people say its in my head...then why dont the head pills help

[affense]

Hello, im Adam im 24 years old. talk about a story thatll blow your mind.

About a year ago i woke up one morning from drinking with a slight burning sensation in my urethra, my doctor put me on antibiotics and a week or so later it was accompanied by a burning pain in my hands and feet - my hands and feet would also turn red a look a bit inflamed. i went to a urologist who after testing me for gonorhea and chlamydia said it was not that and diagnosed me with prostatitis. i was on cipro for a month and a half, the z pac, amox, doryx, the works. Nothing helped. fall came and i started noticing more hair then usual was falling out of my head. just running my hands through my hair i would find a bunch on my hand. i started noticing a severe lack of energy which continued into bad headaches that would last days. i also noticed that drinking alcohol, caffeine would make the prostatitis worse, so i cut these out of my life. winter came and the symptoms stayed the same i was off antibiotics as they didnt seem to work and it all continued into spring. i started noticing that my semen was now a yellowish color and seemed very watery. my urologist said it was probably the prostatitis. in spring i finally got a cystascope done by my urologist. This came back normal. he said my back was very tense and tried me on serveral different muscle relaxers thinking maybe muscle spasms were the cause of my urethral pain, burning hands and feet and NOW low back and buttocks pain. after no help with these meds he went to something drastic and gave me phenobarbital as it is an anti convulsant not just used for seizure patients. i took this 3 times and on the third day of taking it my chest felt like it was collapsing, i had intense left side chest pain followed by left arm numbness and an EXTREME pressure headache. i was rushed to the ER chest xray and ekg were fine, they did a sonogram of my gallbladder - fine. so they sent me home saying it was a reaction to the drugs and i thought nothing of it. next day i woke up and half way through the day noticed the same sort of pain which lingered for 4-5 hours. then went away, sunday i woke up felt a bit weak but ok most of the day went out and had a few drinks, woke up monday with tremedous pressure in chest and head. left side chest pain and arm weakness - almost like i had to tell my arm to do certain things twice before it would. This lasted all day and night and i went to bed. woke up tuesday and noticed no improvement - lasted all day and got home from work and collapsed on the ground with so much pressure in my head i thought i was going to die. chest pressure/esophageal pressure came along with it and it was as if i could hear poprock type sensations in the back of my head like something was trying to get through. went to the ER they did chest xray, ekg  - normal. my head pressure now included major dizziness and my eyes became blood shot red. the doc jacked me up with pain killers  and sent me home after 7 hours of no relief. ridiculous right? since then i have been to a rheumatologist whom thought i had RA - but i tested negative and he wouldnt see me again. went to a spinal specialist whom did an mri on just me neck and it showed minor buldging discs but nothing that would effect me this way. i havent been back to see him. i got an EMG test done for neuropathy at a neurologist and passed that - he gave me amitriptyline and sent me on my way. this just made me dopey and woke me up with palps in the middle of the night. i went to a cardiologist wore a holter monitor and had an electrocardiogram and stress test....he noticed some etra beats and a vessel that was no longer working but was benign...sent me on my way. thought my palps were esophageal. i had an upper GI done (not the scope which my parents want me to get done since i do suffer from acid reflux) and this was normal. i have a brain mri on monday - i hope this shows something as nothing seems to have gotten better. i know this was long but i pray someone can help me because im now starting to get anxiety about all this, and depressed. i went from being a carefree 23 yr old to someone who struggles to get through each day. its 4 pm on a saturday and i just got out of bed due to all the head pressure.

update - mri showed a lesion in left corona radiata...docs said it was from when i was young and ruled out MS. this is at DENT neurologic in buffalo.

mysymptoms as of now are as follows :  

blurred vision - although the blurred vision comes on when the chest pressure/tightness isnt present.
dizziness almost all the time
head pressure (like something is blocked) isnt helped by tylenol, pain killers, anything.
frequent pvcs
watery yellow semen.
pain in urethra
burning sensation in hands and feet
chest pain, weakness
lack of energy
all over weakness
anxiety
the pressure in head seems to come from mid back where it sometimes seems to burn on each side of the spine
hair loss
sometimes its hard to swallow
alot of pressure up at the top of the esophagus and diaphragm area  
off balance - get dizzy when i talk or concentrate too hard
concentration is at a minimum


- working out makes things worse in terms of vision - i feel a bit better after for a short while
- drinking makes it worse - the days after are bad
- heat seems to make things worse and hot showers sometimes.

tried flexeril
tried anti anxiety meds (lithium, klonopin, CURRENTLY ON PROZAC for last 30 days - has seemed to make certain symptoms and anxiety worse - my legs now burn - the foot pain is worse sometimes my mood swings) klonopin helps a bit for a time or symptoms lessen. but doesnt seem to help the vision nor foot pain

been tested for : hiv, gon, chlamydia, checked my ana, checked for thyroid, degenerative disc diseases, hlab27, checked for b-12 def. checked for MS - ruled out by one neuro. checked for lymes multiple times. sjogrens, electolytes,syphillis etc. like all blood work has been done

doctors : rheumatologist, neuro, primary, chiro, 2 cardiologists, psych, urologist.e tc.

what could this be? i wish there was a doctor house out there i could use him about now. im falling apart worse by the day. sorry for the length of this, i dont know what else to do. if someone can help me i WILL help everyong with these symptoms. i need my life back. my family/gf are worried. i am a disaster and work is starting to notice.

[nursegirl6572]

My opinion would be to continue tackling this as if it is anxiety....are you seeing a psychiatrist to manage your meds?  I highly recommend that.  You may need a higher dose of the Prozac, or perhaps a second medication added to your regimen. Tried any therapy?

