Aa
Too many symptoms and not a single explanation.
I'm seventeen years old, although most would say I'm an older soul. I'm a military brat so I've lived in three different states, and also in Spain. I've been through two divorces and many obstacles, but all in all it has made me a stronger individual.
I've had many strange symtoms... I have seen little "spots" since I was little... Not until recently did I find out that it was not normal, and that they were called floaters. My hands and feet get so cold that I have to constantly wear many layers, unless it is the summertime and I am outside. I have a strange skin condition that happens when I get hot or when I am exposed to the sun: I develop splotches on my skin that are extremely hot to the touch (they are not rashes).
I am always extremely tired, no matter how much I sleep. I find myself so exhausted when I come home from school that I usually end up taking a nap. (The naps don't help at all, but I cannot keep myself awake so I end up falling asleep anyways). I have also been told that I sleep walk, which I thought might attribute a bit to the fatigue... For the past year and a half I have been experiencing debilitating headaches. It feels like someone continually driving a screwdriver into my head... OTC painkillers worked for awhile, but my body got used to them. I was put on tramadol for a trial run and that did not help either... I've gotten a CAT scan and nothing showed up on that. I've also tried two prescription medications specifically aimed toward preventing and curing the headaches: They worked great for about a month, and then all together stopped working.
I have strange "fainting" spells that are not very common, but they are still worrysome. It has happened when I was showering (I take hot showers because they're the only thing that will warm me up), and my eyesight would turn black and my hearing completely stopped. My head started to spin and I would "fall" over, but I would catch myself before I fell.. I would hobble out of the bathroom and lay on my bed, and this incredible feeling of nausea would take over. The thing that worries me is that this happened over the summer when I was at a fair, not while I was taking a shower.. I've never had any head trauma, so I don't know what it could be.
I've had every initial test done: blood count, hormone levels, you name it. I've had a CAT scan, and I'm due to see a neurologist and an optometrist any day now.
My stepmom thinks that it could be depression, or that it's just me acting out and that I'm causing all of my physical problems because I'm too stressed out. However, i'm mostly stressed out because of these medical problems. My doctor that I have had since I was five did not help at all. I have another doctor that I've had for about a year and she hasn't helped either. She suggests I get counseling, because she too thinks I may be depressed.
Do you think depression could really cause all of these symptoms? I was on an anti-depressant for about a year(ironically, to help with my headaches) and it helped somewhat. However, none of the other symptoms changed for the better.
I'm just not sure what to do... I'm going off to college this upcoming fall, and I need to figure out what's going on before then. Does anyone have any advice that they can offer me?
I've had many strange symtoms... I have seen little "spots" since I was little... Not until recently did I find out that it was not normal, and that they were called floaters. My hands and feet get so cold that I have to constantly wear many layers, unless it is the summertime and I am outside. I have a strange skin condition that happens when I get hot or when I am exposed to the sun: I develop splotches on my skin that are extremely hot to the touch (they are not rashes).
I am always extremely tired, no matter how much I sleep. I find myself so exhausted when I come home from school that I usually end up taking a nap. (The naps don't help at all, but I cannot keep myself awake so I end up falling asleep anyways). I have also been told that I sleep walk, which I thought might attribute a bit to the fatigue... For the past year and a half I have been experiencing debilitating headaches. It feels like someone continually driving a screwdriver into my head... OTC painkillers worked for awhile, but my body got used to them. I was put on tramadol for a trial run and that did not help either... I've gotten a CAT scan and nothing showed up on that. I've also tried two prescription medications specifically aimed toward preventing and curing the headaches: They worked great for about a month, and then all together stopped working.
I have strange "fainting" spells that are not very common, but they are still worrysome. It has happened when I was showering (I take hot showers because they're the only thing that will warm me up), and my eyesight would turn black and my hearing completely stopped. My head started to spin and I would "fall" over, but I would catch myself before I fell.. I would hobble out of the bathroom and lay on my bed, and this incredible feeling of nausea would take over. The thing that worries me is that this happened over the summer when I was at a fair, not while I was taking a shower.. I've never had any head trauma, so I don't know what it could be.
I've had every initial test done: blood count, hormone levels, you name it. I've had a CAT scan, and I'm due to see a neurologist and an optometrist any day now.
My stepmom thinks that it could be depression, or that it's just me acting out and that I'm causing all of my physical problems because I'm too stressed out. However, i'm mostly stressed out because of these medical problems. My doctor that I have had since I was five did not help at all. I have another doctor that I've had for about a year and she hasn't helped either. She suggests I get counseling, because she too thinks I may be depressed.
