Need Help Finding Out Whats Wrong

I feel lightheaded. It can be very mild or very severe. Always after eating or drinking. I drink a gallon of coffee a day.

Symptoms:
Woozy lightheaded
caffeinism
anal itching more at night
loose stools (only go once at night used to be in the  morning until I started taking Metamucil)
lightheadness after I drink or eat sometimes
crawling under skin sometimes
burning lips when I lightheaded attack
hot/cold tingly sensations in body when having a lightheaded spell
headache around light headed spell
If I drink 3 liters of water all at one time I get lightheaded spell
Mucus in stools
disoriented around the time of lightheadness
difficulty with concentration, reading around time of lightheadness
short term memory always and more when lightheadness
I feel flushed like hanging upside down (blood rushed to head) around time of lightheaadness
dark stools sometimes

Do you know whats wrong? What test should I have taken? If you need more information please let me know.  Thank you very much.

[Bridget A. Hewitt, RN]

Hi and thanks for using the forum.

A good place to start would be your regular doctor.  He or she can do a full physical (including blood work and possible stool samples) to start to sort things out.  Another option would be to see a gastrointestinal specialist since your symptoms seem to be GI related.  

In the meantime, you should try to cut back on the amount of coffee that you are drinking.  Coffee can irritate your stomach and your bowels.  It also can aggravate many gastrointestinal illnesses (including irritable bowel syndrome and Crohns disease).  

Be sure that you are eating a balanced diet and drinking fluids- persistent runny stools/diarrhea can deplete your body of essential vitamins/nutrients and cause dehydration.

Good luck.  I hope this info helps.

Bridget

[lzscott112]

Could the lightheadedness be due to my gi tract? I drank 3 liters of water really fast and I got lightheaded and my lips started to burn. Thank you very much.

[lzscott112]

Could it be confused easily with something else or is this a pretty easy diagnosis?

[Bridget A. Hewitt, RN]

The lightheadedness could have been related to drinking the water very fast.  To drink, you need to hold your breath.  IF you were drinking 3 L very quickly, the dizzyness could be a result of holding your breath for an extended period of time.  

There are many possible diagnosis for your symptoms, which is why it would be a good idea to see your doctor for a physical.  Between the physical exam and blood work, things can be ruled out or in.  

Bridget