The good news is, while small, you've seen SOME improvements.  That's a good thing either way.  I feel for you!  We're always here.....feel free to vent, ask questions, whatever you need!

Keep fighting!

[AnthonyLiverpool]

Helloo mate, am no doctor but those sytoms sound awfull, but it cant be anythink seriuos tbh, it would of showed up other wise, if it was anxietey id say just do everything to become healthy, try swimming a few times a week, eat completly healthy, exotic fruits, mushrooms everything, try yoga which helps with stress, get a new hair style new clothes, go completly healthy and it should give you a new kinder outlook on life, i wish you the best of luck mate, am 20 and i fink i have abit of anietey, sometimes struggle with sleep at night with wierd sensations in my chest and things, id say just go swimming, slow slow jogs, eat completly healthy get a proper good diet on the go, bestof luck bud!

[affense]

hello all,

still suffering with serious physical symptoms including massive burning now in my hands and feet. i also tend to get blurred vision and burning feet for hours AFTER showers...if anyone has any ideas please help me - i know there is a laundry list above but im also on 40 mg of prozac now with really no improvement other than some of the chest discomfort softening and mood has gotten a bit more positive. theres alot of good things going on in my life and i want to be able to enjoy them. if theres anything else anyone can think of please give me a shout!

Thanks

Adam

[nursegirl6572]

Sorry to hear you haven't gotten anywhere.  I'm glad to hear you are still taking the Prozac, that's good.  That will hopefully help if this is indeed anxiety related.

You've had so many thorough work ups and diagnostic studies, I'd have to say that with each negative study, it's looking more and more like anxiety.  I know it is hard to accept that anxiety could cause such REAL physical symptoms, it seems nuts!

Are you seeing a psychiatrist?  I would recommend that, depending on how long yo've been on the Prozac, you may need a different medication all together.

You've been worked up by just about every kind of specialist out there, and while it is frustrating, remember, it's actually a GOOD thing that they haven't found anything wrong!

Hang in there, keep us updated.

[Miska89]

Brain* and ****all the wrong spellings ive made:p

[Miska89]

And btw keep away from meds! You have a smart brein ! And it will tell you it doesnt need anything to slow it down it just needs to be put on a right track! Imaging all that energy, and what you could be using it on! Please believe me when I say Ive been low, but you need to raise up again and not think there is anything wrong with you! You need to see everything thats right with you!

[Miska89]

For so long you have been dealing with it. And it has not helped you to fight it so dont fight it anymore:) try to let it be. For one sec, minute or a day and see how that goes. I was in so deep anxiety and negative thoughts that a positive thought for a second helped alot. And then I started holding on to it so it becamemore onesecond positivity a couple of times pr day. And somehow it got better. I know this is all happening to us because of internet and we are not raising our butt up aNymore . Our brain is constantly active! I had it 4 years ago too! I fought it cause I became more interested in life boys and going out. Now again Im bored so I get anxiety. So I got myself a bf and now I will focuse on life again. What does it matter if Ill live or die if im only worried about sickess. On your deathbed you wont be thinking about that. But what you have experienced in life!

[affense]

hello,

thank you for your response...i still have no diagnosis...instead my doctor just keeps upping my prozac. i am now up to 40 mg a day with no improvement. i am going to get tested for heavy metals soon. thanks for all your support. if anyone else has any insight please help. Thank you

Adam

[weatherit]

Adam--very sad history of symptoms.
Have you been tested for heavy metals and toxins like arsenic, mercury, lead, etc? Tetany (muscle rigidity) can be caused by some poisens like this.Did they do a blood work up for this and your vitamin levels? Was there anything new in your life: A new carpet, a a new paint on the walls? New job? Exposure to benzenes or vapors like that?
Was there a guy spraying anti bug killer in apartment or hallway? Fabric impregnated with fire retardant--in pyjamas for kids etc--is a neuro toxin. Had you recently been vaccinated for anything--I'm just saying that it could be triggered by interior terrain or by exterior.
Consider a liscensed Naturopath in addition to MDs.
You mentioned acid reflux--consider trying to even out excess acidity by eating home cooked food and organic produce, meats, and grains that you fix for yourself on a stove top or in an oven or a slow cooker--NOT a microwave..Start slow, but mindfully, doing what you can. I hope you have received some relief since your initial posting==it is truly a chronicle of distress.
There are natural solutions to anxiety--a naturopath or or ayurvedic doctor could possible suggest some. Perhaps look at Bach remedies--homeopathic.
Also, I'm just posting my opinion here--but a humble prayer asking God to lead you might be good. That's just from my perspective--so I hope you aren't offended. Anyways--good luck. If you look at it one way--you are young and strong as you have been able to get through this so far. There is a key to this--you just have to find it.

all the best..

[affense]

Thanks for actually going through and reading my book. i am looking into that yes and i will update. if anyone else has any other advice i openly appreciate and welcome it. this just blows my mind that all this could be caused by anxiety and for so long. but i do know from what ive researched that its possible.

Thanks again

Adam

[nursegirl6572]

Well, you've had EXTREMELY thorough physical work ups.  Other than medications, what other approaches have you tried for anxiety?  Any therapy?  That would be my recommendation, for you to wholeheartedly try to address this as being anxiety related and give treatment (meds and therapy) a fair chance.  

The good thing about anxiety is, once you start addressing it, any related symptoms will start to resolve, therefore, you would finally get some relief, and some answers.  I know it's hard to imagine that such real physical symptoms could be caused by anxiety, but it absolutely happens, every day with countless people.  Just reading here will tell you that.

Keep us posted, hang in there, wish you the best!