Hi Amber, sorry to hear about you going through so much. Do you have medical insurance? One of the things that can cause tachycardia is blood sugar problems. A suggested test is the C-Peptide as well as a glucose intollerance test.
Just because your ANA is neg, doesn't completely rule out an autoimmune. I had several positive test, then a neg right before it jumped up to 1:2,560. I had spent time in the sun prior to that test.
To determine whether you have human leukocyte antigen B27 (HLA-B27) on the surface of your cells; to help assess the likelihood that you have an autoimmune disorder associated with the presence of HLA-B27
Drs. test when you have symptoms of chronic inflammation, pain, and stiffness in certain areas of your body, such as your back, neck, and chest, or eyes, especially if you are male and the symptoms began in your early 30s.
The HLA-B27 test may be ordered as part of a group of tests used to diagnose and evaluate conditions causing arthritis-like chronic joint pain, stiffness, and inflammation. This group of tests may include an RF (rheumatoid factor) with either an ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) or a CRP (C-Reactive protein). HLA-B27 is sometimes ordered to help evaluate someone with recurrent uveitis that is not caused by a recognizable disease process.
Source: http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/hla_b27/glance.html
It also sounds like you might be having trouble w/ endometreosis. I took an herb called chasteberry tree (Vitex). It totally shrunk the endometrial lesions to microscopic size. This herb also made my cycle be normal. I had the same problem w/ my cycles that you had.
Just to share w/ you a little bit about myself, I was dx w/ lupus and fibromyalgia about 2 years ago. Was very sick for 1 1/2 years b4 being diagnosed. Had fatigue, joint pain, muscle pain and weakness, tachycardia, vertigo, nausea, irritable bowel, facial rash to name a few.
well from what I understand from the tests done so far, I do not have lupus or ra. The dr did say that I do have some sort of an auto immune. Just not sure about anything more at the moment. Funny you post that info from labtestsonline cus I I went there the other day.. lol. As far as it being endo. I went to the obgyn a couple of months ago and had a pelvic ultrasound done and some other tests and she said that it is unlikely that i have endo so... On with my search... lol I am making an appointment in the morning to get my results of the last test run.. Thanx for your post..
Just to chime in: It's impossible to diagnose or rule out endometriosis without a laproscopy (sp). It would have to be hugely bad for it to show up on ultrasound. And the amount of pain, etc., is not necessarily related to how much endo you have. I'm not trying to say you DO have endo, but there's really no way for the OB to know without going in and looking. And your issues with GI distress can be caused by endo as well. Have you seen a gastroenterologist? While 23 isn't a particularly high SED rate, there's a number of inflammatory bowel diseases that can cause (or be linked to) joint pain elsewhere in your body. Also, have you been tested for celiac?
I know what it's like to be a mystery patient and desperately want a diagnosis. I've been sick for three years now, and while I've collected a list of secondary diagnoses, no one has figured out what my main problem is. The thing about autoimmune diseases is so many of them have the same symptoms, and most docs will tell me that they think there are many autoimmune disorders that have not yet been quantified and able to be diagnosed. Which *****, I know.
Anyway, good luck. Please let us know what you hear after your next appointment. I hope you get some good answers SOON.
I completely agree w/ sickmomma. You cannot dx or rule out endo by an ultrasound. A dr. must do exploritory laproscope.
I'm not a familar w/ RA as I am lupus. I could give you a little info on lupus.
There are 11 criteria for a lupus dx. You must have at least 4 of the 11 to recieve a dx.
They are:
1. malar rash over cheeks (butterfly rash)
2. discoid rash, red raised patches
3. photosensitivity - reaction to sunlight, resulting in skin rash
4. oral and nose ulcers
5. arthritis
6. serositis - inflamation of the lining of the lung or heart
7. reanl disorder - excessive protein in urine and/or cellular casts
8. neurologic disorder - seizures, or psychosis
9. anemia or low white blood count or lymphopenia or low platelet count
10. positive ANA
11. positive anti-DNA or anti-Sm, or antiphospholipid antibody or false pos. syphilis test
Other symptoms are:
fever
abdominal pain
chest pain
shortness of breath
blood in urine
hair falling out
fatigue
muscle pain and weakness
dizziness
poor memory
headaches
poor circulation in fingers and toes
tingling in extremities
diarrhea
bloating
nausea
weight loss
abdominal pain
blurred vision
depression
palpitations
raynauds (where fingers turn white when cold)
intollerance to cold
sore throat
...to name a few
Keep in mind that fibromyalgia, CFS, MS and lymes disease also have similar symptoms.
Not everyone w/ lupus has ALL of these symptoms, and they tend to come and go. I know your dr. will figure this out eventually. He knows there is an autoimmune connection. Other autoimmune diseases that affect joints are: ankylosing spondylitis, behcet's, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis (?), Sjogren's (?), and lupus,. Celiac can also cause joint pain and often accompanies autoimmune diseases. Lupus can affect every area of the entire body. It certainly has caused problems w/ my digestive tract.
The only advice I can give you right now is to try not to let it all get to you emotionally. Stress will only make symptoms worse. Just in case it is lupus, stay out of the sun as much as possible. You won't always feel bad right away, sometimes its the next day.
Praying for you, Kara