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Conditions and Diseases > Immune Disorders Forum > So Many Symptoms... So Few Answers.
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Q: So Many Symptoms... So Few Answers.
asked by: nickiej01 on August 23rd, 2007
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Hello. I apologize in advance if this rambles. I am a 29 year old female who has been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism with a hot singular nodule(this is the only confirmed diagnosis I have been able to get from 5 different doctors, and they said I didn't need a FNA). I have been very sick for the last 13 years of my life.

It started out with just general fatigue and muscle soreness and weakness. Now, for the last few years, there is a bulging pain I get from time to time directly below my ribcage on my left side (sometimes, it even hurts to touch). It gets worse if I eat anything greasy (like bacon) and I actually get nauseated and sometimes need to vomit to relieve the nausea. Once, I vomited 3 hours after eating, and all the food was still in my stomach. I bounce between constipated and loose(non-watery) stools. When I have a bowel movement, the pain will sometimes lessen. I also get really bad heartburn. Sometimes so bad, my throat feels like it's on fire. Symptoms get worse when I am stressed or upset (usually my heart will start racing, and my pulse and blood pressure will sky rocket.) I had a barium enema, and the radiologist said it was "basically normal", and they checked for blood in my stool and didn't find any. One of my grandmothers had polyps and died of stomach cancer, and my other grandmother died from pancreatic and lung cancer, so I am a little concerned.

I am just so tired all the time, and it makes the worrying worse, which makes the symptoms worse. Strangely, I also have a few things that are asymptomatc for hyperthyroid: I am sensitive to cold and desensitized to heat, I gain weight like crazy, and I tend to be weak and tired most of the time (I do have random bouts of energy). The muscle soreness is getting worse (my left shoulder is numb almost all the time and my neck is getting very cranky). The soles of my feet are bright red and my toes are often cold. There is also a large strawberry colored rash on my right foot that develops fluid filled blisters that my doctors keep saying is eczema but doesn't respond to hyrdrocortisone at all.

A few of my other (less severe, but still annoying) symptoms are:
I am prone to acne, even at my age, which neither OTC nor prescription meds seem to be able to help.
I am constantly battling with iron-deficiency anemia.
In the last month, I have begun smelling burning rubber and smoke that no one else can and tasting ammonia.
I have severe allergies which lead to chronic sinusitis at least twice a year, if not more. Traditional allergy meds don't always help. (Claritin seemed to help for about a week and then stopped helping.)
I have an ovarian cyst.
I have trouble falling asleep, and when I do fall asleep, I seem to spend most of the night having lucid dreams and then have trouble waking in the morning (even if I let myself naturally wake up, I still feel lethargic.)
My saliva glands don't seem to shut off, even if my mouth is completely moist. When I yawn, if I lift my tongue, saliva literally shoots out of the gland under my tongue.

I am rheumatoid positive and have high titer speckled ANA, but have not been diagnosed with anything. I should also point out that I took a lot of antibiotics as a child for genetic vesicoureteral reflux. If you have any insight, I would be ever so grateful!
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gsrobertson
replied on October 14th, 2007
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a Prayer And a Suggestion
I prayed for you this morning as prayer is the best thing I can do for you.
I have also had a positive ANA test and have not yet been diagnosed. I just saw my family chiropractor this last week and he was able to give me some natural supplements. They have already helped with my fatigue. I pray that the Lord would help you find better answers and to get well. Please check into seeing a chiropractor if you have not already done so.
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tkr2fulk
replied on December 13th, 2007
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For What It's Worth...
Wow! Your story sounds so familar. I'm 27. I had chronic fatigue, fibro, and hypoglycemia at 13. My gallbladder removed at 21 (it was "diseased" with no stones). I was diagnosed with hashimoto's disease at 25 (hypothyroidism). I struggle with a myriad of "wierd" symptoms.

I was hospitalized last week for the GI problems I am having. After no firm conclusions, I am waiting on my ANA results, and hopefully some answers. Right now, I am scared to death that my blood work will come back normal. I would rather be diagnosed with something than nothing at all.

My insight for you: keep fighting. Don't give up. Ask your doctors the hard questions, and hold them accountable. I think that is the most important thing I have learned this week. My doctors were quick to slap a label on me and send me out the door until I refused. I am sorry for the passion. I believe there are answers. We just have to keep fighting for them and praying. Stay strong!
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jason2jr
replied on January 25th, 2008
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ME TOO...
I have alot of the problems you have explained but I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Polymyositis. Its basically inflmmation in my muscles that cause weakness and soreness and eventually deterioration of your muscles. I had the fatigue, stomach problems, heart burn out of this world, vomiting, numbness in alot of my limbs, and just feeling sick all the time. Depression followed and then anxiety attacks. I have been treated with steriods to stop the inflammation, which it did, but left me with so many horrible side effects that I dont know if I wouldve chosen it over the pain if I had known in advance. Stay strong, pray and dont give up. Someone will know. Go to different Doctors and always get second opinions.
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katrina5558
replied on March 4th, 2008
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What is Polymyositis? What are the syptoms and how did they diagnosis it?
I have a lot of stomach problems and I have been having chronic fainting spells. I get severe headaches and get chronic leg cramps and my jaw and ears hurt and I have started getting pain in my hands. I had bloodwork done several months ago and had high ANA levels which my dr thought might be due to a sensitivity to wheat so i have since been on a wheat free diet which brought the ANA levels back in line. but i still have the symptoms. Just wondering how you got your diagnosis.
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jason2jr
replied on March 5th, 2008
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Confused Well, I didnt really have any stomach problems ofther than not having an appetite. olymyositis is really rear and it basically consist of your immune system attacking your own baby( muscles speciafically). I causes you to be weak because your muscles are literally being eating away, it causes fatigue for obvious reasons, weight loss for obvious reasons, bruises and sore muscles. Mkes it hard to walk up and down stairs, get dressed and get up from a sitting position. No cure though. They also dont know were it comes from. I takes steriods to take the inflammation away which helps but also hurts because of all the side effects the give. Good luck. Have you asked about chronic fatigue syndrome. Hope this helps.
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