Aa
Undiagnosed
I feel as though I've been sick all of my life. I've had stomach problems since I was a young child (abdominal pain, nausea, bouts of persistent vomiting). Now, beyond those same problems, I have frequent headaches, leg pain, and fatigue. Occasionally, I experience severe vertigo which impairs my ability to sleep and increases my nausea. Hardly a day goes by when I don't feel sick from one or more of these symptoms, and I am so tired of it. I have depression and anxiety from feeling chronically ill, as I feel that I have little chance for a future that doesn't involve these same problems. I'm eighteen years old, but I feel as if my life is already over. I rarely go out of the house or spend time with friends because I'm constantly in fear of getting sick when I'm in public. I don't know what to do since my doctor never seems to think that there is anything wrong with me. If anyone has any idea of what's wrong or how I can improve my health, please let me know. I just want to have a chance at a normal life.
A good way to find an excellent endocrinologist or neurologist is to find a major teaching hospital that you can get to. Sometimes (as in the US) the particular specialties in respective hospitals are listed in order of how good they are said to be.
When looking at such lists, do not be fooled into visiting the highest graded hospital near you. Instead go for the highest rated department (eg endo or neuro) that you can get to,
When looking at such lists, do not be fooled into visiting the highest graded hospital near you. Instead go for the highest rated department (eg endo or neuro) that you can get to,
Once again, I'd like to thank everyone for their comments and suggestions. I appreciate all of your help. My current doctor has never run any diagnostic tests for my GI issues; he usually tells me(at least once a year when I go in because of them) that it's probably just a virus. I've been hospitalized three times for stomach problems. Once, when I was five for abdominal pain, where they did an MRI of my stomach and didn't find anything. The next time, at age fourteen for persistent vomiting, the doctors didn't run any tests but gave me medication to stop the vomiting. The last time, at age seventeen for nausea and abdominal pain so severe that I couldn't sleep, they also did not run tests but have me IV fluids and medicine for nausea. I am currently looking into doctors in my location that specialize in the areas that you have mentioned.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hello, sorry you are going through so much pain and suffering.
I would suggest you see maybe a neurologist or even one that specializes in endocrinology. I know this sounds far-fetched, but sometimes, issues like yours can be caused by hidden issues.
Have you been checked for weak adrenals? As to the stomach issues, sometimes, these are secondary to main issues.
Don't give up, keep searching, there is bound to be a doctor somewhere that can help.
I would suggest you see maybe a neurologist or even one that specializes in endocrinology. I know this sounds far-fetched, but sometimes, issues like yours can be caused by hidden issues.
Have you been checked for weak adrenals? As to the stomach issues, sometimes, these are secondary to main issues.
Don't give up, keep searching, there is bound to be a doctor somewhere that can help.
When a doctor says "there is nothing wrong", he or she means that is what he or she thinks. It isn't Gospel.
Half a year ago I had a pain in my right leg. Two doctors said 'It is nothing" or "if it is anything, it is a strain from lifting or running".
I rejected that as I don't run and the most I life is a 2 litres of milk.
One doctor suggested an ultrasound, which showed nothing. 'See, I told you so", she commented.
I replied that I still have pain and clearly the u/s is NOT the right diagnostic tool.
Long story short....I demanded a MRI which revealed a tumour, which a few weeks ago I had removed.
Bottom line: if you feel bad, investigate thoroughly. The worse that can happen is that you waste time and money. The best that can happen is that you solve your medical mystery, have it treated and return to a full and active life.
Best of luck!
Half a year ago I had a pain in my right leg. Two doctors said 'It is nothing" or "if it is anything, it is a strain from lifting or running".
I rejected that as I don't run and the most I life is a 2 litres of milk.
One doctor suggested an ultrasound, which showed nothing. 'See, I told you so", she commented.
I replied that I still have pain and clearly the u/s is NOT the right diagnostic tool.
Long story short....I demanded a MRI which revealed a tumour, which a few weeks ago I had removed.
Bottom line: if you feel bad, investigate thoroughly. The worse that can happen is that you waste time and money. The best that can happen is that you solve your medical mystery, have it treated and return to a full and active life.
Best of luck!
Rather than look at all your problems and get lost in what to tackle first, I suggest to follow up on Zahidkapariay's comments. Get several things looked at such as abdomen,liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, kidneys and bladder. This will reveal if there is anything suspicious going on there.
Take the images back to your primary doctor who may suggest you see a gastroenterologist or an urologist.
At the same time go to an immunologist and test if you have any allergies. It is possible to be allergic to very small amounts of a substance (eg lactose) and that could make you ill.
Do not wait to have the ultrasounds done before arranging to see the immunologist.
Take the images back to your primary doctor who may suggest you see a gastroenterologist or an urologist.
