Hello,
2009 has been the worst year of my life as it relates to my general health. Starting at the end of February, I've been dealing with a "bout" of IBS. It affected my appetite and all-told, I lost about 25 pounds, with other symptoms of lack of appetite, floating stools, and abdominal pain.
I went through a gauntlet of tests including an abdominal ultrasound, small bowel follow-through, colonoscopy, EGD, stool fat tests/cultures, blood tests, 2 abdominal/pelvic CT scans (one with a close look at the pancreas) and 2 ER visits. All tests normal (did I mention I'm only 31??).
My second GI said that after all of the tests, IBS was the culprit, and that the weight loss was due to a change in eating habits related to the IBS symptoms. The explanation makes perfect sense.
Enter now, 6 months later, some general difficulty breathing (lungs feel tight and I sometimes wheeze or cough) and several lumps on the left side of my neck. One above my throat, one right next to my throat, one next to my jaw below my ear, and the most concerning one right by my left collarbone. They've all been noticeable for at least 8-10 weeks. I've had trouble breathing now for over a month...it comes and goes with the occasional cough...I've had 2 chest X-rays that came back normal.
Neither my GP or ENT were concerned. My ENT put me on a course of antibiotics, but with one day left, the lumps are still the same size with no improvement with my breathing issues.
My weight has been reasonably steady since going on Belladonna for IBS, with occasional weight spikes and dips depending on my appetite or if I have a stomach virus.
Additionally, I just came to the realization that I've been sick every 4 to 6 weeks for almost two years now. Every month of 2008, I got nasty colds. This year, I started with flu-like symptoms in Jan. & Feb., colds March thru May, and stomach viruses every 5-6 weeks since June (nausea, vomiting, dizziness, etc, for a day or two). I never have fevers, but get chills.
I'm going to end up with another CT after the antibiotic because the lumps haven't gone down. But my docs aren't concerned because the lumps are all under 1 cm. I just don't know what to do or where to turn at this point.
I can't handle feeling sick anymore. I honestly don't remember the last time that I felt good for more than a day at a time. I had a second opinion for the IBS, but I'm wondering if I need a second opinion overall???
My GP is convinced that if there were something seriously wrong, it would have been discovered by now with all of the blood tests and imaging scans. But, SOMETHING is wrong. I don't know what to do. Any advice, any suggestions, any positive re-enforcement is desperately needed. I am so sad and feel so desperate...I'm on Celexa now for anxiety and depression, but it doesn't seem to be working.
Could someone offer me a direction to go? Sorry for my lengthy post and thank you for listening.