Unexplained Symptoms since pregnancy in 2006

[shell1925]

Hello all!  I have been experiencing many different symptoms since I was pregnant in 2006.  I delivered my son via c-section in August 2006 and since then my health has been a whirlwind.  I want to get pregnant again but I am so scared because no doctor can find a reason for all my symptoms.  I will list them all and if anyone has any feedback I would greatly appreciate it.  I go back to my rheumatologist this Wednesday (4/16) for a follow up appt. for bloodwork and results for a total body bone scan.  Thanks in advance everyone!

Symptoms:
*Chest pressure
*Lower jaw pain/left sided jaw pain at the joint
*Left arm pain (mostly in upper arm area but sometimes can be felt all the way to the fingers)
*Left arm swelling with distended veins
*Dizziness
*Headaches
*Left side facial numbness
*Abdominal tenderness when pressed in both LUQ/RUQ
*Leg fatigue/pain
*Pins and needles sensation in fingertips
*Cold sensation in fingers
*Joint pain in wrists, fingers, toes, and knees
*Carpal tunnel pain in right wrist (I am LEFT-handed)
*Back pain
*Neck pain
*Diarrhea (3x a day at least, sometimes RIGHT AFTER I eat)
*Awaken every night because EXTREME pins and needles sensations in both arms/shoulders

Tests: (All have been performed in the last 18 months)
*Numerous EKG's
*A few chest x-rays
*X-rays of jaw
*2 echo's
*2 Stress echo's
*Nuclear stress test
*Tilt-table test
*EMG
*EEG
*2 chest CT's (w/ and w/o contrast)
*Abdominal CT (w/ and w/o contrast)
*Head CT (w/o contrast)
*MRI of head
*MRA of head
*Total body bone scan
*2 abdominal ultrasounds
*HIDA scan
*Endoscopy
*Colonoscopy
*SO much bloodwork

Diagnoses:
*Inflammed gallbladder (removed Sept. 2007)
*Hiatal hernia/GERD
*Vasovagal syncope (no test confirmed this)
*TSH levels always borderline for hyperthyroidism (not being treated)
*Tested positive once for Lupus anticoagulant (tested 3 times, waiting on 3rd result)

They have ruled out anything to do with my heart, lungs, and mouth (i.e. blocked salivary glands, TMJ, infection).  My cardiologist did mention possible fibromyalgia, but the rheumatologist isn't so sure.  I don't know where to turn at this point.  If anyone can help point me in the right direction I would greatly appreciate it!!

Shell

[zmombomb]

When my gallbladder was full of stones, I was running to the bathroom with diarrhea the INSTANT i put food in my stomach, and was dizzy, had that feeling there were elephants parked on my chest, my left arm hurt, could have sworn I was having a heart attack.  i had pain in the upper quadrant of my right rib cage, upper middle of my back, and my head was killing me, also causing my jaw to hurt.  once they took the gallbladder, every time I ate anything with fat, I had diarrhea, but no pain.  now (18 years later) the pain is back and it's possible my body has made a small bowl to hold stones.  That's what I'm told is possible.  It sounds to me like gallstones, as well as possibly an autoimmune problem.  LIKE ME@!  Work on having them remove the gallbladder.  Just my little added opinion with everyone else's.  

[zmombomb]

try having your gallbladder checked!!!!

[mycoplasmalung]

Sounds like yo umight have a multitude of things going on.

You might want to go to ****.org or ****-tree.org and read some of the information there.  IT may (or may not) be relevent to your symptoms.  There is a group of doctors out there who are kind of on the fringe of the medical community.  These are diong research into various autoimmune diseases and have some interesting theories.  From my expereinces with Mycoplasma pnemonia I found these web sights to be right on target!  

Also, are you sure you are not lactose intolernt.  You said you get  dareha after eating.  I have irritable bowel syndrom that is touched off by any miik product.  If I have even "milk" chocolate I hae  an almost instatanious reaction.    Just another thing to consider.

