Pain and Nausea - unclear multiple symptoms!

[confusedchica]

Hi,  I hope someone can help.  I've never used a site or forum before so bare with me! But I found this site today and I'm pretty desperate!

I'm a 19 y.o female non-smoker.  I was diagnosed with glandular fever when I was 17 and had poor health and fatigue for a long long time.  Now quite recently I have had to stop my ballet training (again!) for a number of months as I have been suffering from pain in my arms.  I first noticed it in work when the skin on my hand felt really painful and tingly to touch (no rash).  And my hands became weak in trying to do anything.  I went to the doctor.. got anti-inflammatories and painkillers.  A few weeks laterw I have these points above my elbows in both arms that are so so painful and when I press on them my hands go numb.  I've woken up with the tips of my index fingers feeling totally numb and my arms can really ache.  Now my stiff painful neck is completley continous.  
I also have a poor appetite, frequent diarrohea for months now (embarassing i know) which sometimes has blood and a lot of mucous and nausea.  I'm completely insomniac which might be to do with the pain so I'm always pretty exhausted and my glands have been going up and down.  I also had a small lump (like a pea) on my neck which I can still feel and have had mouth ulcers for months now!
I have had two sets of blood work done ... all fine except my thyroid was a little lower than it should be.  But in terms of WBC, and anything that looks for inflammation i was fine.  I went for a neck x-ray today and my doctor thinks I should go to a gastric or rheumatoid specialist.  But I'm not sure which is more important to go to first - the pain is wearing me out but the problem with food is making everyday life so difficult.  Could the two be linked?  This all started around Christmas and I'm not further along.

I'm sorry I wrote loads but if anyone has any ideas please let me know!

[confusedchica]

Id just like to bump this if anyone had anymore thoughts.  Im not really any further along.  I suffered from really bad nosebleeds on holiday all summer that I almost had to get a transfusion in italy from the loss of blood and since being back home I have fainted twice, recurring cough, and bleeding gums and mouth sores like you wouldnt believe.  My whole system feels sluggish and im taking everything natural and herbal i can find and eating healthy and all that.  Is it all linked?

:(

[confusedchica]

thank you so much for the responses.  Feels nice to have people appreciate my symptoms!  I went to a gastic specialist who said that many 19 year olds are just intolerant of bad health and it should clear up... had a scan of my neck done also. Had a lot of blood work including autoimmune and b12  which all came back fine... thyroid was meant to be tested again but then my GP left and the other doctor doesnt think its neccesary!
Had a lot of pain this week and i'm so tired because I can hardly eat a thing with the nausea and I also fainted today.  Don't know if I should just give up on the doctors. Have tried homeopathy and accupressurists etc in the past too but nothing has given longterm relief! Maybe iam young and too intolerant so will stick to trying to ignore symtpomsm for a while and live healthily!  I just feel really angry and depressed about the whole thing.  I will go back to my GP next week to fill him in on all of this as he asked.

I really appreciate your posts and positive thoughts!

xx

[darlingdivatx]

This really sounds to me like low b12. Please have that checked. In the past you had to get intravenous b12 shots every other week because a defiency doesn't respond to oral supplements. There's some debate about that these days, but I think that's still how it typically treated. Low b12 can cause ALL of your symptoms, even the diarreah. You said your thyroid was low. Are they treating you for this? This could be at the root of most of your symptoms as well. If it is you don't need to see the gastro or rheumatoid doc. You need to see an endocrinologist. Actually that is definitely who you need to see since you tests came back low thyroid. They can evaluate a low b12 issue too.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[wishforchange]

With your histor of glandular fever ME does spring to mind, also Lupus.  If you have had a lot of bloodwork done then check whether autoimmune activity has been checked for.  This does sound like a systemic problem and I agree with KatEyes that is is important that whoever you see coordinates their findings with any other specialists.  Meanwhile the best you can do for yourself as the tests go on is get plenty of rest, good diet, all the usual health advice, and stay positive.  This may for example ultimately be an extreme allergic response, eg gluten allergy, and with changes to your diet you may recover fully.  Research all possibilities.  They may be going a bit out of fashion now, but naturopaths are excellent at dietry and allergy advice, and you may want to seek the advice of a registered one.  You need to keep proactive on this one, you are very young and deserve to enjoy this time of life in good health.

[KatEyes]

Wow, you do have a lot going on. Is there a reason why you have to choose one doctor at a time? If your doc is willing to refer to both, I would let them evaluate simultaneously, each aware of the other in case they want to coordinate anything. Sounds like some form of colitis that needs to be evaluated. It may be you'll end up being treated by both anyhow. May be something autoimmune. You have nothing to gain by waiting, and everything to gain by moving forth assertively to seek answers.