Aa
need help
I’m new on this forum so please bear with my (too) long story. I’m just trying to figure out what is wrong with me and I’m definitely looking forward to hear what other people with (maybe) similar problems have to say.
Couple of months ago I started having some episodes of tachycardia – out of the blue my heart would start racing so of course I went to the ER lots of times, have been diagnosed with sinus tachycardia and given bisoprolol 2.5 mg to take once a day. About a month after the onset of the tachycardia I started experiencing chest pain that radiated into my arms. (sometimes the tachy and chest pain would occur at the same times, sometimes separately, sometimes I’d experience arm pain as well, but there was/is no pattern to that). During one of the ER visits the dr said I have costochondritis and prescribed celebrex and Percocet for the pain. About 2 weeks after starting on celebrex and Percocet (I took celebrex 200 mg once a day and Percocet only as needed) I have started developing new symptoms: a feeling of "buzzing" in my whole body that comes and goes, diziness, a sort of lightheadedness, headaches that come and go, a combination of itching/tingling/pain in my arms, legs, hands and feet (mostly on the left side of the body), as well as in my face and scalp. Plus at times I feel my pulse in my whole body - particularly in the head. The itching/tingling/pains come and go at different times during the day, and they vary in length and intensity. Pretty much all of my symptoms have the tendency to come and go and they have the tendency to go away whenever I am in the hospital or in a doctor’s office… go figure…
As the headaches got worse and I spent several sleepless nights because of them, I went back to see a doctor and I was told I might have a vascular headache/migraine, so I was given toradol by IV in the hospital and pills to take at home – the pills don’t always help, so I have yet another doctor’s appointment this week.
Yesterday as I experienced both a headache (which seems to affect not only my head but also some muscles in my neck and shoulders) and some chest pain I took 2 toradol pills 6 hours apart (as prescribed). The pains subsided and I was able to rest over the night, but this morning I woke up with a large painful bruise on my right thigh (and yes I am 100% sure I have not bumped into anything, the bruise appeared out of the blue).
Many of the doctors I have seen have told me that my symptoms don’t add up, and they are most likely stress related, so they suggested I have anxiety attacks – even prescribed ativan for me which sometimes seemed to help, still I am not convinced that all these problems are “in my head”, so I am desperately looking for some answers.
Here is a list of all the tests I have had: blood work (at least 15 times) has always come back normal except for my blood iron which is low and a positive ANA titre 1:160 with a homogeneous pattern, chest X-rays (4-5 times) normal, 24 h Holter monitor – no symptoms, echocardiogram – normal, stress test – normal, 2 weeks loop monitor – awaiting the results, thyroid hormone (TSH) – normal, CT scan of the head – normal, MRI of the brain – awaiting the results.
Needless to say that my stress levels are extremely elevated, not to mention that medical bills are piling up and all I have gotten from the doctors I have seen is that I have panic/anxiety attacks.
Is it possible that the increasing amount of stress in my life is responsible for this mess I'm in? Are there any tests that I may need in order to get a proper diagnostic? I have no idea where to turn or what to try... I used to be healthy and full of life, and now all I do is go to doctors looking for solutions to regain my... self.
Please help.
Couple of months ago I started having some episodes of tachycardia – out of the blue my heart would start racing so of course I went to the ER lots of times, have been diagnosed with sinus tachycardia and given bisoprolol 2.5 mg to take once a day. About a month after the onset of the tachycardia I started experiencing chest pain that radiated into my arms. (sometimes the tachy and chest pain would occur at the same times, sometimes separately, sometimes I’d experience arm pain as well, but there was/is no pattern to that). During one of the ER visits the dr said I have costochondritis and prescribed celebrex and Percocet for the pain. About 2 weeks after starting on celebrex and Percocet (I took celebrex 200 mg once a day and Percocet only as needed) I have started developing new symptoms: a feeling of "buzzing" in my whole body that comes and goes, diziness, a sort of lightheadedness, headaches that come and go, a combination of itching/tingling/pain in my arms, legs, hands and feet (mostly on the left side of the body), as well as in my face and scalp. Plus at times I feel my pulse in my whole body - particularly in the head. The itching/tingling/pains come and go at different times during the day, and they vary in length and intensity. Pretty much all of my symptoms have the tendency to come and go and they have the tendency to go away whenever I am in the hospital or in a doctor’s office… go figure…
As the headaches got worse and I spent several sleepless nights because of them, I went back to see a doctor and I was told I might have a vascular headache/migraine, so I was given toradol by IV in the hospital and pills to take at home – the pills don’t always help, so I have yet another doctor’s appointment this week.
Yesterday as I experienced both a headache (which seems to affect not only my head but also some muscles in my neck and shoulders) and some chest pain I took 2 toradol pills 6 hours apart (as prescribed). The pains subsided and I was able to rest over the night, but this morning I woke up with a large painful bruise on my right thigh (and yes I am 100% sure I have not bumped into anything, the bruise appeared out of the blue).
Many of the doctors I have seen have told me that my symptoms don’t add up, and they are most likely stress related, so they suggested I have anxiety attacks – even prescribed ativan for me which sometimes seemed to help, still I am not convinced that all these problems are “in my head”, so I am desperately looking for some answers.
