Aa
So Many Symptoms But No Answers
Hi, I'm a 44 year old woman and have a plethora of symptoms going on. My doctor doesn't seem to be too quick to test me for any of these things and now I'm beginning to get really worried because they've been steadily progressing. I need some help figuring out what is going on. Please tell me what you think. These are my symptoms:
1. Extreme Exhaustion - This began in March/09. At first I would have the occasional day where it will hit. Now it's constant. On my days off from work I will sleep a couple of hours after my kids go to school ... wake up feeling exhausted. Then I'll sleep for a couple of hours in the afternoon and wake up feeling exhausted. I'll then go to bed at night and sleep until roughly 5 am. I'll only have a brief time until I'll have to once again go to bed. When I am up and about I feel very weak and tired.I'm finding it increasingly hard to work.
2. Extreme Weakness - I feel weak all the time and can barely seem to get anything done. This is a kind of weakness you feel when you have a bad flu.
3. Strange Neurological Symptoms - In June/09 I began having symptoms in my right arm. At first I would only experience pain in my upper arm when making particular movements. If I tried scratching my back I'd have excruciating pain. The same would happen if I reached into the back seat to get something or reached over from the driver's side to the passenger door to roll up the window. The worst pain would happen if I was lying on the couch and held on to the back of the couch to pull myself up. The pain would radiate from my upper arm, down the ulnar side of my forearm to my wrist. I would literally feel like I was going to pass out when this pain hit. Thankfully it would only last about 10 seconds.If I squeezed my bicep and yawned like you do when you're waking up I'd also experience this intense kind of pain radiating down my arm. My arm felt fine doing regular activities or when it was at rest. I went to a physiotherapist and she thought it was a nerve related thing. After a month of sessions we weren't getting anywhere so she sent a letter back to my doctor suggesting that I see an orthopedist for further testing. By the time I got to see the orthopedic guy I began experiencing other strange symptoms. All my upper arm muscles became weak and doing innocent things would cause other symptoms. If I rested my arm across the back of the couch I would develop a stabbing pain down the side of my forearm and into the top of my hand and my finger and pinky finger would also really bother me. The pain would be extremely intense and my hand would go weak. It got so bad that I considered going to the emergency room on two occasions. This pain would last a couple of hours. The muscles in my upper arm began to pain and feel weak when I was doing nothing. I finally got to see the Orthopedist and based on the symptoms I presented that day, he said I had inflamed rotator tendons and carpal tunnel syndrome. He told me this after a 5 minute visit. I tried to explain the weird nerve pain but it's like he didn't listen. He told me to take anti-inflammatories and see him again in 3 months. He said if it wasn't better then he would order an MRI. So I have to wait until January to see him again. Meanwhile I'm starting to experience pain and weakness in other limbs. At times I find it hard to walk because of unsteady balance. I wake up at night with pain and weakness.
4. Feeling Spacey - Most of the time I walk around feeling out of it. It's like I'm in a fog and there are times I forget names and simple words.
5. My Vision Blurs - I go through periods where it feels like vaseline is over my eyes. I can't seem to see right. My vision is very blurry. This happens especially in my right eye. Plus I get a twitch on the lid of that eye. Sometimes it lasts for a minute, other times it can last for 2 days.
6. Flu-Like Symptoms - Most of the time I feel like I have the flu-beginning. I feel all-around rotten and have a lot of muscle and joint aches and pains.
7. I'm Losing Hair - Since this past summer I've lost a huge amount of hair on my head. I'm losing it everywhere, not just a patch. I'm also losing hair on other parts of my body, including my nose of all places.
8. Diarrhea - I get hit with a full day of diarrhea every few days. My stool is never solid on good days. When the diarrhea days hit it's just like water pouring out of me.
9. Warm Episodes - I go through periods through the day when I get extremely warm and sweat. My temperature goes up a bit when this happens. It usually lasts a couple of hours.
10. Bad Skin - I've developed an extremely oily forehead and am breaking out in acne pretty bad.
11. Pain In Right Side of Lung Near the Armpit - I have a chronic discomfort in this area of my lung. It feels like something is growing in a bronchial tube. I don't have a cough but I have a constant wheeze that inhalers won't get rid of. I was a heavy smoker for years but quit in July. Last winter I was worried about my lung so I had a chest x-ray done .. it was clear. I also had a CT scan done ... it was clear. I had another chest x-ray done last month and it was clear. I'm still worried.
12. Nausea - I have the odd day where I really feel nauseous. I don't vomit but I feel close to it.
So far the only tests I've had were a shoulder x-ray .. it was fine. I had full blood work done which was also fine except for my sugars, they were slightly elevated. I'm diabetic, type 2, but have never been sick due to my condition. I just sent in a stool sample and am waiting for the results and I had other blood work done to determine if there's any inflammation in my body. That's it as far as testing goes. I'm really feeling rotten and need some answers.
1. Extreme Exhaustion - This began in March/09. At first I would have the occasional day where it will hit. Now it's constant. On my days off from work I will sleep a couple of hours after my kids go to school ... wake up feeling exhausted. Then I'll sleep for a couple of hours in the afternoon and wake up feeling exhausted. I'll then go to bed at night and sleep until roughly 5 am. I'll only have a brief time until I'll have to once again go to bed. When I am up and about I feel very weak and tired.I'm finding it increasingly hard to work.
2. Extreme Weakness - I feel weak all the time and can barely seem to get anything done. This is a kind of weakness you feel when you have a bad flu.
