Undiagnosed Terrible Illness Desperate for Help

Question

Hello.  I've been sick since October of 2010, and desperately need help.  I have been severely vitamin D deficient for some time, and am no longer responding to vitamin D treatment.  I am sick, nauseous, dizzy, light-headed, have that feeling where I don't have enough to eat, even though I'm full and gaining weight.  My fingers are swollen, but not the joints.  I haven't had a period since March.  This is not an eating disorder.  It feels like I've skipped a whole day of eating, except worse.. and it's been like this since October.  Last year I was 130 pounds.  Now, I am 180. 

I came across your website while searching for specialists that could at least email me and hopefully be able to give me an idea of what's going wrong.  I do not mind signing over access to medical records.  I am really poor, and on the charity program at my local hospital. 

Please forward this to anyone and everyone you know who might have any idea at all about the effects of long-term vitamin deficiency.  My doctors just don't have a clue.  Any information or a website or pamphlet or anything would help please.

I'm a 33 year old Caucasian female, living in Illinois.  Please help me.

Red_Star · Accepted Answer

Magnesium deficiency leads to vitamin D resistance. Magnesium is the most important co-factor for vitamin D absorption. High doses of vitamin D can also cause a magnesium deficiency. Magnesium deficiency symptoms are many but include nausea, dizziness and lightheadedness. 

Swollen fingers and weight gain are symptoms of hypothyroidism - 90% of hypothyroidism is autoimmune - Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Vitamin D and magnesium deficiency are common with hypothyroidism. Vitamin D deficiency will also lead to calcium deficiency. A severe magnesium deficiency will cause a calcium deficiency as well. The chvostek sign shows a twitch of the facial muscles following gentle tapping over the facial nerve in front of the ear. This sign is used to diagnose calcium deficiency but will also show up with a severe magnesium deficiency.

Vitamin D resistance >>>
http://www.livestrong.com/article/387358-vitamin-d-magnesium-interaction/

Dizziness from magnesium deficiency >>>
http://www.livestrong.com/article/431555-dizziness-from-magnesium-deficiency/

Thyroid disease >>>
http://www.sensible-alternative.com.au/metabolic-hormones/thyroid-article

Chvostek sign >>>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ-xMeNAqys

kay775 · Answer

i would push the diabetes test with doc especially if it runs in the family i have also heard low chronium levels can affect your insulin levels

Red_Star · Answer

A thyroid panel should include TSH, free T3, free T4 and thyroid antibodies - TPOAb (thyroid peroxidase antibodies) and TgAb (thyroglobulin antibodies). A single TSH test can be "normal' with hypothyroidism. This is why millions are misdiagnosed. 

Also, magnesium deficiency is easily misdiagnosed as only 1% of magnesium is in the blood. A better test is RBC (red blood cell) magnesium but again your results can be normal with a deficiency. Magnesium balances blood sugar and a deficiency is strongly linked to insulin resistance, pre diabetes and diabetes.

toosicktowork · Answer

Thank you for your suggestions.  I will be sure to tell my doctor.  Hey have not run a magnesium deficiency test, at all!  Of course, it did take them from October of 2010 to February of 2011 to even check for vitamin D, despite my requests for them to do so.  :(

They tested my thyroid, and told me that the test came back normal.

kay775, I am not pregnant.  I haven't had sex since last year because I've been too sick.  They ran a pregnancy test, anyway, which I found to be insulting.  The result was negative, Of Course.  I have requested to be tested for diabetes, but am always shot down as that not being a cause.  I should mention that there is a strong history of diabetes in my family, as well.  Yes, I've told my doctor this.

Red_Star · Answer

Forgot to add that irregular/missed periods is a symptom of hypothyroidism as well. 

Causes of secondary amenorrhea (missed periods) >>>
http://www.123esaaf.com/Diseases/Amenorrhea/Amenorrhea2_en.html

kay775 · Answer

did they check to see if your pregnant or run any other kind of blood work maybe for diabetes or something

Undiagnosed Terrible Illness Desperate for Help

22 yr old male often fatigued in spite of healthy diet, lean body, and exercise

I am still dealing with symptoms three years later.

Neurology? Endocrinology? Cardio?

abnormal labs: elevated serum calcium, elevated 24 hour urine calcium levels

22 yr old male often fatigued in spite of healthy diet, lean body, and exercise

I am still dealing with symptoms three years later.

Neurology? Endocrinology? Cardio?

abnormal labs: elevated serum calcium, elevated 24 hour urine calcium levels

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