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Undiagnosed Symptoms (Expert Forum)
Good luck with this question
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
KevinMD.com
Questions in the Undiagnosed Symptoms forum are answered by Dr. Kevin Pho. Topics covered include , breathing difficulties, feeling cold, cough, diarrhea, dizziness, fainting, fever, indigestion, itching, nausea, numbness, pain (chronic), paralysis, rash, sweating, swelling, urination problems, and vomiting.
Good luck with this question
by motox320, Oct 25, 2009 05:47PM
25 M, PA
At age 22, in the early spring of 07 I was working in sewer lines - woods for my jobI became suddenly very sick, with chills, fever, extreme fatigue, and swollen painfull lymph nodes in my groin. This lasted on and off for near 2, almost 3 months. good and bad days, but general very sick.
The only thing the doctors did was see a higher than normal white Blood count (12.0), and a low number of lymths, and a high number of neutrophals.
Then in June 2007, I owned my own landscaping company, worked outside. I had a sore thorat, runny nose, next day woke up with a sudden facial numbness on the left side of my face. trigemninal nerve area. This was constant and never let up. It felt like novicane wearing off. No weakness, just numbness.
This lasted for about 1.5 years, then from then had impoved allot, but is still there. (went from a 9 to a 2 on a scale)
In Jan 2008, the breathing issue started. At 1st it was on off, but got really bad in Fall on 2008. This could be GERD realted I dont know. Anyways, it has improved late this summer, but still there on and off.
here is the link to my breathing issue problem:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Respiratory-Disorders/-cc-David-Tinkelman---Breathing-Problems/show/1086206
Then, in late AUG 2009, developed bad headaches with light sensativily, and vertigo sometimes floowing them.
Then, in late AUG 2009, developed bad headaches with light sensativily, and vertigo sometimes floowing them. These happen now almost eevryday. usually around 2-3 pm, last to late evening. I am fine in the morning.
No answers to anything. I am thnking CNS, or autoimmue, or some type of virus. Thats what my doctors are starting to think.
Tests done so far
MRI brain 2 times.
CT neck dye.
2 echos of heart
48 Holter
CT w dye chest
xray chest
pulm funtion test 5 times
broncchallnge test
ekg's normal
metabolic panel blood
any ideas, post contiuned below...
At age 22, in the early spring of 07 I was working in sewer lines - woods for my jobI became suddenly very sick, with chills, fever, extreme fatigue, and swollen painfull lymph nodes in my groin. This lasted on and off for near 2, almost 3 months. good and bad days, but general very sick.
The only thing the doctors did was see a higher than normal white Blood count (12.0), and a low number of lymths, and a high number of neutrophals.
Then in June 2007, I owned my own landscaping company, worked outside. I had a sore thorat, runny nose, next day woke up with a sudden facial numbness on the left side of my face. trigemninal nerve area. This was constant and never let up. It felt like novicane wearing off. No weakness, just numbness.
This lasted for about 1.5 years, then from then had impoved allot, but is still there. (went from a 9 to a 2 on a scale)
In Jan 2008, the breathing issue started. At 1st it was on off, but got really bad in Fall on 2008. This could be GERD realted I dont know. Anyways, it has improved late this summer, but still there on and off.
here is the link to my breathing issue problem:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Respiratory-Disorders/-cc-David-Tinkelman---Breathing-Problems/show/1086206
Then, in late AUG 2009, developed bad headaches with light sensativily, and vertigo sometimes floowing them.
Then, in late AUG 2009, developed bad headaches with light sensativily, and vertigo sometimes floowing them. These happen now almost eevryday. usually around 2-3 pm, last to late evening. I am fine in the morning.
No answers to anything. I am thnking CNS, or autoimmue, or some type of virus. Thats what my doctors are starting to think.
Tests done so far
MRI brain 2 times.
CT neck dye.
2 echos of heart
48 Holter
CT w dye chest
xray chest
pulm funtion test 5 times
broncchallnge test
ekg's normal
metabolic panel blood
any ideas, post contiuned below...
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Oct 25, 2009 07:48PM
, Oct 25, 2009 07:48PM
There clearly are a variety of symptoms here, and it's impossible to give a diagnosis over the internet without examination.
