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cannot find diagnosis
Hello, thanks for looking at my question. To start I am a 29 year old male who used to be in great shape and active with no complaints. Over the past 2 years my health has declined and I cannot find an answer after lots of doctor visits and tests.
I started out with viral type symptoms roughly 2 years ago, had rashes on the arms and no appetite, with fatigue. months after the initial symptoms i developed a chest cold with a bad productive cough. I was given antibiotics, to which the dr stated it was bronchitis. no relief what so ever.
6 months from that point the cough was still around which became more of shortness of breath at times, and some days i could or could not produce any phlegm. I also started noticing skin lesions on my forearms that took months to heal. with recurring mouth ulcers.
I then went and had multiple blood tests. CBC all normal, hiv tests negative, chest x ray normal, allergy test ok, echo cardio gram of the heart, asthma test normal, breathing test normal.
To this point almost 2 years with these symptoms and im getting very frustrated as I am trying to get back into shape and any sort of intense workout leaves me very short of breath and constantly hacking up mucus. some days it feels like when I take a breath it just wont stick.
Any guidance and help would be very much appreciated. I am desperate at this point as I have spent way to much money than i can afford from bouncing around from doctor to doctor.
I started out with viral type symptoms roughly 2 years ago, had rashes on the arms and no appetite, with fatigue. months after the initial symptoms i developed a chest cold with a bad productive cough. I was given antibiotics, to which the dr stated it was bronchitis. no relief what so ever.
6 months from that point the cough was still around which became more of shortness of breath at times, and some days i could or could not produce any phlegm. I also started noticing skin lesions on my forearms that took months to heal. with recurring mouth ulcers.
I then went and had multiple blood tests. CBC all normal, hiv tests negative, chest x ray normal, allergy test ok, echo cardio gram of the heart, asthma test normal, breathing test normal.
To this point almost 2 years with these symptoms and im getting very frustrated as I am trying to get back into shape and any sort of intense workout leaves me very short of breath and constantly hacking up mucus. some days it feels like when I take a breath it just wont stick.
Any guidance and help would be very much appreciated. I am desperate at this point as I have spent way to much money than i can afford from bouncing around from doctor to doctor.
Best Answer
COMMUNITY LEADER
1 Comments
I did have a tb test which came back negative . I cannot recall having mono, is it possible I could have gotten mono and my
Body is unable to clear it? I will have my doctor test for it.
I have no family history to my knowledge of overreactive immune system.
All of the symptoms began literally one month after have unprotected sex with some girl, but I have literally tested negative for all the stds multiple times . It is either a weird coincidence or some new std ??
Thank you for you replies I will start with a few of the tests you mentioned . Today was really a struggle with the mucus productions and shortness of breath, but the mucus production varies. Some days it is unproductive some days a lot of mucus .
Body is unable to clear it? I will have my doctor test for it.
I have no family history to my knowledge of overreactive immune system.
All of the symptoms began literally one month after have unprotected sex with some girl, but I have literally tested negative for all the stds multiple times . It is either a weird coincidence or some new std ??
Thank you for you replies I will start with a few of the tests you mentioned . Today was really a struggle with the mucus productions and shortness of breath, but the mucus production varies. Some days it is unproductive some days a lot of mucus .
Hey Ken, thanks for replying. I did get a sputum sample, but im not sure what exactly they ordered for it to be tested for.
Also is there something that looks more into the immune system besides a cbc, maybe more specific?
Also i did have multiple chest x rays, do you think a ct scan would be more effective?
Also is there something that looks more into the immune system besides a cbc, maybe more specific?
Also i did have multiple chest x rays, do you think a ct scan would be more effective?
1 Comments
Okay, get the report for the sputum test and post that here. Also get and keep every test result you've ever had, for your own future reference.
A dysfunctional immune system might be only a "diagnosis of exclusion", based on symptoms. There is, for example, no test for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Not really for Multiple Sclerosis, either, as an unrelated (to you) example.
I don't know about a CT being better, but I'd *guess* not at this point. Waste of money.
Btw, any pets there?
A dysfunctional immune system might be only a "diagnosis of exclusion", based on symptoms. There is, for example, no test for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Not really for Multiple Sclerosis, either, as an unrelated (to you) example.
I don't know about a CT being better, but I'd *guess* not at this point. Waste of money.
Btw, any pets there?
I tried to get a referral to a ID doctor but my doctor pretty much said no, because he did not see infection with my cbc.
I have not noticed anything that correlates with more mucus production or not, and it seems like the days when I cannot produce any mucus are worse for the shortness of breath. I have always had pollen allergies but only in the spring, so i ruled that out, and I changed my diet completely for one month (paleo) to rule that out and still no relief. Also I had moved homes twice over the past year, so I dont believe it is a house hold mold or anything..
Ken any ideas as to what could be communicable exposures?
I have not noticed anything that correlates with more mucus production or not, and it seems like the days when I cannot produce any mucus are worse for the shortness of breath. I have always had pollen allergies but only in the spring, so i ruled that out, and I changed my diet completely for one month (paleo) to rule that out and still no relief. Also I had moved homes twice over the past year, so I dont believe it is a house hold mold or anything..
Ken any ideas as to what could be communicable exposures?
2 Comments
Sorry, I don't know of any offhand. There might be something in what's called a "DDx" like this:
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/296052-differential
This one here makes me think of asking for a sputum sample to be analyzed, looking for any immune cells:
Pulmonary Eosinophilia
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/296052-differential
This one here makes me think of asking for a sputum sample to be analyzed, looking for any immune cells:
Pulmonary Eosinophilia
...and I'd wonder if any granulomatous diseases can be present while still having a normal WBC.
