Metallic taste, nausea, night sweats, headaches, confusion, balance problems

I'm 42 & for the past year I've been on antibiotics 7x for chronic lung infections-I have no lung disease. I also suffer from chronic nausea, metallic taste, headeaches, dizzy spells, balance problems, extreme pressure in my head, night sweats, joint & muscle pain, alternating heat/cold in extremities, abdominal pain, recurring bouts of diahrea & constipation, and have been unable to tolerate anything with alcohol in it (ie. beverages, food or medicines). I've been on HRT (Estrace 2 mg) for over 15 yrs; have been taking Fioricet for migraines for over 10 years. I've always ate a very healthy diet, and very rarely drank alcohol. I have horses & live in the country (so I always got plenty of exercise) but now find myself unable to ride my horses, barely have enough energy to go to the Barn to feed them. I'm also self-employed & own a real estate title/settlement co., I can barely function at work & it's getting worse. Brain Scan came back normal, blood tests showed elevated white blood cells, low red blood cells & a weak positive for Celiac; ruled out leukemia & lime disease, other than that the Dr's have been unable to diagnose my condition. I've had tons of blood tests, CT Scan, MRI. Scheduled to see a Gastroenterologist & Neurologist. No offense intended by I'm sick of Doctors & tests, but at same time need to get to bottom of this problem. Has anyone out there experienced these symptoms? I'm desparate, I feel like I'm going insane - my once healthy active lifestyle is now non-existent and spent in bed.

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.  --Val

[vah]

Also, forgot to mention that I also lost over 40+ pounds in less than 4 months without trying. I went from a size 12 to a sizes 0-2. I can't seem to keep weight on....not such a bad problem, but when taken into account with the other symptoms I have, it does seem a bit ominous & diconcerting. Don't get me wrong, I love being thin, but not if it's at the cost of my health & wellbeing.

[Mister beagle bailey]

Do you have Hep C?  

Beagle

[OnAPrettyPoison]

If your GI visit doesn't resolve your issues, get yourself to a teaching hospital, a university medical center.  That is where you go when no one can figure out what is wrong with you.  You deserve a better quality of life than you are getting, but unless you get to someone who can diagnose what is wrong, they can't treat you.  Arrange for a referral from your family doctor.  Good luck, I hope you feel better soon!

[Mister beagle bailey]

Have not seen you all day, how are you feeling?

Beagle

[dyce]

Ha ,I never heard of that sx before. Lioness it's 2 am east time here, what time is it there?

Dyce

[dyce]

Ha guy, ya awake up there. Ha ,I had a guy come from N.Y a couple years ago and buy a dog off me, said you guys still have alot of woods up there. Thier choppin everthing to pieces down here. This riba tends to speed me up, I keep waken up in the middle of the nite. Who wants to be wide awake on this stuff?
Hows is goin today in the land of the sky, cold up there?

Dyce

[lionesss]

hi mate.  it is 5.40pm here. and yes, I can relate to the insomnia. bit sleep deprived now.  It doesn't help that i need to drink a litre of water overnight as well. what a sick joke!  I have to go to uni tomorrow looking like hitler!

[dyce]

Ya ,I'm the only person awake here. Over here they have a sleep aid called ambien thats gettin alot of attention. It's causing folks to sleep walk and do things in thier sub-conscience without any recollection. I don't want to take any more pills , so I'll put up with the insomnia. With the sx's associated with the sleep aids , I don't want additional problems.

I'm sorry I can't remember, what shot you on?

Dyce

[lionesss]

shot 4. i only get insomnia 3-4x a week luckily, so i have a good catch up sleep every now and then. so no sleepers for me either, except warm milk and lavender oil (but not together). have you nodded off yet?

[OnAPrettyPoison]

Mr. BB, nice to see you posting the same time that I am!  I hope you are well!  I think I slept most of yesterday for some reason, not sure if it was the sx of the shot or the Ambien I take on shot night.  I have been cutting them in half because they are too strong, and maybe I cut one whopsided!  I bet you are feeling a little more energy as your hemoglobin is up!

Rocker - as always your prayer is awesome.  I do have to tell you that I have been taking the ACV for a week now, and my skin is almost like it was pre-treatment.  My skin almost had a gray cast since being on treatment so long, and it is back to a rosy glow.  Tiny cuts on hands have healed up too.  Thanks for the info on the ACV.  I still think it tastes "uck" but it is worth it.

