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Swelling, joint pain, light headed, absent menstration...
Hello. I am a 24 year old female, and I am looking for help, support, suggestions, opinions, and/or like experiences. I have many different symptoms; some I have had for years, but many are very recent. I can't help but wonder if everything that is wrong with me is related in some way.
I have always suffered with gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, bloating, severe cramps, and gas. When I was 15, I was diagnosed with IBS and Lactose Intolerant. When I was around 18, I frequently experienced mild joint pain in my knees and in my lower back. I used to be a dancer, and I assumed it was normal pain from getting older.
Since this past November ‘07, I started experiencing extreme knee pain, especially when walking up the stairs. I also suffered from chronic sinusitis and frequent infections. I was going from 5 days to one week between finishing antibiotics to being put on another dose to help with my sinus infections. In December ’07, I stopped taking birth control in order to try to conceive (I have a three year old now).
By February '08, I started seeing an allergist who put my on different allergy meds and started allergy shots. Since then, my sinus problems are now mild. At that time, my joint pain had become more severe to include my knees, hands, wrists, feet, ankles, hips, neck, and lower back. My primary physician ran tests for RA and Lupus. Everything came back normal and he blew me off when I kept returning. He suggested it was a virus or due to stress and told me to take vitamins. After visiting my primary in Feb. I also started to experience swelling in my fingers upon waking every morning. I was also extremely fatigued. I went through weeks of feeling good to weeks of feeling very bad. I also had not been menstruating since the past December.
In March ’08, I decided to take it upon myself to schedule an appointment with a Rheumatologist. I saw him in May, and after explaining everything and a thorough exam, he diagnosed me with fibromyalgia, but felt that I had an autoimmune disease due to the swelling. He sent me to have extensive blood work done and x-rays of my chest, hands, wrists, feet, ankles, and hips. Upon our second meeting in June, all tests came back normal. He confirmed his diagnosis of fibromyalgia and ruled out any autoimmune disease. I brought up my menstruation problems and asked if he found anything related to my thyroid. He said he did not check my thyroid because many insurance companies deem it unnecessary and won’t pay; he had recently stopped checking thyroid in his routine bloodwork. He suggested following up with my gynecologist.
I do have an appointment with a gynecologist tomorrow (July 7, ’08). I still have joint pain, but my fatigue has improved since taking flexeril at night. This past month, I have also noticed my hands swelling not only upon waking in the morning, but when I get hot, or if I am lying still for a while. I now believe that I am also swelling in other places due to extreme weight fluctuation. Example: I weighed myself this past Monday and then again on Friday; I had gained 10 pounds. I was shocked, and when I weighed again on Saturday, the following day, I had lost 5 pounds. My family could also tell a difference in how puffy my face was on that Friday.
Extra information that may or may not be helpful:
I did have a period last month, but I experienced extreme pain in my lower back accompanied with vomiting.
I have gained 40 pounds (unintentional) since January ‘08
I have frequent headaches with pain on both sides of my head
I have recently been suffering from light-headedness when moving from lying down, kneeling, or sitting to a standing position
I have asthma, eczema, IBS, and fibromyalgia
The swelling I experience is non-pitting
I apologize for the long post. I really appreciate any comments or thoughts.
I have always suffered with gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, bloating, severe cramps, and gas. When I was 15, I was diagnosed with IBS and Lactose Intolerant. When I was around 18, I frequently experienced mild joint pain in my knees and in my lower back. I used to be a dancer, and I assumed it was normal pain from getting older.
Since this past November ‘07, I started experiencing extreme knee pain, especially when walking up the stairs. I also suffered from chronic sinusitis and frequent infections. I was going from 5 days to one week between finishing antibiotics to being put on another dose to help with my sinus infections. In December ’07, I stopped taking birth control in order to try to conceive (I have a three year old now).
By February '08, I started seeing an allergist who put my on different allergy meds and started allergy shots. Since then, my sinus problems are now mild. At that time, my joint pain had become more severe to include my knees, hands, wrists, feet, ankles, hips, neck, and lower back. My primary physician ran tests for RA and Lupus. Everything came back normal and he blew me off when I kept returning. He suggested it was a virus or due to stress and told me to take vitamins. After visiting my primary in Feb. I also started to experience swelling in my fingers upon waking every morning. I was also extremely fatigued. I went through weeks of feeling good to weeks of feeling very bad. I also had not been menstruating since the past December.
In March ’08, I decided to take it upon myself to schedule an appointment with a Rheumatologist. I saw him in May, and after explaining everything and a thorough exam, he diagnosed me with fibromyalgia, but felt that I had an autoimmune disease due to the swelling. He sent me to have extensive blood work done and x-rays of my chest, hands, wrists, feet, ankles, and hips. Upon our second meeting in June, all tests came back normal. He confirmed his diagnosis of fibromyalgia and ruled out any autoimmune disease. I brought up my menstruation problems and asked if he found anything related to my thyroid. He said he did not check my thyroid because many insurance companies deem it unnecessary and won’t pay; he had recently stopped checking thyroid in his routine bloodwork. He suggested following up with my gynecologist.
I do have an appointment with a gynecologist tomorrow (July 7, ’08). I still have joint pain, but my fatigue has improved since taking flexeril at night. This past month, I have also noticed my hands swelling not only upon waking in the morning, but when I get hot, or if I am lying still for a while. I now believe that I am also swelling in other places due to extreme weight fluctuation. Example: I weighed myself this past Monday and then again on Friday; I had gained 10 pounds. I was shocked, and when I weighed again on Saturday, the following day, I had lost 5 pounds. My family could also tell a difference in how puffy my face was on that Friday.
Extra information that may or may not be helpful:
I did have a period last month, but I experienced extreme pain in my lower back accompanied with vomiting.
I have gained 40 pounds (unintentional) since January ‘08
I have frequent headaches with pain on both sides of my head
I have recently been suffering from light-headedness when moving from lying down, kneeling, or sitting to a standing position
I have asthma, eczema, IBS, and fibromyalgia
The swelling I experience is non-pitting
I apologize for the long post. I really appreciate any comments or thoughts.
P.S. Get copies of your labs and ask about abnormal ones...Drs are busy people and can miss a borderline, yet significant lab value...It's called medical PRACTICE, not perfection, for a reason!
Get the thyroid and blood calcium levels checked. Read up on hyperthyroid and hyperparathyroidism....It seems to fit most of what you've listed...The Drs just don't check the parathyroid stuff because it is unusual..Good luck...Oh, malabsorption issues too...If you aren't getting enough vitamin B's absorbed, it can do all sorts of nasty things to your body...((((((((((((((((((((((HUGZ))))))))))))))))))) ~MM
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