Aa
7 years with no idea what is going on
Bear with me, I know this is going to be long. I have been having serious issues for 7 years now, and getting any doctor to listen to me is next to impossible. They hear 7 years, and they instantly assume it must be in my head because no medical issue should be going on for that long apparently.
I will start from the beginning. About 7 years ago I had unprotected sex with a girl. I did notice the next day that apparently she was bleeding, so I am guessing she had some sort of infection. Within the next couple days I started to feel terrible, worse than I have ever felt in my life. I could barely get out of bed, I broke out in a red rash on my torso, and I felt completely run down. I went to the urgent care and they gave me antibiotics.
Over the next few days the head of my penis became red, nothing extreme and it wasn't even something anyone would think twice about if they were to see it, but it being my penis and all I could certainly notice. I don't know how to describe this, but the top portion of my penis also felt very stiff at times, like the skin was tight and it would cause it to curl I guess would be the best way to put it? I also got severe pain in what I believed were my testicles, though looking back now I think it could have been the glands that are in the groin are. I suffered from chronic fatigue, and it was the start of my life becoming miserable.
I saw several doctors, was tested for STD's, and everything came back negative. Multiple times I was put on various antibiotics, none of which helped. I also started having some digestive problems around that time, which again are hard to describe, but my stool ever since has always had an odd odor (yes I know it is not supposed to smell great, but it has always had the same distinct smell since for years now).
Eventually the groin pain just went away, but it was like the disease moved into my sinuses. As soon as the groin pain left, I had constant sinus problems and headaches. My brain has always been foggy, and there are times I slur my words it is so bad. I have not felt like myself in years, and it has been hard to function with me head the way it is and the chronic fatigue. Also, the redness on my penis has remained to this day.
That was my life for several years, until a few months ago. I woke up one day, and my arms were extremely weak and numb, I could barely lift them. I started having crazy heart palpitations, and several times a day I nearly fainted. I have been in and out of the hospital and doctor's offices since then, and they have checked everything with my heard and all is good.
The palpitations have died down, but the numbness in my arms comes and goes. I have severe back pain now that comes on randomly, sometimes it is in the spine and other times it is towards the sides of my abdomen. I am constantly bloated, and I am going through this cycle where my stool will be green, then shift to very pale, then normal for a day or 2 and right back again. What is really odd is it is like whatever is wrong with me has moved to my abdomen, because as soon as this started happening my sinus have started to clear up for the first time in years and the foggy brain is going away, but the back pain and digestive issues are horrible.
What really concerns me is I have been in a relationship for a few years now, and my girlfriend is showing signs of whatever I have now too. She has been in and out of the doctor for constant debilitating sinus problems and headaches, and she also says she is having the issues with the foggy brain. She has also been given various antibiotics and has taken allergy meds, but nothing is helping. At this point it seems pretty clear that I have passed off whatever I have to her, but I don't know what I have! Nothing online fits these symptoms, and they are so all over the place that it's hard to even pin down what this could be.
The only possibility I could even think is that given the issue with my penis still being red on the tip, maybe I have come down with some severe fungal infection? When I was in highschool I had a problem with horrible athlete's foot that needed to be treated by a doctor, and I got ringworm a few times, so I do seem to have an issue with fungal infections, but could a fungal sinus infection even be spread? And would any of my symptoms even fall into that type of infection?
Not expecting too much here, no doctor has been able to figure this out in 7 years so I don't know what I can expect on a message board, but I have to try. Help!
I will start from the beginning. About 7 years ago I had unprotected sex with a girl. I did notice the next day that apparently she was bleeding, so I am guessing she had some sort of infection. Within the next couple days I started to feel terrible, worse than I have ever felt in my life. I could barely get out of bed, I broke out in a red rash on my torso, and I felt completely run down. I went to the urgent care and they gave me antibiotics.
Over the next few days the head of my penis became red, nothing extreme and it wasn't even something anyone would think twice about if they were to see it, but it being my penis and all I could certainly notice. I don't know how to describe this, but the top portion of my penis also felt very stiff at times, like the skin was tight and it would cause it to curl I guess would be the best way to put it? I also got severe pain in what I believed were my testicles, though looking back now I think it could have been the glands that are in the groin are. I suffered from chronic fatigue, and it was the start of my life becoming miserable.
I saw several doctors, was tested for STD's, and everything came back negative. Multiple times I was put on various antibiotics, none of which helped. I also started having some digestive problems around that time, which again are hard to describe, but my stool ever since has always had an odd odor (yes I know it is not supposed to smell great, but it has always had the same distinct smell since for years now).
Eventually the groin pain just went away, but it was like the disease moved into my sinuses. As soon as the groin pain left, I had constant sinus problems and headaches. My brain has always been foggy, and there are times I slur my words it is so bad. I have not felt like myself in years, and it has been hard to function with me head the way it is and the chronic fatigue. Also, the redness on my penis has remained to this day.
That was my life for several years, until a few months ago. I woke up one day, and my arms were extremely weak and numb, I could barely lift them. I started having crazy heart palpitations, and several times a day I nearly fainted. I have been in and out of the hospital and doctor's offices since then, and they have checked everything with my heard and all is good.