[Mister beagle bailey]

Thanks for asking and I hope your feeling better today. Hoping my HGB is up to a 8.0 on Tues. I'm feeling great at the moment.  Time does fly, I have 11 shots left after tonight.  What's new with you?

Beagle

[OnAPrettyPoison]

I am great,on 32/48!  I am going to have a "lite" interferon week because my syringe leaked on the floor when I was giving myself my shot and Mr. Booglet licked it up!  I talked to my doctors office and they said just let whatever I got be it.  I kind of doubt I will feel much different, the riba gets me worse than the interferon.  Just doing it a day at a time and keeping a smile on my face!

[lionesss]

OMG! I have a side effect! I ate an iceblock and now I have broken blood vessels over my top lip.  I look like I have a purple hitler moustache (don't laugh!) Has this happened to anyone else...well, must dash, I have to find myself a paperbag

[Mister beagle bailey]

Don't sweat the leak on the floor, the same thing happened to NYgirl awhile ago and she came back undetectable.  So glad your doing well, your almost there and soon SVR my friend.

       Beagle

[can-do-man]

Yeah as begale says don't sweat the leak on the floor, At sometimes in our life we all have trouble making it to the bathroom on time. Take care girl

[beamishboy]

Dyce-sure know too much about insomnia-but sat. was nothing but naps& then bed;probably slept 12 hrs-Today is my dads birthday 77yrs...going to maple syrup& pancake breakfast at a neighbors..they have cut alot of hardwood off old farmsteads herabouts..price is right,i guess...what bothers me most is gov't lands that get clearcut & no replanting-not being 'nice' to mother nature! but still lots&lots of woods-private&public ..i only improve my woods w/ thinning & planting;for the next generation.....
Beagle-howya doin ol dawg???back visitin for a bit ,eh...great advice for nygurl..i too worry for her 'bout work computer......gotta be careful around cornered rats!
Rocker- I am blessed w/ wonderful nurses;they deserve all praise and alittle flirtatious banter-Gotta Love them Ladies!!!--AMEN

[vah]

I'm not sure what my liver enzymes are. I don't know if they've tested me for liver disease. At this point they've done so much to me that I cannot keep track. I'll ask the Doc next time I see him about my liver. Thanks for the tips.

[Mister beagle bailey]

Thanks and that's a great way of putting it.  How are you doing/

Beagle

[Mister beagle bailey]

AS always a great Sunday prayer and I look forward to it every week.
Thanks

Beagle

[dyce]

Good morning guy, don't sweat it, your goin undetectable. Shot 13 .I remember your 1st shot , man how time is flyin! Tonite and you'll be over the hump , and it will be down hill from here. Your set for the rest of the course!

goodluck,
Dyce

[Mister beagle bailey]

good morning,

You sound in good spirit, hope the sxs are getting better for you. Thanks for the support, and your right I'm over the hump with 11 to go. How are you doing?

Beagle

[OnAPrettyPoison]

Rocker, I will go research the green stuff.  I do like the ACV, I can tell the difference in my skin!  

Can Do, I kind of worried about the dog licking up the interferon off the floor, but thought what the hey, he would drink out of the toilet if I let him!

[can-do-man]

Oh i thought it was some other kind of leak and you just didn't make it to the bathroom on time.

[OnAPrettyPoison]

On Friday night I had some posts back and forth with Goofydad and Jim cause a bunch of interferon squirted on the floor when I was giving my shot.  Goofy said try and recreate the scene of the accident, but my dippy dog had licked it up!  Talked to the nurse in charge (don't bother) and got reported to the pega police for underdosing!  Talked to the doctor's office and they said don't sweat it.   That is more exciting than most of my Friday nights since I been on treatment!

[Mister beagle bailey]

Thank God your here.  We all need your humor and you always find something to say that has me .....LOL

Beagle

[Mister beagle bailey]

Meant to say I hope Tues. my HGB is up to 10.0, not the 8.0 I posted, it was 9.1 last week.