3. Strange Neurological Symptoms - In June/09 I began having symptoms in my right arm. At first I would only experience pain in my upper arm when making particular movements. If I tried scratching my back I'd have excruciating pain. The same would happen if I reached into the back seat to get something or reached over from the driver's side to the passenger door to roll up the window. The worst pain would happen if I was lying on the couch and held on to the back of the couch to pull myself up. The pain would radiate from my upper arm, down the ulnar side of my forearm to my wrist. I would literally feel like I was going to pass out when this pain hit. Thankfully it would only last about 10 seconds.If I squeezed my bicep and yawned like you do when you're waking up I'd also experience this intense kind of pain radiating down my arm. My arm felt fine doing regular activities or when it was at rest. I went to a physiotherapist and she thought it was a nerve related thing. After a month of sessions we weren't getting anywhere so she sent a letter back to my doctor suggesting that I see an orthopedist for further testing. By the time I got to see the orthopedic guy I began experiencing other strange symptoms. All my upper arm muscles became weak and doing innocent things would cause other symptoms. If I rested my arm across the back of the couch I would develop a stabbing pain down the side of my forearm and into the top of my hand and my finger and pinky finger would also really bother me. The pain would be extremely intense and my hand would go weak. It got so bad that I considered going to the emergency room on two occasions. This pain would last a couple of hours. The muscles in my upper arm began to pain and feel weak when I was doing nothing. I finally got to see the Orthopedist and based on the symptoms I presented that day, he said I had inflamed rotator tendons and carpal tunnel syndrome. He told me this after a 5 minute visit. I tried to explain the weird nerve pain but it's like he didn't listen. He told me to take anti-inflammatories and see him again in 3 months. He said if it wasn't better then he would order an MRI. So I have to wait until January to see him again. Meanwhile I'm starting to experience pain and weakness in other limbs. At times I find it hard to walk because of unsteady balance. I wake up at night with pain and weakness.
4. Feeling Spacey - Most of the time I walk around feeling out of it. It's like I'm in a fog and there are times I forget names and simple words.
5. My Vision Blurs - I go through periods where it feels like vaseline is over my eyes. I can't seem to see right. My vision is very blurry. This happens especially in my right eye. Plus I get a twitch on the lid of that eye. Sometimes it lasts for a minute, other times it can last for 2 days.
6. Flu-Like Symptoms - Most of the time I feel like I have the flu-beginning. I feel all-around rotten and have a lot of muscle and joint aches and pains.
7. I'm Losing Hair - Since this past summer I've lost a huge amount of hair on my head. I'm losing it everywhere, not just a patch. I'm also losing hair on other parts of my body, including my nose of all places.
8. Diarrhea - I get hit with a full day of diarrhea every few days. My stool is never solid on good days. When the diarrhea days hit it's just like water pouring out of me.
9. Warm Episodes - I go through periods through the day when I get extremely warm and sweat. My temperature goes up a bit when this happens. It usually lasts a couple of hours.
10. Bad Skin - I've developed an extremely oily forehead and am breaking out in acne pretty bad.
11. Pain In Right Side of Lung Near the Armpit - I have a chronic discomfort in this area of my lung. It feels like something is growing in a bronchial tube. I don't have a cough but I have a constant wheeze that inhalers won't get rid of. I was a heavy smoker for years but quit in July. Last winter I was worried about my lung so I had a chest x-ray done .. it was clear. I also had a CT scan done ... it was clear. I had another chest x-ray done last month and it was clear. I'm still worried.
12. Nausea - I have the odd day where I really feel nauseous. I don't vomit but I feel close to it.
So far the only tests I've had were a shoulder x-ray .. it was fine. I had full blood work done which was also fine except for my sugars, they were slightly elevated. I'm diabetic, type 2, but have never been sick due to my condition. I just sent in a stool sample and am waiting for the results and I had other blood work done to determine if there's any inflammation in my body. That's it as far as testing goes. I'm really feeling rotten and need some answers.
I take Metformin (a pill), a long acting insulin at night, and fast acting insulin before meals.
I think it would be a good idea for me to get my hormone levels checked. I'll have to ask my doctor. I think she's getting a little fed up with me though. Thanks for the link. I'll check it out.
If you don't think it's your thyroid, I would have your hormone levels checked. That can make you feel like you are losing your mind, along with many other symptoms you mentioned. If that's what you need, I would only suggest natural hormone therapy. Synthetic hormones are not only bad for you, but are not specific to you and your needs, as natural hormones are. Try www.bodylogicmd.com they specialize in natural hormone therapy and I am fairly certain they have physicians in every state. Good luck.
Yes, I had full blood work done twice. My thyroid numbers were good. Everything is such a mystery to me.
Have you had a thyroid check? I am also 44 and female. I had all
of your symptoms except the arm and side pain with hyperthyroidism.
In my case I was misdiagnosed for a long time. Some doctors are quick
to assume that women our age have a bad case of anxiety and need
a pill. I knew something was wrong, as you do. If your doctor will not
run a few simple tests when you have felt bad for so long maybe another
doctor is the answer. Good Luck
wrong breathing habits without anxiety even can cause many of your problems... it's called "hyperventillation" (not necessarily anxiety related, but often is)
the website below will explain how to breath properly
http://www.authentic-breathing.com/breathing_faqs.htm#difficulty
although you might want to consult a medical professional to guide you into healthy breathing habits.
the website below will explain how to breath properly
http://www.authentic-breathing.com/breathing_faqs.htm#difficulty
although you might want to consult a medical professional to guide you into healthy breathing habits.
I don't believe it's anxiety. I've always been an anxious person but have never experienced anything like this. If I'm anxious I'm always full of energy and have never felt physically sick. I really appreciate your input though.
your name is "worriedsick",
stress and anxiety can cause a lot of the issues you just named.
the free ebook below will explain to u how u can live without stress and anxiety :)
http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma4/mpe.html
stress and anxiety can cause a lot of the issues you just named.
the free ebook below will explain to u how u can live without stress and anxiety :)
http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma4/mpe.html
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