Searching for a Diagnosis.

[DanielH]

Okay to start this off I want to give a little bit of history. I have never really dealt with stomach pains and the problems that will follow, and have as far as I can remember not been diagnosed with anything in the past. I am a 20 year old male and about 5'11" 170lb. 4 and a half years ago I moved to a different state which depressed me and caused me to stop schooling. I was in the tenth grade at the time and decided to get my GED instead. I then got into computer games, so for the last 4 and a half years I haven't been really social. I don't get as much sun as I should, I take my dogs out with my girlfriend every day, and check the mail but then I'm back into my house. I don't deal with any depression now, I feel as if my life is perfect and love going out places (usually in the later hours).

About 3 years ago I went into the doctor while I still had insurance and got a rash type thing on my neck checked out and was prescribed nystatin ointment. I used the nystatin for about 3 days and as I would see the problem go away I didn't bother with it, now the problem has spread from a blotch on my neck to a little on my chest and more around my neck. My nystatin is expired but it still seems to clear the problem up if I use it for a couple days, then I go into stupid mode and forget to use it. I guess I will get on with my problems now.

First I get an allergic reaction which acts as a slight cold, it comes and I get a runny nose and sneeze quite a bit and get really watery eyes. This problem lasts about 2 days without treatment or medication, I get it about every 2 weeks. I stop getting it though when I get lots of sun, but then when I start sitting inside all day I get it again. That's problem number 1.

Another is I always feel somewhat hot, my normal body temp. always seems warm and I sweat often, not dripping sweat unless I'm doing something physical in 104+ degree weather, but I do get sweat to form on my body often while doing nothing. For the past couple years though I have been so used to having a fan on me at most times of the day, and when I'm not in front of my fan I feel hot. I live in Arizona so it is usually pretty hot here, so I'm not too concerned about this problem.

Lately in the past few days as far as my girlfriend and I have been able to tell I'm been getting spots of red on my back, it itches when I sweat and is not raised or as far as I can tell, scaly. It seemed to only appear if I'm sitting in my chair with a shirt on and start sweating and not really moving. The sweat soaks into my shirt and I just stay seated usually reading around on the internet. So the sweat is in full contact with my skin for extended periods of time.

My stomach problems have been an issue for about a year and a half if I remember correctly. I seem to go to the bathroom far more often than family members and my girlfriend, and I'm talking about defecating. Far more often than a good solid stool, I get a slightly mushy stool which seems like a paste. I don't get fully liquid stool often, only if I feel like I've ate something that was bad. Sometimes the stool will have a clear mucus with it. It is usually a dark brown or normal brown. I also feel like I have to excessively wipe. A normal bathroom session for me lasts about 5 minutes or more, and after defecating I feel like I can't wipe as I'm never sure if I'm finished. I also feel like going to the bathroom if I get excited thinking about something that excites me (for example going somewhere with my girlfriend or learning something new) and have not gone to the bathroom in a while.

I do have a problem eating, I seem to chew my food only a little and swallow food without chewing it fully. I end up finishing a meal about 3 times faster than all member of my household. My daily liquid intake is usually lemonade by a company that has fresh lemonade never concentrate or soda. I rarely every drink plain water which is bad I know.

The reason I am asking here is because I'm currently unemployed and living with my parents and girlfriend (who is employed) and do not have insurance. If you need info on anything I have talked about please do not hesitate to ask. I know nothing is as good as seeing a doctor, but right now that's not really an option. I fully understand you can not give a diagnosis on this as I'm not physically able to provide bloodwork results or anything. I'm just looking for a little insight into what has plagued me for the last bit of my life.

A little more info is I have a condition called Pectus Excavatum and the dent in my chest is not too severe but it is there. I also have a mom who is lactose intolerant. But if I was lactose intolerant it doesn't explain why I've only started to get these stomach pains. I have only had intercourse with 1 person who has also only had intercourse with 1 person (me) and in neither family do we have a history of HIV so I've kinda ruled that out.

I really do look forward to reading each and every reply I may get. My sincere thanks to anyone willing to lend some knowledge.

[ggreg]

I'm back, and here's a link to a website I like.  The article in this link talks about heat stroke, and also has numerous links to similar health issues related to heat, and in the green box to the right of the main discussion, there's more stuff about heat rash and abdominal cramps:

http://www.medicinenet.com/heat_stroke/article.htm

[ggreg]

I think probably most of your health issues have to do with the Arizona heat.  The rash and your higher body temperature, that's probably from the heat.  Use mild soaps with laundry & bathing and rinse well, generally wear clothes that are 100 percent cotton, and use a little baby powder at the neck, to minimize chaffing.  A lot of Southwesterners wear a bandana to soak up neck heat and wipe off their brow.  But heat alone will sometimes cause a rash.  So, sorry, but drinking more water will be what best minimizes the effects of heat.  

The way to drink extra water to replace what you sweat out is by drinking a glass of water every time you are in the bathroom, make it a habit.  I always guzzle at least a whole glass after I brush my teeth, I keep my own glass in there.  Also, to get your water back and to keep cool, drink lots of ICED water, it tastes better cold and when you're hot and thirsty.  By the way, sometimes lemonade and juices can further dry out a person...you can drink it, just not exclusively.  I have a friend who hated water, but finally when health issues got out of hand, she started drinking it, and she feels better as a result.

The allergy thing may have to do with air conditioning, my husband cannot tolerate A/C because he gets stuffed up.  So, I run the A/C for me and he sits at an open window, so we're both happy, and our bills are not particularly higher.  I might add that even your digestive issues could very well be related totally to the heat, people get indgestion from overheating, ESPECIALLY when they don't replace water they sweat out.    

One thing that might improve your digestion, too, is ordinary store brand 100 percent whole wheat bread, I eat it every day without fail, because I have digestive issues.  Try different kinds, until you hit on one that seems to help your digestion.  See, you gotta have enough bulk and quantity of food to have good digestion, and whole grains can do that better than almost anything.  Also, dark green salads and fruit as a snack, especially blueberries, will cool you off and give you more bulk, keep the ingredients refrigerated.  

Look up stuff online about heat stroke and the symptoms, see if any match up, especially the rash and digestive problems you're having.  Also, there is a dermatology department at this website, just go to the list of forums (it's at the icon "forums" at the very top of this page) and post about your rash over there.  Could be you'll find out your rash is from something entirely different than heat, so that's a good idea to post there.