Please advise!!!

[Bambi1979]

This may be kinda long, but I'm gonna try to make it as short as possible!!  I am a 29 yr old female that has had problems with consistent dizziness/lightheaded for the past 10 yrs.  Up until about 2 yrs. ago, that was all it was.  Then I started developing many other debilitating symptoms.  My current symptoms started about a little over a yr and a half ago.  I started having problems with upset stomach along with the 24/7 dizziness and just not "feeling right" in my head.  I have had 2 spinal taps, several MRI'S of the brain, and many blood tests done.  I had my gall bladder taken out around that same time.  This seemed to cause more problems as far as the upset stomach goes.  Then, my eyes started becoming really sensitive to light and ears sensitive to noise, along with the dizziness still.  I went to eye dr. and he said everything was fine with my eyes.  I really can't name how many drs., specialists, neurologists, ER's that I have gone to over the past 10 yrs, but none can find ANY source of dizziness.  My sensitivity to light has gotten worse as well as dizziness, upset stomach, and not "feeling right" in my head.  Things that I have seen a million times, seem unfamiliar.  It almost seems like my eyes are starving for O2 or something.  I have not been able to work for almost 2 yrs now because these symptoms are so debilitating.  I have upset stomach everyday, 7-8 times a day (always loose stool-yellowish, oily), not trying to be gross!!  But this has been going on EVERYDAY for almost 2 yrs.  I kept blaming it on having my gallbladder out, but at this point, I don't think it's that anymore!!  Do you think this could have me severely dehydrated, causing some of my dizziness?  I am so tired and lethargic feeling everday.  Here are my current list of symptoms: severe anxiety, brain fog (confusion), CONSTANT brain shocks, decreased alertness, derealization/depersonalization, depression, difficulty concentrating, severe fatigue, at nights it feels like I have a UTI often but the next morning-I'm fine, headaches, loss of appetite, haven't left my house but a handful of times in a yr, night sweats, tinnitus, severe sensitivity to light and sound-but especially light, difficulty falling asleep at night, and I feel shaky from the inside out.  I know I sound crazy and I have also seen a psychiatrist, because I promise you this is not all in my head.  She put me on Paxil and Klonopin, which neither are helping to alleviate any of my symptoms.  Xanax helped alot.  Do you think this could be something gastrointestinal causing all of this, and could I be severely dehydrated also?  Please let me know your opinion.  I am desperate at this point!  I want my life back!

[cyn74]

Hello!  I think you have more than one problem going on.  I don't feel that all your symptoms are related to one illness.  I think your anxiety is the result of your dizziness, visual problems, and even GI.  This is my opinion only as anxiety/panic attacks can affect several systems at once.  Hope this helps some....thanks & good luck

[CalGal]

The cause of your symptoms may be something else, but would you please, please consider going on a gluten-free diet for several weeks to see if that might help? Many of the symptoms are those that are reported by persons who are having gluten problems - and have had them for years - without being diagnosed. Gluten problems are extremely sneaky and celiac disease mimics a HECK of a lot of other conditions up to and including M.S. In those with celiac problems, the brain fog you're describing is a major symptom, as are headaches, stomach upset, and you name it.

I can't swear that it's celiac, but all it's going to cost you is a couple of weeks of your time and a BIG change in your diet - that's the hard part. You have to take out EVERYTHING with any wheat, rye or barley in it. People HATE to change their diets, but if you're desperate enough, I know you might consider it.

There are blood tests for celiac, but they're not reliable in my opinion. I you want a decent test, please consider the fecal antibody test by enterolab.com. And also get tested for casein (major protein in dairy) cross-reactivity. The genetic (allele) test should also be done. It's one of the better tests on the market and it tells a lot of people (who have already been blood tested and turned up negative( that the problems they've had are due to gluten. Doc's don't like the fecal antibody test and I don't know why, but it's well-respected among those who have learned the hard way that their celiac disease could have been caught earlier.