Good luck!

[contasa]

i feel ur pain. 33 yrs ago post very difficult pregnancy my symptoms started. they gradually became worse as i got older. had gallbladder out in 2003 and went into full blown fibro syndrome. currently evrything has flared up after settling down for the past few yrs. i'm currently expeirncing so many problems with intense pain that i was sure that something else must be wrong........i doubt it....it's the insidious fibro syndrome.
Best wishes.......try combo tx. mild streching/exercise, meditation, yoga etc. Keep positive...most important!

[PlateletGal]

My TSH level is always borderline (low). I found out that most fibro & CFS patients do have thyroid problems, but the standard tests (TSH, T4), will not normally pick it up. Your physician should consider ordering a "T3 REVERSE" or a "PTH" --- that should catch any abnormalities.

Best,

PlateletGal



T3 REVERSE -- "The mix of treatments needed varies from patient to patient. There are some abnormalities that are common. For instance, close to 100% of individuals with these syndromes have low thyroid. This is, however, usually not picked up on the standard blood tests because the TSH is not elevated in these individuals due to pituitary dysfunction. Many of these individuals will also have high levels of the anti-thyroid reverse T3, which is usually not measured on standard blood tests. In addition, the majority of individuals can also have a thyroid receptor resistance that is not detected on the blood tests. Consequently, thyroid treatment, especially with timed release T3, is effective for many patients. T4 preparations (inactive thyroid) such as Synthroid and Levoxyl do not work well for these conditions."

Kent Holtorf, M.D.  --- link to article: http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/id/4320

[PlateletGal]

P.S. --- the pain you describe in your jaw could be myofascial pain  --- that is very common in patients who have fibromyalgia. You can check it out on google.com

[PlateletGal]

Hang in there. I can tell you that many fibro patients have the same symptoms as you do. Both fibromyalgia and CFS patients have the same symptoms as many autoimmune conditions. Dizziness, I know, can go along with MS, Hashimoto's and fibromyalgia.

All the best,

PlateletGal

[lazydog]

where is the comment "your problem is easy to solve.....etc....

I can't find it??  Anyone help.

It's post number 491100....how do I find it?

...Julia

[FoxersArtist]

Hi there.  I just want to say that I am in a similar boat and am really suffering after my second pregnancy which ended in late 2007.  I am driving my Drs. crazy who are stumped for answers and all they can tell me is that there is something auto-immune going on with me.  Hang in there, i hope they find something soon...and if you ever need any support, here I am!
-Anna

[DLA]

Sounds symptom for symptom like hyperthyroidism.  I delveloped Graves' after the birth of my son in 2000.  Funny, I also had to have gallbladder out immediately.

What is your TSH?  It does not have to be as low as the drs say in order for some ppl to have every symptom.

[lazydog]

Hi Shell
These symptoms certainly sound autoimmune.
Did u have ANA or just Lupus Anticoagulant??  
If you have Lupus I would guess you have some other a/i disease going on too.
Most symptoms sound hypothyroid to me except diarrhea - I had all of those with Hashimoto's.  The waking in middle of night as everything gone to sleep....so familiar. All of those bar the diarrhea I had....

But then you say your TSH is very low...so maybe hyperthyroid has overlapping symptoms with hypoT???  

Perhaps Hypopituitary related....look at this on stopthethyroidmadness.com
Also would look at Raynaud's and low B12.
Also would look at Scleroderma re jaw etc...but could also be thyroid related.
You really need to get all thyroid ANTIBODIES tested......TSH is too changeable to ascertain what is going on and not reliable if you have antibodies.
...Julia

[PlateletGal]

I sent you a private message with some links to other members who are in your boat. Both of them post here and have had neuro-immune problems after their pregnancy. Another one is doing the same treatment that I'm doing for CFIDS.

All the best,

PlateletGal