Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum.  ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.

Anxiety Community

This patient support community is for discussions relating to generalized anxiety, anxiety and eating, anxiety and sleeping, mood swings, and phobias.
Post a Question Back to Forum
 | 
MedHelp Member's Question

Running out of Possibilities

by AWadd, Dec 28, 2006 12:00AM
21 year old Male, 6 foot, 165lb. I have been experiencing a wide-range of unspecific and seemingly confusing (as my doctors tell me) symptoms for 7 months now.  My symptoms include: Ear Ringing, Neck Pain, Joint/Muscle Pain/Tenderness, Abdominal Cramping/Nausea, Dizziness/Ataxia/Confusion, Palpitations, Shortness of Breath, Throat Tightness & Congestion, and Balance Problems -- (posted in no specific order of severity).  These can occur simultaneously or all at once.. varying from the tolerable to the almost unbearable levels.  These are the tests I have had so far:



- CBC Blood Panel ------(clean)

- 2 Thyroid Tests ------(clean)

- TSH Test -------------(clean)

- Basic Metabolic Panel (**elevated calcium)

- Brain MRI ------------(clean)

- 2 Chest X-Rays -------(clean)

- Parathyroid Test -----(clean)

- Heart Monitor --------(clean)

- Echocardiogram -------(clean)

- EKG ------------------(clean)

- Treadmill EKG --------(clean)

- Blood Oxygen Levels --(clean)

- Blood Pressure -------(125/70)

- STD's ----------------(clean)



  As you can see the only slight abnormality was the blood **calcium.. which measured an 11 with a normal range being 8.4-10.2.  I am running out of possible answers as more and more doctors seem to think I am fine.  My Primary Doc wants to meet with me and talk about anxiety, but I don't know what I'll say -- I'm a very calm person most of the time.. im not stressed.. and these symptoms are SO severe sometimes I'm amazed Im not in a hospital.  I eat healthy, too.



  Any input on possible causes or directions to pursue are appreciated.
Member Comments (13)

by chcnme, Dec 28, 2006 12:00AM
Did the basic metabolic include "hepatic functioning"  (liver functions)?  That would be SGOT/SGPT/GGT, or they are also called the AST/ALT (see any of those?)   It would also include bilirubin, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, and a few others.  



You say that you are OK on the STDs.



I'll give you my personal experience with "normal labs after normal labs after normal labs" (for years).  I began feeling awful  (had those symptoms you described -- ringing in my ears, joint pain, stomach pain, cramping, dizziness, unbalanced gait, awful fatigue)  but no doctor could attribute any of my symptoms to any "specific disease" (other than "mental") because the symptoms so closely mimicked chronic anxiety / chronic depression AND because ALL of my labs, including my liver function tests, were consistently "all normal - all clear"  (and had been normal for several years in a row.)  



I got referred to a psychiatrist at my GP's recommendation because it was thought I had an anxiety disorder / depression disorder.   After about my third year under the care of psychiatrist (with symptoms only worsening) I was finally tested for Hepatitis C.  It was positive.   And here's the "kicker" -- all my lab work that entire time (in ALL departments including liver function tests) was completely within normal limits  (but I still had Hep C - 30 years worth.)  



The only way to know if you have Hep C is to get tested.  With the dizziness and ataxia you are describing  (and the other symptoms), you surely deserve to have EVERY possible liver problem ruled out  (especially Hep C), and so -if you've been tested for Hepatitis C, pardon me for trying to pound the importance of "testing" home.  A very high percentage of people who are chronic carries (many years of the infection)  have completely normal labs  (but they have the virus, and it's slowly destroying their liver.)  The ONLY way a doctor will know is by doing a Hepatitis C panel.  People with Hep C usually begin having strange symptoms in about the 20th year  (some sooner).  Far too many with Hep C are not diagnosed and instead are referred to psychiatrists.



Not trying to scare you -- just trying to give you some facts.  



My advice: Get tested for Hep C if you haven't been. If the regular doctor tells you your liver function tests are fine and that you don't need to be tested, tell him you want to be tested anyhow.  



Best of luck.

by AWadd, Dec 28, 2006 12:00AM
Thank you for the advice, I'll inquire about the tests with my doc.

by Edward D., Dec 29, 2006 12:00AM
chcnme,



   I have a curious question that maybe you may be able to answer..? You seem very focused on the liver functions and Hepatitis..?  Can liver damage or liver problems create Anxiety symptoms...?





  peace... ED

by chcnme, Dec 29, 2006 12:00AM
Hi Ed.  Yes, lol - I am very focused on liver function tests with respect to the Hep C virus because in most cases liver function tests will not be the reason people with Hep C are diagnosed with Hep C (even though the virus is destroying their liver, their liver function tests are normal.) So, diagnosis often comes very late and only after severe liver damage has occurred.  



With respect to the hepatitis C virus, yes - it can cause cognitive changes (meaning it can cause fatigue, depression, anxiety, nervousness, insominia, hypersomnolence, sleepy, drowzy, etc.)  The reason why patients with Hep C have "mental status changes"  (even personality changes)  has stymied researchers, but it's a big area of research, and it's believed that it's because the Hep C virus interferes with serotonin and dopamine.  Some patients (I think it's up to 60%) who have little liver damage from Hep C experience mental status changes (some disabling).



With respect to liver disease (not caused by Hep C), those with advanced liver disease for any reason (such as cirrhosis from... many causes, including Hep C but not limited to)  can most assuredy experience mental status changes (profound changes - to the point of disorientation and coma). But in those cases, the liver function tests are WAY out of whack - very abnormal. But that is at the end stage of liver disease (unlike the Hep C mental status changes that a patient can experience with little damage).  



Here are a few good links that might help explain the Hep C connection and mental status changes.



The original poster had "ataxia", too, listed as a symptom, which very frequently is seen with liver disease.



http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hcsp/articles/cognitive_impairment.html



http://gut.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/55/11/1624



Hope this helped.

by AWadd, Dec 29, 2006 12:00AM
I thought I would share that another part of my testing came back