Strange Symptoms...need answers

Hello. Thank you for reading my post. I am a 41 year old woman. 148 pounds. Look healthy.  Over the past 10 years I have battled epstein-barr, food allergies, candidiasis, chronic fatigue. I am much better in all areas, but believe I am still dealing with some ulcers. My Dr. has diagnosed me with this as well as several ER physicians I have seen during times of extreme pain. If I watch my diet closely, things seem to simmer down and I have gone several months with relatively few digestive problems, but sometimes I get hit with symptoms and am down for several days.

Here is the strange thing I cannot understand. I awake in the middle of the night, sometimes early, but most often between 3 and 5 a.m. As if a lightswitch is turned on, the symptoms hit: both arms going numb and hurt like I have exercised heavily, a squeezing pressure in my chest that I cannot even describe, tightening of the stomach and a gnawing pain, hard to breathe, horrendous belching coming from the depths of my being, instant sinus clog and headache, and sometimes neurological muscle jerks. It takes me several hours to recover from these ordeals. They happen more when I get off my diet and eat something questionable. I had one episode last night, and I had eaten some chocolate and drank some pop, which I try to avoid.

I do  not have any lower gas or stool problems. It's all upper. I was also diagnosed with a double hiatal hernia, as well as the ulcers. THe pain is usually right under the breastbone, and over my liver. Sometimes I have a rash over my liver. I do not have a gall bladder, as it was removed about 6 years ago. I have had upper and lower GI's and it shows nothing. I have been to a cardiologist more than once, and have been checked thoroughly. Nothing wrong with my heart. (I was previously diagnosed with MVP, but last check did not reveal this.)

I don't have the acid reflux as much, only a few times, which sent me to the ER, thinking I was having a heart attack. After I drank something they gave me, symptoms went down. Mostly, it is stomach pain.

Have tried the standard ulcer pills. I am trying to help this with diet and with natural remedies. I am not always good about staying away from irritating foods, especially if I am having a "feeling good" streak. But I am trying.

Over the years, I have had my fill of doctors...sorry...but dealing with the epstein barr and food allergies stumped most doctors, and so I went through about 50 over the years trying to figure out what was wrong. I was not impressed with about 95% of the doctors out there, so I try not to go if I don't have to. Bloodwork and liver enzymes always normal. Low in progesterone and am taking a progesterone cream. I also take Amrour Thyroid, 1.5 grains per day. I had my thyroid radiated about 10 years ago due to Hyperactive thyroid. Other than that, have not taken any meds in years.

Thank you for your help.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

When you say upper and lower GI's, I am assuming that you mean an upper and lower endoscopy (i.e. gastroscopy and colonoscopy).  These would be the most comprehensive tests to evaluate GI disorders.  Also make sure that tests for H Pylori are done.  This bacteria is associated with ulcers and inflammation of the stomach and esophagus.

If negative, I would consider a 24-hr pH study to ensure that GERD is not present.  

If the GI workup is not revealing, and the cardiology referral is not helpful, you may want to consider a rheumatology consult.  Diseases such as fibromyalgia, arthritis and chronic fatigue syndrome (which may be associated with Epstein-Barr) can be discussed and worked up.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[PAJ]

What an interesting post, as a recovered candidiasis sufferer I can relate directly to some of your symptoms especially the numbness & the light switch onset of symptoms halfway through the night . I would describe it as if someone switched on an adrenalin pump .it

[faith91]

Yes, sitting up does help. I was tested for Lyme. Showed nothing. Have not had the scope... will not go through that. I have been through enough. Have seen the sites you suggested. Lots of info out there on candida and what to do. I was with a nutritionist for almost 8 months and saw her twice a week for consultation and massage. My diet was all organic and she planned out my menus. Followed it to a T. I was so sick at the end of it, I did not go back. Her theory was feeding me tons of fruit juices , dried fruits, fruits along with my other food. It gave me so much MORE candida, i went through a horrendous die-off after I stopped all the fruits.

After I started recovering and feeling good again after much prayer, I overindulged in junk foods for so long....my fault. Then I ate at a restaurant and got food poisoning in the middle of the summer. I have not been the same since. I think it might be some sort of infection. Right now I am eating Manuka honey, which, in medical testing, has proven to kill h-pylori bacteria. I am also taking ALOE MP Plus,which heals ulcers,  and aged garlic extract, which is anti-viral, anti-bacterial.  God knew what He was doing when he made these natural remedies. THese recommendations all came from a medical doctor.  

Thanks for letting me know that someone else has had the same types of symptoms. It is like a switch being turned on...like a chemical reaction that happens instantly. The last few nights have been better. I do wake up feeling sick and belchy most days, fogged out. I ALWAYS feel better late afternoon and evening. That is so strange.

[faith91]

P.S.  Here is a site that tells about the honey and the studies. http://www.umfactivemanukahoney.com/

This honey is delicious. I take it on bread in the a.m. and p.m. on empty stomach. I just started this regime, so we'll see after a period of a month or so.

Here is info on the aged garlic extract. It is a powerful natural antibiotic. Maureen Salaman, one of the top researchers and nutrition authors in the world, along with Dr. Rodriges, highly recommend this as an alternative to antibiotics. I have use it quite often to get rid of colds, flu, infections, over the years. http://kyolicformula.nutrifit.com/

I believe that the answers lie in the foods that God created. I have also been healed many times instantly after prayer. I am a minister.  I have also learned about the association with food allergies, candida, other illnesess and spiritual roots that must be healed. I know of people who suffered horribly with these who were made well without having to get treatment of any kind. Cell wall permeability is an intersting topic in all of this. People who had toxins stored in their system and were doing all they could with supplements, medical treatment, etc. to rid themselves of this found that the toxins were released when they did something as simple as forgiving those that had hurt them. I am personally involved in one of these ministries who teaches about the Biblical ways of healing. Medical doctors are sending people to these ministries to help people that they couldn't. And people are getting well.   I have been able to counsel people suffering with certain illnesses and have seen recovery without medical intervention. (They had been to doctors and found no answers)

I used to be bedridden, and after years of searching for help and getting none, I turned to Biblical answers and found it. There was a time that I was so food allergic and chemical sensitive that I had to wear a mask, lost so much weight I was accused of being bullimic, and was near death. When I dealt with spiritual issues that I had shoved down deeply inside of myself and when I dealt with fear stress and anxiety (powerful roots of illness), almost instantly I started to recover. I gained weight back and was no longer dealing with malabsorption. I could smell anything and did not react. I could eat anything and did not react. And this was all without  medical treatment of any kind.

Out of my own ignorance and "just being human", I did not use wisdom in my food choices(junk food) and brought back some of the symptoms. That is what I am dealing with now. Maintaining a healing can sometimes be harder than getting healed.:)It takes discipline in all areas.

Medical treatment can be a good thing for many people. Doctors help so many people. We need doctors. I have been blessed by doctors at times. Other times, they were no help. But they aren't trained to treat people spiritually and emotionally. They are only trained to treat our physical bodies. And there is much more to healing than treating the body.

I would recommend to anyone the book called  'A More Excellent Way', A teaching on the Spiritual Roots of Disease by Pastor Henry Wright. He has a worldwide ministry and is in such high demand that he has to train other ministers because the calls coming in are overwhelming. The results they have had are nothing short of amazing.

I am personally writing a  book that teaches on the roadblocks to healing and have been researching this in depth for about 8 years.

[faith91]

Thank you for your post. Have had all of those tests done already. Never any answers. I'm not quite sure what arthritis has to do with stomach pain and belching???

I'm sure I am dealing still with the candidiasis and some ulcers.

[PAJ]

I wouldn