Please help!!

[kbrannock]

I've been having the same problems for a while now and I'm not sure what's wrong. I can't bring myself to eat more than a couple bites before about 9pm because it makes me feel sick, and even after then I still don't eat much. In the last month, I've dropped about 10-20 lbs. I feel hung over every day and get the cold sweats and body aches, but I don't drink or take any drugs (and that includes OTC drugs and caffeine). I bruise easily and my vision and short term memory has gotten awful. Three years ago and AGAIN two months ago, I was hospitalized for stomach pains that dissipated as abruptly as they began, and as usual, the hospital and follow-up GI doc found "nothing wrong"...even though I was screaming when I came in. I have ovary pains fairly often (cysts they tell me), and pretty bad periods. I can't sleep more than 6 hours each night or I feel sleepy the whole next day. I'm focusing on career right now so I know I'm not pregnant, and I just don't know what is wrong :-( so anybody? Ideas?

[kbrannock]

Just an update: Bloodwork came back normal.  Thyroid, liver, cholestrol, everything "fine".  I am under a lot of stress, but I've been under a bunch of stress since I was a kid, so I don't know why I'd have physiological symptoms now of all times.  I'm not on any medication and like I said, I don't drink or do any drugs of any kind.  The only OTC drug I'll take about once a year is aspirin.  I monitor my eating and sleeping patterns pretty rigorously as well.  Any ideas?

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

Well, without a detailed clinical evaluation it would be difficult to determine the cause of your symptoms. Loss of appetite could occur secondary to stress/ anxiety, nutrient deficiencies, metabolic issues, infections, inflammations, hormonal/ endocrine issues, electrolyte imbalance, medication side effect etc. I would suggest considering an initial evaluation by an internist and depending on the cause diagnosed/ suspected, it can be managed accordingly or specialist care may be sought.
Hope this is helpful.

Take care!