Do you think depression could really cause all of these symptoms? I was on an anti-depressant for about a year(ironically, to help with my headaches) and it helped somewhat. However, none of the other symptoms changed for the better.
I'm just not sure what to do... I'm going off to college this upcoming fall, and I need to figure out what's going on before then. Does anyone have any advice that they can offer me?
So did he recommend you get a field of vision test? That one wouldn't be checking for astigmatism. Since light enters the eye incorrectly with astigmatism, I think it could be a factor, as a quick online says that uncorrected stigmatism can cause headaches. I think often times there are several factors that add up to migraine- for example- say a person slept in, spent too long on the computer with its glare, and had a stressful situation. Perhaps one of those by itself mightn't trigger the migraine in that person, but the combo proved too much and migraine ensued.
I would pursue with your doctor as to why your WBCs are high, as that is not a normal state and some of the examples of what that can mean are (saw on mayo clinic's site) infection, an immune disorder, a drug reaction, or disease of bone marrow, or even severe emotional or physical distress.
Depression can lead to sleeping as an escape mechanism, and stress can cause a great deal of fatigue, but your description of how you feel and symptoms warrant further exploration as to what is causing your problems.
You might try a test at home if you have an automatic BP and P cuff/machine. Lay down for ten minutes. Take your blood pressure and pulse. Then, stand up and rest your elbow/forearm on a table or countertop. Wait two to three minutes and take your BP and pulse again. And please share with me what numbers you get. Because your description of what happened with a hot shower and your fainting like spells might have something to do with an autonomic dysfunction. Feeling cold all the time can be another sign of dysautonomia. Are they certain you have migraines and not cluster headaches (though more common in men). I saw on a tv special how people with these awful headaches have an abnormally shaped hypothalmus.
When are you scheduled to see a neurologist? I hope they put in for a sleep study on you.
I would pursue with your doctor as to why your WBCs are high, as that is not a normal state and some of the examples of what that can mean are (saw on mayo clinic's site) infection, an immune disorder, a drug reaction, or disease of bone marrow, or even severe emotional or physical distress.
Depression can lead to sleeping as an escape mechanism, and stress can cause a great deal of fatigue, but your description of how you feel and symptoms warrant further exploration as to what is causing your problems.
You might try a test at home if you have an automatic BP and P cuff/machine. Lay down for ten minutes. Take your blood pressure and pulse. Then, stand up and rest your elbow/forearm on a table or countertop. Wait two to three minutes and take your BP and pulse again. And please share with me what numbers you get. Because your description of what happened with a hot shower and your fainting like spells might have something to do with an autonomic dysfunction. Feeling cold all the time can be another sign of dysautonomia. Are they certain you have migraines and not cluster headaches (though more common in men). I saw on a tv special how people with these awful headaches have an abnormally shaped hypothalmus.
When are you scheduled to see a neurologist? I hope they put in for a sleep study on you.
I got back from my optometrist (sp?) today and I have a slight astygmatism... I do have a prescription for glasses that I'm going to get filled very soon. He said that there is no way that the astygmatism could be causing my migraines, so no luck there.
Other than that, I have no further updates.
Other than that, I have no further updates.
A second opinion wouldn't be a bad idea. If I don't get any ideas from these two appoinments, I'll make sure to do just so.
No, I did not have a sickness. I always *feel* sick because my lack of energy, etc. But I was not sick at the time.
Okay. I did not realize they were two separate entities. I do not believe I had the field of vision test, I will make sure I do that tomorrow when I have my appointment.
No, I did not have the orthostatic tests done either.
No, I did not have a sickness. I always *feel* sick because my lack of energy, etc. But I was not sick at the time.
Okay. I did not realize they were two separate entities. I do not believe I had the field of vision test, I will make sure I do that tomorrow when I have my appointment.
No, I did not have the orthostatic tests done either.
I would pursue a second opinon from another rheumatologist, since you had a lot of positive pressure points. Did you have a sickness you knew of when the WBCs were high? Because there are a lot of reasons white blood count can be up. Field of vision testing is different from the usual testing to see if your vision is 20/20 or not. It tests to see if you can see in all the areas you should be seeing, not just the eye chart. Have you had any orthostatic blood pressure and pulses taken?
I know for sure that I had my CBC. I've had my hormone levels tested... I've been tested for diabetes and lupus, all coming back negative.
They also tested my endocrine system and my iron levels to no avail.
I went to a rheumatologist and I had more pressure points than any normal person should, but she wasn't convinced that I had CFS or Fibromyalgia so no diagnosis was given. I am not sure if they have ruled out Chiari or not, nothing was found in my CAT scan and everything was normal so I'm assuming that it was ruled out.