COMMUNITY LEADER
"mono, ...I will have my doctor test for it."
that's probably pointless
"All of the symptoms began literally one month after have unprotected sex with some girl, but I have literally tested negative for all the stds multiple times . It is either a weird coincidence or some new std ?? "
Okay, then that seems for now like the most likely cause; but it doesn't have to be an STD per se, it could be anything communicable.
To save money, I'd only ask for tests if the disease and exposure fits. You can ask on an Infectious Disease group.
"Some days it is unproductive some days a lot of mucus "
Is it possible that you get exposed to some fungus? What is there that correlates with times of lots of mucous? Pollen? Exercise? Even some food?
that's probably pointless
"All of the symptoms began literally one month after have unprotected sex with some girl, but I have literally tested negative for all the stds multiple times . It is either a weird coincidence or some new std ?? "
Okay, then that seems for now like the most likely cause; but it doesn't have to be an STD per se, it could be anything communicable.
To save money, I'd only ask for tests if the disease and exposure fits. You can ask on an Infectious Disease group.
"Some days it is unproductive some days a lot of mucus "
Is it possible that you get exposed to some fungus? What is there that correlates with times of lots of mucous? Pollen? Exercise? Even some food?
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi, for starters:
--lungs and skin lesions? look here and see if you might match for having been exposed:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histoplasmosis
-- for "used to be in great shape" and started with a virus, are you familiar with "Post Viral Syndrome"? Do you feel very bad for days after exercise, maybe completely wiped out or like a bad hangover?
--lungs and skin lesions? look here and see if you might match for having been exposed:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histoplasmosis
-- for "used to be in great shape" and started with a virus, are you familiar with "Post Viral Syndrome"? Do you feel very bad for days after exercise, maybe completely wiped out or like a bad hangover?
2 Comments
wow, I have never heard of histoplasmosis, I will try and get my dr to test me for this. I do not feel bad for days following a workout, I just have a really hard time now catching my breath, When im working out Im constantly stopping to try and catch my breath and hack up mucus.
About a year prior to all my symptoms I had 2 lymph nodes pop up, clavical and one in neck. I did have a needle core biopsy, and the dr said it was normal. I still have them to this day, just never know if they are related somehow
About a year prior to all my symptoms I had 2 lymph nodes pop up, clavical and one in neck. I did have a needle core biopsy, and the dr said it was normal. I still have them to this day, just never know if they are related somehow
wow, I have never heard of histoplasmosis, I will try and get my dr to test me for this. I do not feel bad for days following a workout, I just have a really hard time now catching my breath, When im working out Im constantly stopping to try and catch my breath and hack up mucus.
About a year prior to all my symptoms I had 2 lymph nodes pop up, clavical and one in neck. I did have a needle core biopsy, and the dr said it was normal. I still have them to this day, just never know if they are related somehow
About a year prior to all my symptoms I had 2 lymph nodes pop up, clavical and one in neck. I did have a needle core biopsy, and the dr said it was normal. I still have them to this day, just never know if they are related somehow
It s so upsetting reading these posts, and seeing how the doctors who are sworn to protect patients don't. I'm sorry for what you are going through. Please try to find an immunologist and hematologist. If you have a pcp ask for a referral if they say no. Get a new doctor. Cancer shouldn't be feared in 2016, it should be classified as an autoimmune disorder technically all cancer is, is your own cells attacking you. I've read enough medical journals that include how you are feeling, and years later they said "why was this ignored" don't let that happen to you, don't let them make you think it's psychological, you know you better than anyone. Try seeing the above doctors, it is their specialty so they will know what to test for. Good Luck, if at 29 I was listened to, I wouldn't be dealing with my medical issues now. All the best.
1 Comments
thank you for the reply joey. I will try and get a referral to a hematologist. I went to a immunologist/allergist which was worthless, all he tried to do was sell my on some meds saying its just allergies. allergies dont make you have difficulty breathing year round. Im just running out of options and im getting desperate for relief
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Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Okay, you probably don't have PEM, but check here just to rule it out for sure:
http://solvecfs.org/post-exertional-malaise-perception-and-reality/
You therefore probably don't have what is loosely called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
"I just have a really hard time now catching my breath"
if you don't have asthma (bronchoconstriction), then maybe/probably the lung inflammation and resulting mucous coating interferes with absorbing O2. You might have:
------------------ breathed in some pathogen that is *still* there.
----- any lung infection can make the right supraclavicular lymph node also react
----- sarcoidosis can affect lungs and also neck nodes. The granulomas that form in a node make the node not go down as it normally would
----- tuberculosis has been on the rise, can affect lungs and neck nodes. But it mainly affects those with weakened immunity.
Note that you might have an "atypical" case of any of the above. E.g., a doc will figure that you don't fit the symptom list that 90% of sufferers have, so ignore that you might be in the atypical 10%.
------- you might be suffering from the after effects of an infection that was there. Sometimes the immune system gets out of whack and continues acting up after the infection is gone. Do you have a family history off overactive immune system conditions? Did you ever have particularly bad mononucleosis? Bad reactions to bee stings?
------ did you ever inhale poisons like pesticides or metal vapors?
----- a needle biopsy can give a "false negative"
----- nodes can stray enlarged if there was a ferocious infection inside them that created scarring/fibrosis
----- did you ever have irregular heartbeat? (The echo was probably done to see if you have heart muscle damage from a possible viral myocarditis.)
------------------------ my guess at this point is that you have a Post Viral Syndrome, which is a nebulous thing and hard to diagnose; and yes: I'd assume that your initial swollen nodes are absolutely related to your following symptoms.
What you'd want is to logically try to eliminate any infectious cause as discussed above before having the expense of testing for them. Then move on to investigating an immune system cause.