That said, I agree with what's been done thus far. Many of the major possibilities would have been excluded with the imaging tests done already.
If an infection is considered, a referral to an infectious disease specialist can be done. In addition to Lyme, various cultures would be needed, including blood and urine tests. Indeed a lumbar puncture would be needed to complete the workup, since infectious within the CSF can also lead to some of your symptoms.
I also agree with the neurology workup given the symptoms, and recommend one at a major academic medical center where they see more uncommon cases.
These options can be discussed with your personal physician.
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.
Kevin Pho, M.D.
KevinMD.com
Twitter.com/KevinMD
Facebook.com/KevinMDblog
That said, I agree with what's been done thus far. Many of the major possibilities would have been excluded with the imaging tests done already.
If an infection is considered, a referral to an infectious disease specialist can be done. In addition to Lyme, various cultures would be needed, including blood and urine tests. Indeed a lumbar puncture would be needed to complete the workup, since infectious within the CSF can also lead to some of your symptoms.
I also agree with the neurology workup given the symptoms, and recommend one at a major academic medical center where they see more uncommon cases.
These options can be discussed with your personal physician.
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.
Kevin Pho, M.D.
KevinMD.com
Twitter.com/KevinMD
Facebook.com/KevinMDblog
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I was thinking maybe lyme disease, but I doubt it. unless I didnt see a tick
then I was thinking maybe MS, but with normal images of the brain, I would think this would be very unlikely... Am I right or? plus I am a male, and no family history, but who knows maybe.
Then I was thinking, maybe some of the things are not related, but who knows.
Maybe my luck is real bad, and I just suffer from bad GERD casuing the breathing problems., migrains, and the left sided facial numbness was a isolated event.
So far, my one doctor was thinking a really chronic menninguitous, by my PCP laughs at that.
he did say maybe lyme, or MS but he said he doesnt know about MS with normal images. he is testing me for an adrenal tumor, which is unlikely.
My neuro had ordered a bunch of tests. Such as stuff for lyme, HIV, cat scratch disease, test for lupus and sacrdosis.
What do you think,.
He wanst me to get s Lumbar puncture, but I am honest scared with all my current problems. My nero is not thinking MS, he wants the lumbar, basiclly for a chronic mennitious thing. My neck is not really stiff, and i havent had a temperature for months.
everyone is saying this is a very safe test. is this true?
He said the only thing that would be bad is if I had increased pressure in my head, and he said dont worry about that.
I dont think I do, and had a normal eye exam by my eye doctor last week, and a normal MRI 1.5 months ago. Is that enough evidence to rule out the high pressure thing?
I dont want to take the LP test, if there is ANY risk where i could die from it or have something really bad happen.
here are my current symptons any ideas which way to go as far as test.
__________________________________________________________
-left sided facial numbness, but much better
-Light sensativity, migrain and vertgio (sometimes on the vertigo and it is mild) headache almost every day, but fine in AM. headche is BAD
-breathing issue (maybe gerd related)
-I did have a couple episodes of heart papulations this month. the one time my heart went up to 145, and took over a hour to return to normal. BP was 190/80. ER said reaction to presidone, but I doubt it. the ekg during this was normal, just fast HR.
-My BP has been a little higher than normal at times (140-90 ish),
-I get really itchy skin when I get hot, like at the gym, or from cold to hot situations. goosebumps all over me. (have had this for years too.. maybe 3-4) no explation.
-some creepy crawling feelings on head face at times
On a good day, I feel decent, can run a mile with ease, and am stronger strength wise than 999/1000 my age and weight. I am about 190 lbs, and can bench 325 lbs, no problem. I am inshape, but usually sick.
something is attacking my body, there is always something wrong with me
any ideas?
Thanks, Greg
My argument with doctors that they run some tests and in the mean time give you some Hydrocodone or medicine to relieve the pain. Why cant doctors treat the symptons? today? Why didnt your doctor give you antibiotics? where is the logic 1) you got sick working in sewer lines) Sewage = contamination = bacterial infection or even Hepatitis A. I get sick by smelling the sewage. The problem with our healthcare is that doctors dont think logicially.