I haven't had a vision test in a couple years, but the last time I did have it tested I had 20/20 vision.
I'm taking a couple supplements to "help"... I take iron along with the one-a-day for teens, and echinacea to help my health.
I don't have a list with me of the tests that I've had done, but I know that they did preliminary testing (which took a lot of blood...) and the only thing that was weird is that my white blood cell count was a little higher than normal, meaning I was sick.
They also tested my endocrine system and my iron levels to no avail.
I went to a rheumatologist and I had more pressure points than any normal person should, but she wasn't convinced that I had CFS or Fibromyalgia so no diagnosis was given. I am not sure if they have ruled out Chiari or not, nothing was found in my CAT scan and everything was normal so I'm assuming that it was ruled out.
I haven't had a vision test in a couple years, but the last time I did have it tested I had 20/20 vision.
I'm taking a couple supplements to "help"... I take iron along with the one-a-day for teens, and echinacea to help my health.
I don't have a list with me of the tests that I've had done, but I know that they did preliminary testing (which took a lot of blood...) and the only thing that was weird is that my white blood cell count was a little higher than normal, meaning I was sick.
You mention you name it regarding labs, so let me ask about if you had certain ones!
Have they done any lab tests for your endocrine system, such as thyroid, adrenal function, FSH, prolactin level and more?
How about a tilt table test run by a cardiologist, or more specifically an electrophysiologist, to see if you have orthostatic hypotension, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome or neurocardiogenic syncope (fainting condition)? You may have dysautonomia (see forum on medhelp). Some people with dysfunction of their autonomic nervous system suffer from feeling cold a lot. Do your hands and feet also turn blackish with the cold? If so, you might ask your doctor about Raynaud's.
Have they tested your fasting blood sugar and done a glucose tolerance test? The time you were at the fair, had it been a while since you had eaten? Were you well-hydrated (drinking plenty)?
Have they ruled out lupus? This can cause a rash with it and I believe fatigue comes with it as well. How about CFS or chronic fatigue syndrome?
Hopefully the neurologist will get you to a sleep study regarding your sleep walking, etc. and with your headaches. If they always come in the same spot (headaches if migraines), you might ask the doctor about an MRA/MRV study to make sure there is not a defect with any blood vessel(s). Did they rule out Chiari malformation already?
Have they tested your iron level and ferritin (stored iron) or just done a CBC to rule out anemia (you can still have iron deficiency anemia with an "in normal range" CBC). Iron deficiency can cause extreme fatigue, light headedness, tachycardia, and more.
Floaters are very common in people who are older than you. I had an uncommon number of them when I was, I think, in my 20s and saw in a brochure they usually are present in greater numbers like that at an older age than I was.
How's your peripheral vision? Hopefully the optometrist will order a field of vision test. If you have any peripheral vison loss , they should definitely be looking for a pituitary tumor/growth, which takes a specially dedicated dynamic MRI, with and without contrast, as the pituitary is extremely small.
Have they done any lab tests for your endocrine system, such as thyroid, adrenal function, FSH, prolactin level and more?
How about a tilt table test run by a cardiologist, or more specifically an electrophysiologist, to see if you have orthostatic hypotension, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome or neurocardiogenic syncope (fainting condition)? You may have dysautonomia (see forum on medhelp). Some people with dysfunction of their autonomic nervous system suffer from feeling cold a lot. Do your hands and feet also turn blackish with the cold? If so, you might ask your doctor about Raynaud's.
Have they tested your fasting blood sugar and done a glucose tolerance test? The time you were at the fair, had it been a while since you had eaten? Were you well-hydrated (drinking plenty)?
Have they ruled out lupus? This can cause a rash with it and I believe fatigue comes with it as well. How about CFS or chronic fatigue syndrome?
Hopefully the neurologist will get you to a sleep study regarding your sleep walking, etc. and with your headaches. If they always come in the same spot (headaches if migraines), you might ask the doctor about an MRA/MRV study to make sure there is not a defect with any blood vessel(s). Did they rule out Chiari malformation already?
Have they tested your iron level and ferritin (stored iron) or just done a CBC to rule out anemia (you can still have iron deficiency anemia with an "in normal range" CBC). Iron deficiency can cause extreme fatigue, light headedness, tachycardia, and more.
Floaters are very common in people who are older than you. I had an uncommon number of them when I was, I think, in my 20s and saw in a brochure they usually are present in greater numbers like that at an older age than I was.
How's your peripheral vision? Hopefully the optometrist will order a field of vision test. If you have any peripheral vison loss , they should definitely be looking for a pituitary tumor/growth, which takes a specially dedicated dynamic MRI, with and without contrast, as the pituitary is extremely small.
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