I'm a 17-year old female with no underlying medical issues except beta thalassemia intermedia, which, of course, I've had since birth, and that has never caused me to have any other medical problems. But lately (since May) it seems like my body is just going crazy. It started with a case of strep. A few weeks later, I developed some sort of sore behind my ear, which became infected with staph. It didn't fully heal until well into August. In the meantime (mid-June) I came down with shingles. I thought this was unusual because I'm a teenager, with no known condition that would weaken my immune system or make me more susceptible to infection. Before I even recovered from that, I got a mild upper-respiratory infection, probably mild bronchitis. I got pretty much well again, aside from the sore (which was at this time still infected), and that lasted about two weeks. Then I developed an unusual rash. It was small red spots, severely itchy, that showed up in patches. It started on my shins, then moved up my body, to my thighs, then my stomach, and then my arms and chest. A methylprednisolone dose pack cleared it up, though my doctors (both my primary care physician and a dermatologist) admitted they didn't know what it was. I also experienced bouts of loss of balance and bad vertigo. At first I thought maybe the infection behind my ear had spread to my inner eat, but I had been bothered by frequent nausea since early spring, which seemed to be caused by the vertigo. About this time I was prescribed dicloxicillin and the sore behind my ear healed finally. About a week later, the rash reappeared, this time starting in the middle of the inside of my arms and spreading vertically along my arms. It was nearly symmetrical on both arms. A topical steroid lotion cleared it up. I seemed to return to normal health for less than a month. Now I am having the vertigo, followed by nausea again. It seems to be exacerbated by quick movement, bright lights coming from a particular direction (being surrounded by bright lights doesn't cause it), and sometimes it seems to just happen. I also have suddenly had a great increase in thirst. And even if I haven't had much to drink, I feel the urge to urinate far more often thatn usual. I wake up several (4-5 or more) times at night with an stong urge to go. I am pretty sure I'm NOT pregnant, and besides, all these health troubles started back in the spring, and I know for certain I wasn't pregnant when they began. I've had routine bloodwork done several times, but I haven't been tested for anything in particular. Every doctor I've seen has offered no explanation, or didn't seem to think the problems were related, or thought I was a hypochondriac (which is understandable, but I am not exaggerating my problems). I just wanted to see if anyone out there has had anything similar happen.
I am currently taking wellbutrin XR, clonazepam, and sertraline daily. I take meclizine as needed for dizziness, and phenergan as needed for drowsiness. I also take darvocet for occasional migraines, but I try to avoid taking it too often. In additon, I take a Depo-Provera injection every three months for birth control. I don't know if any of those meds could be affecting my health in some way, so I figured I should mention it.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this?