Beagle

[strator]

Actually I'm not doing too bad. Pretty tired today but prat of that may be mental(I'm doing my taxes). The itch kicked in a little more often this week, but it's livable if I keep after it. focusing is a problem lately but not so mush med related as I got so much to do I never know where to start. Got a cbc due back tomorrow but I have afeeling not muchchanged there. Last month my hgl was at 11.4-wish I could give a ya a point, then we'd both be around 10.1.
Stay well Mr B,
Don

[Mister beagle bailey]

You have a lot on your plate and now taxes!  Do you know about the GOLD BOND TRIPLE ACTION LOTION?  I use it a few times a day and so far no rash.  Hope you have a good night.

         Beagle

[strator]

Rockerforlife- As always, awesome. When I wake up draggin on Sundays cause Sat is shot night, and then come across your prayers, it helps change my day.

Mr. Beagle- Keepin good thoughts for you on your PCR and your hglbn. Don't stress too much(easy to say but I look at mine  like a sports event, the quarter and half time scores may not reflect the winner.) You're going for the gold, you'll be there.

Can and Pretty Poison-Hey maybe we could start a new show. MHI Miami. Recreate stuff from tx. Look at what we got to work with. Riba rage, brain fog, drama, humor, even sex. And Goofy must have connections w/Disney.
Be Well, find peace,
Don

[OnAPrettyPoison]

And don't forget our riba rash, hair loss, and all the other stuff that makes us glamour girls and stud muffins!

[Mister beagle bailey]

Hey Good morning,

How are you doing? Did the PCR test on Sat. and results should be in by fri. I think.  A bit worried as we all arewhen it comes to the PCR.  Today is # 13 for me and a little closer to the finish line.  I'm worried about NYgirl she needs the ins. to get through this.  Let me know how you are doing.

Beagle

[Kay_Lee]

Check through your blood tests (i.e. get a copy of each one of them if you don't already have them) and look for B12 and folic acid.  If you haven't been tested for those, then get it done.  You seriously sound like you have a B12 deficiency.  That's what  I have and I had the kind of generalized muscle and joint pains you were talking about, and the feeling of constantly being hung over, dizzy, etc..  My B12 was at 53, and it took my doctor 6 months to even think to test for it.  Most doctors don't actually test for it so I had my mother ask her doctor for a B12 test as well since she was experiencing similar symptoms and she was low as well.  The B12 deficiency will just be a symptom to the real problem so you need to dig deeper to get to the real cause.  In the meantime get your B12 ASAP!  Your body can just decide to kick it abruplty one day if you go too low, no joke.

The metallic taste in your mouth points to other mineral deficiencies as well.  night sweats: hormones wacked out because of deficiencies. confusion, balance problems: definitely neurological and may not be reversible (highly suspect B12 here), high white blood cells: depends on which ones but likely due to your chronic lung infections (which by the way is also associated with Celiacs) not being able to tolerate alcohol: pancreas/liver suffering, could be caused by gallstones stuck in your biliary system (which are too small to be seen by an external ultrasound - you need and endoscoping ultrasound for those), due to a malfunctioning gallbladder which is often associated with Celiac disease..you have a systemic problem that is just snowballing from one organ to the next...you are in a toxic state.  Everything is connected while most doctors try to treat you as a collection of separate organs.



Make sure you get your ferritin levels checked as well as your hemoglobin.  Your ferritin levels will go down just before your hemoglobin does, which makes you iron deficient even before your hemoglobin levels drop below normal.

Other Possible causes for you?  Due to the many years of you having taken antiobiotics, you may also have an overgrowth of intestinal bacteria (the bad kind) thus leading to intestinal damage causing specific malabsorption problems. That may have triggered a latent Celiac disease in  you.

But the key here is that you were already diagnosed as a weak positive for Celiac??? Was that just a blood test?  If it was, you need an intestinal biopsy to confirm and ABSOLUTELY need to go totally gluten free. You are too sick to see this as a "weak" positive. You don't sound like a "weak" Celiac to me. Treat it as if you have cancer because it's that serious, especially considering all the other serious problems you are having.  There is something poisoning you and since you say you eat very well, it's probably not chemicals in the food, it is the food itself, gluten.  B12, folic acid, and iron deficiencies are common in Celiacs, and a whole bunch of autoimmune diseases and infections may appear before any signs of intestinal problems.

I've found countless stories from newly diagnosed Celiacs that have been through medical hell for decades and are now feeling great without medication.    Find a specialist in Celiac and get to the bottom of your "weak" positive.  My hope is that you are indeed a true Celiac and you will soon be on your way to recovery by eliminating the offending toxin: gluten.

