Aa
need help
I’m new on this forum so please bear with my (too) long story. I’m just trying to figure out what is wrong with me and I’m definitely looking forward to hear what other people with (maybe) similar problems have to say.
Couple of months ago I started having some episodes of tachycardia – out of the blue my heart would start racing so of course I went to the ER lots of times, have been diagnosed with sinus tachycardia and given bisoprolol 2.5 mg to take once a day. About a month after the onset of the tachycardia I started experiencing chest pain that radiated into my arms. (sometimes the tachy and chest pain would occur at the same times, sometimes separately, sometimes I’d experience arm pain as well, but there was/is no pattern to that). During one of the ER visits the dr said I have costochondritis and prescribed celebrex and Percocet for the pain. About 2 weeks after starting on celebrex and Percocet (I took celebrex 200 mg once a day and Percocet only as needed) I have started developing new symptoms: a feeling of "buzzing" in my whole body that comes and goes, diziness, a sort of lightheadedness, headaches that come and go, a combination of itching/tingling/pain in my arms, legs, hands and feet (mostly on the left side of the body), as well as in my face and scalp. Plus at times I feel my pulse in my whole body - particularly in the head. The itching/tingling/pains come and go at different times during the day, and they vary in length and intensity. Pretty much all of my symptoms have the tendency to come and go and they have the tendency to go away whenever I am in the hospital or in a doctor’s office… go figure…
As the headaches got worse and I spent several sleepless nights because of them, I went back to see a doctor and I was told I might have a vascular headache/migraine, so I was given toradol by IV in the hospital and pills to take at home – the pills don’t always help, so I have yet another doctor’s appointment this week.
Yesterday as I experienced both a headache (which seems to affect not only my head but also some muscles in my neck and shoulders) and some chest pain I took 2 toradol pills 6 hours apart (as prescribed). The pains subsided and I was able to rest over the night, but this morning I woke up with a large painful bruise on my right thigh (and yes I am 100% sure I have not bumped into anything, the bruise appeared out of the blue).
Many of the doctors I have seen have told me that my symptoms don’t add up, and they are most likely stress related, so they suggested I have anxiety attacks – even prescribed ativan for me which sometimes seemed to help, still I am not convinced that all these problems are “in my head”, so I am desperately looking for some answers.
Here is a list of all the tests I have had: blood work (at least 15 times) has always come back normal except for my blood iron which is low and a positive ANA titre 1:160 with a homogeneous pattern, chest X-rays (4-5 times) normal, 24 h Holter monitor – no symptoms, echocardiogram – normal, stress test – normal, 2 weeks loop monitor – awaiting the results, thyroid hormone (TSH) – normal, CT scan of the head – normal, MRI of the brain – awaiting the results.
Needless to say that my stress levels are extremely elevated, not to mention that medical bills are piling up and all I have gotten from the doctors I have seen is that I have panic/anxiety attacks.
Is it possible that the increasing amount of stress in my life is responsible for this mess I'm in? Are there any tests that I may need in order to get a proper diagnostic? I have no idea where to turn or what to try... I used to be healthy and full of life, and now all I do is go to doctors looking for solutions to regain my... self.
Please help.
Couple of months ago I started having some episodes of tachycardia – out of the blue my heart would start racing so of course I went to the ER lots of times, have been diagnosed with sinus tachycardia and given bisoprolol 2.5 mg to take once a day. About a month after the onset of the tachycardia I started experiencing chest pain that radiated into my arms. (sometimes the tachy and chest pain would occur at the same times, sometimes separately, sometimes I’d experience arm pain as well, but there was/is no pattern to that). During one of the ER visits the dr said I have costochondritis and prescribed celebrex and Percocet for the pain. About 2 weeks after starting on celebrex and Percocet (I took celebrex 200 mg once a day and Percocet only as needed) I have started developing new symptoms: a feeling of "buzzing" in my whole body that comes and goes, diziness, a sort of lightheadedness, headaches that come and go, a combination of itching/tingling/pain in my arms, legs, hands and feet (mostly on the left side of the body), as well as in my face and scalp. Plus at times I feel my pulse in my whole body - particularly in the head. The itching/tingling/pains come and go at different times during the day, and they vary in length and intensity. Pretty much all of my symptoms have the tendency to come and go and they have the tendency to go away whenever I am in the hospital or in a doctor’s office… go figure…
As the headaches got worse and I spent several sleepless nights because of them, I went back to see a doctor and I was told I might have a vascular headache/migraine, so I was given toradol by IV in the hospital and pills to take at home – the pills don’t always help, so I have yet another doctor’s appointment this week.
Yesterday as I experienced both a headache (which seems to affect not only my head but also some muscles in my neck and shoulders) and some chest pain I took 2 toradol pills 6 hours apart (as prescribed). The pains subsided and I was able to rest over the night, but this morning I woke up with a large painful bruise on my right thigh (and yes I am 100% sure I have not bumped into anything, the bruise appeared out of the blue).
