emotions are completely out of my control. The dizziness seems to come in waves, at unexpected times. I'll feel super hot and flushed all of a sudden, and my hands will start tingling and shaking even worse. It feels like my heart is racing and I have to take deep breaths to try and make the dizziness subside a little. I also have a hard time remembering anything and simple things confuse me now. Like I'm in a constant daze. I've had a blood test done (which I passed out during because of not being allowed to eat 12 hours prior and the doc having difficulty finding my vein), an abdominal ultrasound, two pelvic ultrasounds and a CT scan of my head, all of which came back clear. I don't know what the chances are of it being related but I should also mention I have terrible knees, my right one likes to lock up while I'm walking (which HURTS) and the left one just pretty much always hurts. If I'm sitting with it bent for too long it stays throbbing, if I've been doing to much walking, it hurts if I bend down to pick something up and then try to stand back up, they both make this lovely snap, crackle, pop sound and hurt. I feel like in a lot older than I am by how much body makes me feel. I feel so overwhelmed and just wish I had some answers. I feel like no one understands what I'm feeling and that everyone (my employer included) thinks I'm just lazy. If anyone has any ideas on what this could be, please, please, please let me know. I'm desperate here and quickly becoming depressed. Help...

[Foggy2]

I'm very sorry to hear of everything that you have been through. In the work up that you have had so far, have they done any endocrine testing (e.g. thyroid work up, adrenal stimulation test ...these are usually done by an Endocrinologist).

What kind of doctor have you been seeing?
What medical problems do you have?
What medications and supplements do you take?

Do you have a family history of neurological or endocrine diseases?

I suggest you see an Endcrinologist for a workup and bring copies of any tests you have done.  

As for your knees, I think this is a different problem and you should see a Rheumatologist or Orthopedic MD to be evaluated.  You are young to be having these problems.  Did you have any trauma to your knees?  Have you tried any ice or heat to the areas and did either help?

Let us know how you do.  In the meantime we are here to help you.

[SassyLassie]

Your symptoms sound similar to those of Fibromyalgia, I would certainly ask your physician about this, there is some blood work that can test for it, plus, trigger points on the body that can help with the diagnosis as well.