Here is a list of all the tests I have had: blood work (at least 15 times) has always come back normal except for my blood iron which is low and a positive ANA titre 1:160 with a homogeneous pattern, chest X-rays (4-5 times) normal, 24 h Holter monitor – no symptoms, echocardiogram – normal, stress test – normal, 2 weeks loop monitor – awaiting the results, thyroid hormone (TSH) – normal, CT scan of the head – normal, MRI of the brain – awaiting the results.
Needless to say that my stress levels are extremely elevated, not to mention that medical bills are piling up and all I have gotten from the doctors I have seen is that I have panic/anxiety attacks.
Is it possible that the increasing amount of stress in my life is responsible for this mess I'm in? Are there any tests that I may need in order to get a proper diagnostic? I have no idea where to turn or what to try... I used to be healthy and full of life, and now all I do is go to doctors looking for solutions to regain my... self.
Please help.
Hi Mom2four85:
my doctor did not consider lupus as a dx as the rest of the blood tests she ordered for me did not lead to that conclusion, plus I have no typica symptoms of lupus in her opinion
i'll read through the info you shared with me - thank you - and see if there is anything that rings a bell, then go to my family doctor and see what she has to say.
thank you
my doctor did not consider lupus as a dx as the rest of the blood tests she ordered for me did not lead to that conclusion, plus I have no typica symptoms of lupus in her opinion
i'll read through the info you shared with me - thank you - and see if there is anything that rings a bell, then go to my family doctor and see what she has to say.
thank you
HI itdood,
thanks for getting back to me
the lyme disease or a viral infection are not on the table right now because of my "perfect" blood tests (as one of the ER doctors said).
my cardiologisst never ordered a tilt table test for me because in his opinion my bp, blood work, holter, ekg's etc have not shown him anything in that direction
will see what the last tests are showing and ... go from there
thanks for getting back to me
the lyme disease or a viral infection are not on the table right now because of my "perfect" blood tests (as one of the ER doctors said).
my cardiologisst never ordered a tilt table test for me because in his opinion my bp, blood work, holter, ekg's etc have not shown him anything in that direction
will see what the last tests are showing and ... go from there
Hi Michelle,
thanksfor your answer.
I am already taking iron supplements (along with calcium, magnesium, vit C and D).
Also lately I am not taking as many pills as i used to - i only take something if it's really bad so hopefully if what i'm experiencing are side effects are going to go away.
Trying and succeeding to de-stress are two different things but I'm giving it my best shot.
thanks again
thanksfor your answer.
I am already taking iron supplements (along with calcium, magnesium, vit C and D).
Also lately I am not taking as many pills as i used to - i only take something if it's really bad so hopefully if what i'm experiencing are side effects are going to go away.
Trying and succeeding to de-stress are two different things but I'm giving it my best shot.
thanks again
did the dr say your ANA was normal or did they dx you with Lupus or an autoimmune problem since it was positive?
many times AI conditions do cross over with autonomic problems but it may take many years to get properly diagnosed like Itdood said; for me it took from age 9 with my first fainting and arrhythmia's until age 42
sometimes you can get a dx just on symptoms alone; very rare but others I've talked to have - here's some info on ANS issues http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Neurological-Disorders/Autonomic-Dysfunction--Dysautonomia-Index-Page/show/857?cid=196
if it is ANS issues then check in the link for a dr near you or post in the Dys forum to see if anyone can recommend a dr for you
many times AI conditions do cross over with autonomic problems but it may take many years to get properly diagnosed like Itdood said; for me it took from age 9 with my first fainting and arrhythmia's until age 42
sometimes you can get a dx just on symptoms alone; very rare but others I've talked to have - here's some info on ANS issues http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Neurological-Disorders/Autonomic-Dysfunction--Dysautonomia-Index-Page/show/857?cid=196
if it is ANS issues then check in the link for a dr near you or post in the Dys forum to see if anyone can recommend a dr for you
Other areas to consider are infectious disease such as Lyme's disease or a viral infection.
It could also be some sort of Dysautonomia, which can be caused by a few things including an infectious disease or just an unknown cause for your CNS to act up. my own feeling is that dysautonomia has a broad spectrum of symptoms but is only diagnosed when it's severe enough to cause a positive tilt table test. You may have a light variety of it. It's often diagnosed as panic disorder, anxiety disorder, and subsets of symptoms are treated individually.
It could also be some sort of Dysautonomia, which can be caused by a few things including an infectious disease or just an unknown cause for your CNS to act up. my own feeling is that dysautonomia has a broad spectrum of symptoms but is only diagnosed when it's severe enough to cause a positive tilt table test. You may have a light variety of it. It's often diagnosed as panic disorder, anxiety disorder, and subsets of symptoms are treated individually.
I would definitely look into getting your iron levels regulated. It is likely why you bruised so easily and can be why your heart is feeling a little stressed. The tingling sensations could also be an allergy to the medicine. The dosage level may not be right for you. Overall most of the tests indicate you are in good health so try to ease your mind because stressing about how you feel is definitely making things worse for you. And go see your GP about iron supplements or adding iron rich foods to your diet. If you get your levels to where they should be you may find you are back to normal. Good luck and keep us posted on how you are doing.
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