The palpitations have died down, but the numbness in my arms comes and goes. I have severe back pain now that comes on randomly, sometimes it is in the spine and other times it is towards the sides of my abdomen. I am constantly bloated, and I am going through this cycle where my stool will be green, then shift to very pale, then normal for a day or 2 and right back again. What is really odd is it is like whatever is wrong with me has moved to my abdomen, because as soon as this started happening my sinus have started to clear up for the first time in years and the foggy brain is going away, but the back pain and digestive issues are horrible.
What really concerns me is I have been in a relationship for a few years now, and my girlfriend is showing signs of whatever I have now too. She has been in and out of the doctor for constant debilitating sinus problems and headaches, and she also says she is having the issues with the foggy brain. She has also been given various antibiotics and has taken allergy meds, but nothing is helping. At this point it seems pretty clear that I have passed off whatever I have to her, but I don't know what I have! Nothing online fits these symptoms, and they are so all over the place that it's hard to even pin down what this could be.
The only possibility I could even think is that given the issue with my penis still being red on the tip, maybe I have come down with some severe fungal infection? When I was in highschool I had a problem with horrible athlete's foot that needed to be treated by a doctor, and I got ringworm a few times, so I do seem to have an issue with fungal infections, but could a fungal sinus infection even be spread? And would any of my symptoms even fall into that type of infection?
Not expecting too much here, no doctor has been able to figure this out in 7 years so I don't know what I can expect on a message board, but I have to try. Help!
Those are symptoms of a rarely diagnosed condition I have called May-Thurner Syndrome. I've had every symptom that you listed. It's even been causing me Chronic Fatigue for the past 25 years. After I had a stent placed 10 months ago in my Left Iliac Vein, almost overnight all my problems were gone. Did you have the Chronic Fatigue before all these other problems started? Here's a list of problems that May-Thurner Syndrome can cause according to one vein clinic website.
Extreme Fatigue
Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders
Depression
Exercise Intolerance-All problems that I've had for the past 25 years
Then at 70% or more compression of the Left Iliac Vein can cause Leg Pain or Swelling, Pelvic Pain, Pain w/Intercourse (Dyspareunia), Pelvic Pain after Intercourse (Post-Coital Pain), Lower Back Pain, or Urinary Problems.
It's possible that you have around 70% of this vein. That's when my whole body started going haywire. Brain Fog, Terrible Anxiety, Difficulty Breathing, Memory Problems, Pain and Numbness in the Groin. No doctor could find anything wrong. Every test was negative. The only thing they found were Vericocele Veins (dilated veins in the testicles), so I decided to get a Vericocele Embolization. After the procedure, the doctor told me I had May-Thurner Syndrome. I went home and did some research and found out this was likely the cause of all my problems. I went back the next week and had a stent placed in my Left Iliac Vein. By the next day every single problem started going away. Fatigue started to fade, anxiety was pretty much gone and the brain fog dissapeared. I actually got cured of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome overnight by having this procedure. It was a miracle! And I'm not the only one. I've talked to other people that have had the same problems and had the same procedure and others have been cured of Chronic Fatigue and the many other problems that May-Thurner can cause. It was only because I never had any blood clots or dvts or any obvious sign of this condition that no doctors would even think of this. Not sure how that would explain your girlfriend getting the same symptoms. Although this condition is very common so who knows. Hope this might help! A great doctor to go see might be an Interventional Radiologist. They can do a pelvic Venogram and check for compression of this vein and place a stent if you have it. Good Luck!
Extreme Fatigue
Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders
Depression
Exercise Intolerance-All problems that I've had for the past 25 years
Then at 70% or more compression of the Left Iliac Vein can cause Leg Pain or Swelling, Pelvic Pain, Pain w/Intercourse (Dyspareunia), Pelvic Pain after Intercourse (Post-Coital Pain), Lower Back Pain, or Urinary Problems.
It's possible that you have around 70% of this vein. That's when my whole body started going haywire. Brain Fog, Terrible Anxiety, Difficulty Breathing, Memory Problems, Pain and Numbness in the Groin. No doctor could find anything wrong. Every test was negative. The only thing they found were Vericocele Veins (dilated veins in the testicles), so I decided to get a Vericocele Embolization. After the procedure, the doctor told me I had May-Thurner Syndrome. I went home and did some research and found out this was likely the cause of all my problems. I went back the next week and had a stent placed in my Left Iliac Vein. By the next day every single problem started going away. Fatigue started to fade, anxiety was pretty much gone and the brain fog dissapeared. I actually got cured of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome overnight by having this procedure. It was a miracle! And I'm not the only one. I've talked to other people that have had the same problems and had the same procedure and others have been cured of Chronic Fatigue and the many other problems that May-Thurner can cause. It was only because I never had any blood clots or dvts or any obvious sign of this condition that no doctors would even think of this. Not sure how that would explain your girlfriend getting the same symptoms. Although this condition is very common so who knows. Hope this might help! A great doctor to go see might be an Interventional Radiologist. They can do a pelvic Venogram and check for compression of this vein and place a stent if you have it. Good Luck!
You are reading content posted in the Undiagnosed Symptoms Community
Discharge often isn't normal, and could mean an infection or an STD.
In this unique and fascinating report from Missouri Medicine, world-renowned expert Dr. Raymond Moody examines what really happens when we almost die.
Think a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss? Here are five warning signs to watch for.
When it comes to your health, timing is everything
We’ve got a crash course on metabolism basics.
Learn what you can do to avoid ski injury and other common winter sports injury.