But the first thing you MUST do is to get your B12 and folic acid checked.  It's fast and painless.  And get those shots right away (since you are in so much pain) if you are low (and even if you are in the normal range but on the low side) and continue with a high dose of sublingual B12 tablets daily.  Confirm this with your doctor of course. Then find out what the deficiency is caused by: low stomach acid, pancreatic insufficiency, pernicious anemia (get the instrinsic factor antibody test), celiac disease (get that biopsy), etc... I'm still in the diagnosis stage and fighting with my doctors to actually do more tests to find the cause.  They seem to think that since my levels went up with a supplement their job is done.  B12 is just the symptom.

Failing that, your doctors  have ruled out cancer which is great,  beware of the pancreas - it's a hard one to find and see in MRI and scans, so there me be something in there, like a tumor which is interfering with your enzyme production and thus leading to malabsorption.

Also, you might want to get a hair analysis to rule out heavy metal poisoning (fish and shellfish are usually the culprits barring any environmental exposures).  

Good luck. And do NOT give up or your body will.

[Alymerfud]

Hi  I have the same thing going on everyday now for the past 3 years. I was put on Celexa which gave me panic attacks bad so I have been off of the Celexa for 3 months now....the Metallic taste, nausea, night sweats, headaches, confusion, balance problems still happen...sometimes I get a day or 2 out of a week that is okay and then back all the symptoms come again. I take Ativan under my tongue if it gets really bad.  ANY help would be appreciated.

[Tater-ToT]

Psst LOOK UP ONE Thread!!!

[Tater-ToT]

Ahh, I think they just wanna Slow TORTURE Me.. ya know this waiting is not something that is done well even when things are right on scheduale... I sure won't miss the days I can finally put that behind me once & for all... Gack!

If ya call me, you'll have to use my cell (remember I'm not in the south anymore)Humm, that reminds me... I need to call & get that # suspended again... or at least toss out all the frills!

Still keeping my fingers crossed for today!
;)

[chellski]

what's going on??? no news yet?  i will have to call u and help you thru this weekend....wow....take care....chelley

[Tater-ToT]

2 Threads!

[Tater-ToT]

LoL... You Make My EyeBalls Well Up...LoL<p>
<img src="http://www.smilieland.com/graphics5/SnoopyDancing2.gif" width="75" height="75"></p>
:)

[chellski]

torture for sure.....waiting is a b#@ch, ain't it?  i'll try your cell see if i get thru.....
later-
chelle

[cuteus]

I can't stop posting it!! it stuck in a loop in my PC, NEGATIVE, NEGATIVE, NEGATIVE!!
k, tried to stop but, NEGATIVE, it keeps, NEGATIVE popping up NEGATIVE! is not a keyboard problems this time!

I am so HAPPY!!!!!!

[chellski]

i bet you can't believe it yourself!   what a long effing haul it has been for you!!!
rob and girls must be thrilled too!

[Tater-ToT]

I think Rob & the girls where more thrilled than me.... They are probably just tickled that They won't have to tolerate me thru that Gawd Aweful TX Again...LoL

YEAH!!!!
:)

[kelticgoddess]

hey....i found your post researching my own symptoms.....so here is my theory.....has anyone ever tested u for adrenal insufficiency?...addison's disease .....doctors dont seem to even consider the adrenals....they are critically important to hormone system...once one hormone goes out of whack they all go out of balance....its very difficult to detect and is often the underlying cause of many other degenerative diseases....i would recommend going to a good naturopath....rather than a doctor...first...being on so many drugs it is hard to determine what is a side effect and what is a symptom.....i have crohns inflammatory gallbladder disease endometriosis and arthritis....but something else was happening so went to naturopath who immediately told me i was adrenally exhausted.....which i have been my whole life it seems....check out this article called adrenal burnout syndrome....http://www.drlwilson.com/Articles/adrenal_burnout.htm and research adrenal insufficiency and i read some addison blogs which were very helpful.....the allopathic medical system only detects addisons' once 80 percent of the adrenal cortex has been destroyed...before that point they dont recognize it....the standard therapy is steroids but they eventually destroy your immune system ...there are alternatives.....i dont know if this is your problems but it sounds like u should check it out to me...i have an excellent naturopathic doctor if u want her info pls email me at ***@****