At the same time go to an immunologist and test if you have any allergies. It is possible to be allergic to very small amounts of a substance (eg lactose) and that could make you ill.
Do not wait to have the ultrasounds done before arranging to see the immunologist.
Ok you make this simple.
Sometimes stomach pain gives you more of the problem like
Nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, fatigue and vertigo mostly in morning, weight lost, headache and sometimes depression.
I believe most of your symptoms do relate to stomach pain.
to make it simple for you see a gastrointestinal that is advisable.
Once the gastrointestinal clears you up then you can further investigate your case from there.
Happy new year
Sometimes stomach pain gives you more of the problem like
Nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, fatigue and vertigo mostly in morning, weight lost, headache and sometimes depression.
I believe most of your symptoms do relate to stomach pain.
to make it simple for you see a gastrointestinal that is advisable.
Once the gastrointestinal clears you up then you can further investigate your case from there.
Happy new year
Thank you for all of your suggestions.
A more detailed list of my symptoms:
-Chronic nausea(nearly every day and does not seem improve nor worsen depending on what/how much I eat, when I'm nauseated I tend to eat bland foods out of fear of inciting a vomiting episode but this does not lessen my nausea; I would say that this is my most debilitating symptom as it happens so commonly and so intensely)
-Abdominal pain(also occurs nearly every day in some form, sometimes it is a deep stabbing pain while other times it is a burning sensation)
-Bouts of vomiting(has not occurred in several months but when it does happen, it usually occurs at night; the nausea and abdominal pain wake me up and I spend the rest of the night awake, in pain, and vomiting)
-Headaches(last for several hours, sensitivity to light and sound, sometimes last throughout an entire day and into the next morning if I don't take any medicine)
-Leg pain(happens sporadically, pain radiates down my entire legs, does not improve with rest)
-Fatigue(happens at least twice a week despite getting well around nine or ten hours of sleep, I become so exhausted that it is difficult to function or even think clearly)
-Vertigo(happens mainly at night and the following morning but can persist throughout the entire day; when asleep, if I move my head to either side or tilt its position even slightly, the entire room begins to spin causing intense nausea and an inability to stay asleep; the next morning I still feel the dizziness and have almost fallen over when standing completely still because I felt a sensation of the ground lurching to one side)
A more detailed list of my symptoms:
-Chronic nausea(nearly every day and does not seem improve nor worsen depending on what/how much I eat, when I'm nauseated I tend to eat bland foods out of fear of inciting a vomiting episode but this does not lessen my nausea; I would say that this is my most debilitating symptom as it happens so commonly and so intensely)
-Abdominal pain(also occurs nearly every day in some form, sometimes it is a deep stabbing pain while other times it is a burning sensation)
-Bouts of vomiting(has not occurred in several months but when it does happen, it usually occurs at night; the nausea and abdominal pain wake me up and I spend the rest of the night awake, in pain, and vomiting)
-Headaches(last for several hours, sensitivity to light and sound, sometimes last throughout an entire day and into the next morning if I don't take any medicine)
-Leg pain(happens sporadically, pain radiates down my entire legs, does not improve with rest)
-Fatigue(happens at least twice a week despite getting well around nine or ten hours of sleep, I become so exhausted that it is difficult to function or even think clearly)
-Vertigo(happens mainly at night and the following morning but can persist throughout the entire day; when asleep, if I move my head to either side or tilt its position even slightly, the entire room begins to spin causing intense nausea and an inability to stay asleep; the next morning I still feel the dizziness and have almost fallen over when standing completely still because I felt a sensation of the ground lurching to one side)
Wow, you do have many things that need attention.
The first thing to to is make a detailed list of what is wrong; when it is wrong and for how long? For instance:
"Leg Pain; right leg only; at night; painful to move but rarely need medication".
Such detail will help isolate just what you have going on.
A good initial step is to see an endocrinologist who will ask for blood work to investigate your hormones and related matters. This will provide useful information which in time will help diagnose what's going on.
Other ideas include:
See an immunologist to test if you're allergic to any (or many foods). This could explain your nausea, irritable bowel and abdominal pain.
With respect to leg pain and headaches, you could see a neurologist who may want to do an MRI or two to see if there is anything going on in your head or spine.
Good luck
The first thing to to is make a detailed list of what is wrong; when it is wrong and for how long? For instance:
"Leg Pain; right leg only; at night; painful to move but rarely need medication".
Such detail will help isolate just what you have going on.
A good initial step is to see an endocrinologist who will ask for blood work to investigate your hormones and related matters. This will provide useful information which in time will help diagnose what's going on.
Other ideas include:
See an immunologist to test if you're allergic to any (or many foods). This could explain your nausea, irritable bowel and abdominal pain.
With respect to leg pain and headaches, you could see a neurologist who may want to do an MRI or two to see if there is anything going on in your head or spine.
Good luck
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