I'm About To Give Up Hope...=o(

[MarkAews]

I've had an endoscopy, colonoscopy, ultrasound, barium followthrough, countless bloodwork done.... but still no answer.

Its pretty much come to the conclusion that im starting to think maybe im crazy or something...

Yet i still get the SAME THINGS everyday...

I wake up very fatigued, eat food, and then the food sits pretty heavily, i get super tired after eating, and it then feels like my brain is struggling with everything... i can barely concentrate, talk, or anything.
If i stand up too long, i feel very faint.
I think the neurological symptoms scare me most though.

This is been going on for 8 months now..
I dont know what direction to turn!!

[raymond in sj]

some of what you mention sounds like the symptoms of a sleep disorder. have you considered a sleep study? they hook you up to a bunch of sensors and you sleep for the night.
fatigue on waking, fogginess, inability to concentrate are hallmarks of disturbed sleep. many people with sleeping disorders report also having gastro trouble as a result.

[raymond in sj]

forgot to mention....http://www.sleepnet.com/ has an online sleep test to help you determine if you should see a sleep specialist.

[MarkAews]

I was thinking that....
I guess if you never get into deep sleep, your body can never heal properly?
Could that be true?

[MarkAews]

Hello Everyone,

I also have similar symptoms mentioned here,
and am also quite fed up.
It constantly feels like my brain just isn't working right,
and that I always have to intentionally yawn to make me feel less "spacey", if that makes any sense.
Hopefully someone out there can come up with some ideas
because some days i get downright scared.

Anyone else out there like this?
Maybe we can start a support group.
( Even though this already seems like one! )


Jennifer A.

[Dr Mum]

Do you get the shakes at all because with light headedness I
find I need glucose and then I find I can concentate.

Also it may pay to get your nasal canal checked for the size
of your airway. You may not be getting enough air.

Regards Evelyn

[raymond in sj]

to try and answer all the questions/comments regarding sleep:
sleep apnea is a very common disorder (my wife and i both have it) and most people who suffer from it are unaware of the problem. very briefly, it is an obstruction of the airway while one sleeps. most commonly the obstruction occurs between the tonque and the soft pallet and/or back of the throat. the obstruction blocks the airway and stays blocked until the brain sends a signal to awaken enough to start breathing again. the person is completely unaware of this pattern of waking and sleeping. it happens on an unconscious level but arouses enough to disturb rem sleep which is what makes one feel rested and alert. apnea is often accompanied by snoring or gasping but not always. the gasping/choking/snoring part can very often trigger gastrointestinal problems such as gerd, ibs, chronic constipation, reflux, etc.
i am not specifically aware of any effect of sleep deprivation on the body's ability to heal itself.
sleepnet.com is an excellent source for support (they have several very active and helpful forums) and information on sleep and related disorders.

[MarkAews]

Thanks...

I'll see if that may be a factor.
I know i don't usually snore though....
But i heard it can be a central nervous system problem too.

[npc]

This thread sounded interesting and related.
While I thought I was in perfect health and mental state a year ago my life insurance company said my blood test showed high liver enzymes.  From there I started for testing to find out what was causing this, as the premiums where 5 times higher!! What was wrong with me that I was such a risk?  From there I learned through a sonogram and upper (something ) that I had GAD, and a (hyatial)?Hernia.  Great, this now a year later there seems to be the sleep apnea and the snoring.  This is also taking place with the sudden lethargic attitude and brain dead feeling as noted above.  Perhaps we are all on to something.

With the brain dead feeling, came anxiety which lead to a prescription for Paxal an anti anxiety drug, which seems to help to awake time, but I still have the rest of the stuff.  Boy does this sound like a snowballs ride or what?  I have had liver specialist say that my liver is perfectly fine, yet my life insurance company says I am still the risk.  Who says worry can't make you sicker than you really are.

[raymond in sj]

npc,
talk to your doc about a sleep test. i too, had several health problems arrive all within a year or two along with the apnea. subsequent to treating the apnea, they all disappeared.
apnea is easily treated with a cpap machine that helps you breathe when you sleep. there are also several surgical options available.
i hope your treatment goes as well as mine did.

[Webster]

I'm in the same boat, I've been sick since October, 00.  I've lost 100 lb in that time because everything I eat makes me feel sick.  I have most of the same symptoms and have had just about every test known to man since October 00 (close to $200,000).  My gall bladder was impacted with stones and removed in April 01 but that hasn't resolved the problem.  My white count is routinely in excess of 119,000 and the doctors don't have any more ideas than Mickey Mouse.  While I too experience sleep difficulty, it is usually because my abdomen is so uncomfortable that sleeping is impossible.  I take a-lot of pain medication, pepcid prescription daily and despite the fact that I don't like to eat because of how it makes me feel, I eat anyway for the nutrtion and then spend the rest of my time miserable.  Don't let anyone convince you that the abdominal discomfort you/we are experiencing is normal/in your head/ or due to sleep depravation.  It is absolutely not normal to be nauseated on a daily basis.
L

[svd4everbmc]

You've made no mention of endocrine studies ie.. blood glucose,
adrenal, pituitary, or thyroid function.  These glands are responsible for controlling your entire body's metabolism.  Including the rate which food is emptied from your stomach.
hypo, or hyperglycemia (diabetes) could be a place to start.
Hypothyroidism, pituitary or adrenal functions would also be
consideration for examination.  Do you ever experience pain after
eating, if so, when and where.  I've read many of the other responses you've recieved and agree that it is possible that a
sleep disorder may in fact play a role.  If you find yourself
more tired in the morning than you were when you went to bed, you
might consider having sleep studies done.  If you also experience
chronic unexplained pain, you maybe looking at fibromyalgia.
  If I were experiencing the same symptoms that you are, I would
start out by seeing a board certified endocrinologist for a full
work up.  I myself have had pappillary cancer of the thyroid-and
know what an effect low thyroid hormone levels can do to a body.
If that weren't enough I also had a pituitary tumor (benign)
and found out how all of my endocrine system can be totally
whacked out when only one gland has a problem.  Check with your
doctor.  Best of luck.

[svd4everbmc]

OOPS! ! One other thought, I am presuming that you've had a
complete med blood study to rule out anemia etc..