Dr is stumped...I am stumped...somebody please help!

Hi guys, I really need your help and opinion to pinpoint my condition (somehow).

So 2 months ago I was overseas (in Europe) when I started getting some shortness of breath. This would occur infrequently (once every day, once every 4 days etc.) and I wasn't really fussed because I cut it down to my allergies acting up a bit. However, on the flight back home from Europe my fever skyrocketed to 38.5 celcius and I was getting palpitations and shortness of breath.

Now ever since I've been back (from the 1st August onwards) I've had this problem, with the following symptoms:
- palpitations (which have pretty much stopped now although sometimes I cannot get to sleep or am awoken by my heart beating so forcefully)
- shortness of breath (feels like I can't fully inflate my lungs)
- a "gurgly/washy" feeling in my chest
- dizziness and lightheadedness
- extreme onset of fatigue (just gotta lie down)
- headaches that happen behind the eyes (and I never get headaches...)
- starting to get slight cramps in both my arms (sometimes)
- on/off diarrhoea (sometimes it would be solid stool, sometimes very loose and runny)
- MOST IMPORTANTLY: for the past 2 weeks or so I have been getting infrequent chest pains that can be either to the left, right or centre of my chest that feel like little knives stabbing me that come and go (can happen when I'm just sitting watching TV or when I'm cooking or when I move my top half of my body etc.) and on top of that I am still getting breathlessness with gurgly feeling in my chest. On top of that I'm also getting random dull aches around my body (e.g. the chin, stomach)

Also, since I've been back I've done numerous tests, so to clear everything up here's a list of my stats:
- height 179cm, weight 84kg
- average heart rate = 65bpm, average bp = 110/75
- barium swallow -> no sign of anything (no GERD, hernias, cysts, tumours etc.)
- full blood count (got results back today) -> everything is within normal range
- cardiac enzyme count (got results back today) -> CRP, CK and hs Troponin T all well within range
- holter monitor test -> 1st degree AV block but apart from that everything is very good
- thyroid scan -> thyroids are normal size but organification is consisten with chronic thyroiditis (Hashimoto's disease) HOWEVER thyroid antibodies are within normal range as are FT4 and FT3
- also did an MRI of my brain last year (october 2010) which showed nothing out of the ordinary

I would like to add that this is not anxiety, or stress or whatever because I am an extremely laid back person (even with these conditions) and am very calm about everything. It's just getting to the point where it's affecting me studying because I've been back and forth to the Dr who is also stumped. Ironically I am doing a health related course to help others haha, so I really hope I can finish this last semester off and give back :P

Also, I don't think this has to do with the thyroid problem (and even if I did, the doc said it would be hypothyroidism which would not affect my heart).

Hmmm...I think that's all. Sorry to be a hassle, but any input would be very much appreciated. What do ya'll think this is? And what tests should I get done that I haven't yet done to rule out anything serious?

Have a great day all!

Much love, Dave.

[Roster17]

I agree with ireneo with the pulmonary function test. Also maybe a chest xray.There is a condition called Sarcoidosis.  It effects mostly the lungs & eyes, but can get it in any organ in the body. You have some of the synptoms such as the shortness of breath, pain behind the eyes, fatigue, chest. But these can also be symptoms for other things also. Maybe a Pulmonary doc would be hepful.

[itchyfaceman]

Oh...silly me I forgot to add my age: I'm 22!

[ed34]

They haven't done a stress test or echo?
When you wore the holter monitor, did you experience any of your symptoms?

[itchyfaceman]

No stress test or echo done...no idea why I keep asking if I need it and doc says no.

No chest pain when I was wearing holter - I keep bugging my doc for an echo but he won't let up haha.

[ireneo]

Lungs OK? I don't see any chest workup other than the barium swallow. Perhaps a pulmonary function test might show something. Lung problems can trigger palpitations.

[jrbon]

Which part of Europe and for how long have you been?

Have you had contacts with kids? They carry awful viruses for adults.

It looks to my like a sort of infection, either viral or bacterial, they can affect the optical nerve, so your pain behind the eyes.

Have you been made a viral culture?

Have all sort of hepatitis ruled out?

Jesus

[itchyfaceman]

Wow I'm amazed by the overwhelming response guys! Thank you so much.

The only test he's done on my lungs are just listening to them with a stethoscope and he always says nothing is wrong with them.

Haven't done anything you've said jbon. Travelled all around Europe and only had one close encounter with a kid (my friend's child in Vienna I was carrying him etc.). Hepatitis is ruled out, but no viral culture yet.

[ed34]

You had a full blood count which rules out infection.

[itchyfaceman]

Should I get a heart ultrasound (echo) to rule out everything?

[ed34]

I think it's necessary, if anything, to rule out your heart and give you more peace of mind. However, personally, I don't think a normal Ultrasound is likely to prove much. I think you need a stress induced echo. They need to see your heart when running in stress mode, to see how it copes.

[jrbon]

By any chance were you in the country side or in the gardens lying in the grass in Austria or Switzerland??

I do not know the details but I remembered, about 2 years ago, the Spanish football team ban the Switzerland stadiums due to an endemic disease  transmitted by certain insects in those countries.

Jesus

[Roster17]

I agree with ireneo with the pulmonary function test. Also maybe a chest xray.There is a condition called Sarcoidosis.  It effects mostly the lungs & eyes, but can get it in any organ in the body. You have some of the synptoms such as the shortness of breath, pain behind the eyes, fatigue, chest. But these can also be symptoms for other things also. Maybe a Pulmonary doc would be hepful.

[itchyfaceman]

Thanks for the response guys! Again I am extremely flattered and in awe of the support I'm getting.

Ok, so I went to the cardiologist and they did an ultrasound of my heart, and a stress test and apparently my heart is great. I also did a chest x-ray and that came back good so...yay!

However, a strange thing happened this morning. When I was lying down in bed I had absolutely no pain, BUT when I actually got up I had some major pains in my chest between my ribs (checked my pulse, it was normal, no palpitations and I wasn't sweating or nauseous so calmed myself down and told myself it was probably muscular).

I usually sleep on my side, and whilst not even overweight (179cm/85kg but active and my chest/upper area is large due to genetics) I was wondering if sleeping to one side put extra pressure on my sternum and ribs. They've subsided now (in about 30 minutes). Are these signs of muscular pain? I've literally done everything to rule out my heart lol.

[ed34]

Yes it sounds like muscle. I'm glad you have ruled out your heart, I know it gives you peace of mind and lets you move forward. Doctors often forget the way such things can affect us mentally and cause unwarranted stress. When they sit behind a desk saying "your heart is fine" we just sit there thinking "well how do you know, do you have x-ray eyes". Then we go home and worry that the Doctor has got it all wrong.