Many of the doctors I have seen have told me that my symptoms don’t add up, and they are most likely stress related, so they suggested I have anxiety attacks – even prescribed ativan for me which sometimes seemed to help, still I am not convinced that all these problems are “in my head”, so I am desperately looking for some answers.
Here is a list of all the tests I have had: blood work (at least 15 times) has always come back normal except for my blood iron which is low and a positive ANA titre 1:160 with a homogeneous pattern, chest X-rays (4-5 times) normal, 24 h Holter monitor – no symptoms, echocardiogram – normal, stress test – normal, 2 weeks loop monitor – awaiting the results, thyroid hormone (TSH) – normal, CT scan of the head – normal, MRI of the brain – awaiting the results.
Needless to say that my stress levels are extremely elevated, not to mention that medical bills are piling up and all I have gotten from the doctors I have seen is that I have panic/anxiety attacks.
Is it possible that the increasing amount of stress in my life is responsible for this mess I'm in? Are there any tests that I may need in order to get a proper diagnostic? I have no idea where to turn or what to try... I used to be healthy and full of life, and now all I do is go to doctors looking for solutions to regain my... self.
Please help.
Hi buckies,
I have considered the same idea- that the headaches are a sideeffect of some of the pills I've been taking, so now I'm trying to just stay away from pills as much as I can and see where that goes.
thanl you and all the best to you
I have considered the same idea- that the headaches are a sideeffect of some of the pills I've been taking, so now I'm trying to just stay away from pills as much as I can and see where that goes.
thanl you and all the best to you
Hi Cariopteris,
thank you for your answer.
I am quite health conscious so I do try to stay away from artificial sweeteners, and eat a balanced healthy diet. I have rsearched on y own the celiac disease symptoms and they don't "fit". Also I did ask about thepossibility of adrenal problems and I was told by several different docors that it is not the case. I've only had my TSH level chcked and it was 1.8, plus all the othe blood tests they have performed - glucose, blood count, liver/pancras enzymes, esr, crp, you name it they are all normal.
I'll be seeing a neurologist and a cardiologist pretty soon (before the end of the month) and hopefully I'll have more answers.
Again thanks for your comment.
thank you for your answer.
I am quite health conscious so I do try to stay away from artificial sweeteners, and eat a balanced healthy diet. I have rsearched on y own the celiac disease symptoms and they don't "fit". Also I did ask about thepossibility of adrenal problems and I was told by several different docors that it is not the case. I've only had my TSH level chcked and it was 1.8, plus all the othe blood tests they have performed - glucose, blood count, liver/pancras enzymes, esr, crp, you name it they are all normal.
I'll be seeing a neurologist and a cardiologist pretty soon (before the end of the month) and hopefully I'll have more answers.
Again thanks for your comment.
If you are using aspartame, stop.
If you think it may be panic attacks, then I'd suggest relaxation training with biofeedback. Symptoms would tend to be that certain tasks or situations would cause a panic attack. If you are anxious all the time, you might notice tension in your jaw and side of head, neck muscles, and maybe you yawn a lot.
It is very possible something is out of balance, such as an autoimmune disorder, and anxiety is a symptom of it. The brain MRI will be important. I'd want to know if the protocol used would be sensitive enough for pituitary tumors. Ask if your symptoms could be from an adrenal problem. Did you just have one type of thyroid level taken? Or were there 3 or 4 different thyroid levels?
If it is an autoimmune problem, more and more they are finding that the problems started with a gluten sensitivity/Celiac disease. So try to get Celiac testing. Your symptoms don't sound specificially like typical Celiac disease, but there are 250 different possible symptoms.
If you think it may be panic attacks, then I'd suggest relaxation training with biofeedback. Symptoms would tend to be that certain tasks or situations would cause a panic attack. If you are anxious all the time, you might notice tension in your jaw and side of head, neck muscles, and maybe you yawn a lot.
It is very possible something is out of balance, such as an autoimmune disorder, and anxiety is a symptom of it. The brain MRI will be important. I'd want to know if the protocol used would be sensitive enough for pituitary tumors. Ask if your symptoms could be from an adrenal problem. Did you just have one type of thyroid level taken? Or were there 3 or 4 different thyroid levels?
If it is an autoimmune problem, more and more they are finding that the problems started with a gluten sensitivity/Celiac disease. So try to get Celiac testing. Your symptoms don't sound specificially like typical Celiac disease, but there are 250 different possible symptoms.
Stress can most definately make you feel off. Easier said than done but try to not stress (I have to constantly said those words to myself daily). There is definately something not right. Maybe the headaches are side affects of the medication? Maybe you can try some other meds? If you don't think your doctor is really listening, get a second opinion. Remember it isn't in your head. Just be persistant and you will get an answer. Good luck to you. I hope you feel better soon.
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