Has anyone ever gotten sick for 10 months with no diagnoses?

Question

I have been sick for 10 months. In the begining really sick. I was very weak, fatigued, achey, sore throats, and so dizzy I felt like I was going to pass out all the time, I also had dark circles under my eyes, and panic attacks(which I never had before), and severe anxiety. I have s.l.o.w.l.y. improved, but I still feel pretty crappy and I can't work out. I have had extensive testing and everything comes up normal. I was never sick before, I was drinking heavy and taking Tylenol pm every night for like a year before I got sick. Has anyone heard of such a thing? I also was very athletic before becoming sick. This really is true!! I am not a hypochondriac!!

I have be tested for everything under the sun> it isn't mono, or epstein barr, I had a million dollar workup. In the beginning two small viruses were in my blood- usually we get them as children- coxsackie, and parvovirus. Docs think maybe they resurfaced and afffected my immunne system.

Answer 1

No
Have you been tested for Mono?
See a doctor.

As quoted:
A person can be infected with the virus for weeks or months before any symptoms appear. Symptoms usually appear 4-7 weeks after infection, and may resemble strep throat or other bacterial or viral respiratory infections. These first signs of the disease are commonly confused with cold and flu symptoms. The typical symptoms and signs of mononucleosis are:

Fever - this varies from mild to severe, but is seen in nearly all cases.
Enlarged and tender lymph nodes - particularly the posterior cervical lymph nodes, on both sides of the neck.
Sore throat - seen in nearly all patients with EBV-mononucleosis
Fatigue (sometimes extreme fatigue)
Some patients also display:

Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly, which may lead to rupture) or liver (hepatomegaly)
Abdominal pain
Aching muscles
Headache
Loss of appetite
Jaundice
Depression
Weakness
Skin rash
After an initial prodrome of 1-2 weeks, the fatigue of mono often lasts from 1-2 months. The virus can remain dormant in the B cells indefinitely after symptoms have disappeared, and resurface at a later date. Many people exposed to the Epstein-Barr virus do not show symptoms of the disease, but carry the virus and can transmit it to others. This is especially true in children, in whom infection seldom causes more than a very mild illness which often goes undiagnosed. This feature, along with mono's long incubation period, makes epidemiological control of the disease impractical. About 6% of people who have had mono will relapse.

Mononucleosis can cause the spleen to swell, which in rare cases may lead to a ruptured spleen. Rupture may occur without trauma, but impact to the spleen is usually a factor. Other complications include hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) causing jaundice, and anemia (a deficiency of red blood cells). In rare cases, death may result from severe hepatitis or splenic rupture.

Reports of splenomegaly (enlarged spleen) in infectious mononucleosis suggest variable prevalence rates of 25% to 75%. Among pediatric patients, a splenomegaly rate of 50% is expected,[1] with a rate of 60% reported in one case series.[2] Although splenic rupture is a rare complication of infectious mononucleosis, it is the basis of advice to avoid contact sports for 4-6 weeks after diagnosis.

Usually, the longer the infected person experiences the symptoms the more the infection weakens the person's immune system and the longer he/she will need to recover. Cyclical reactivation of the virus, although rare in healthy people, is often a sign of immunological abnormalities in the small subset of organic disease patients in which the virus is active or reactivated.

Although the great majority of cases of mononucleosis are caused by the E.B. virus, cytomegalovirus can produce a similar illness, usually with less throat pain. Due to the presence of the atypical lymphocytes on the blood smear in both conditions, most clinicians include both infections under the diagnosis of "mononucleosis." Symptoms similar to those of mononucleosis can be caused by adenovirus and the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii.

Answer 2

I've been pretty sick like you have as well. The dizziness, fatigue, and dark circles definitely rings a bell. I have an anxiety disorder too, and I've lost 35 lbs.

It really sucks to not be able to figure out what's wrong. I feel your pain.

If it were mono, you'd be WAY tired-- you wouldn't even be able to go to school or work.

You know what? Tylenol is an acetametaphin, which means that if you take it for a long period of time like a year, it can cause liver damage. And drinking is also a culprit to liver damage.

Seriously, from one stranger to another, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR LIVER TESTED if you haven't already.

Try taking a multivitamin in the mornings and lay off of caffeine and carbonated drinks. Try drinking more water, flavored water, or decaf-tea.

Good luck, I really hope you find out what's wrong. And I know you're not a hypochondriac. I hate it when people say that.

Answer 3

I don't know who your doctor or doctors are, but you need to see somebody else, possibly a specialist of some kind. There are far too many causes for what ails you (as per your description) that it is not possible (or ethical) to diagnose you over the Internet without a lot more information. Did you visit a foreign country? Were you bitten by any insects? Is there a fuel tank, etc., that started to leak under your house? Is there mold in your basement? Did you move into a new place before this started happening? Anybody else in your area suffering the same symptoms? Any vaccines injected? Are you taking any other drugs? Do you have any other unhealthy habits? Please go see a physician other than the one or ones you have been seeing for an immediate second opinion - it might make all the difference in the world. From what you mentioned it sounds like possible liver damage, but that is only a guess and you need to be seen by a physician in your area as soon as possible. Get well soon.

Answer 4

You need to see a doctor, you've been sick for too long. Drinking does have an affect, but have you ever had a blood test to find out if you are anemic??? That could be a reason. when I don't take my iron pills I get ver weak and sleepy most of the time. get some tests done, you might have a deficiency in something and you possibly can recover before you know it....

Answer 5

I was sick for almost a year! And because of it I became depressed, but I didn't realize it, many doctors tried to prescribe anti depressants but i would not take them. I finally got to the point where I couldn't take it anymore and gave in. It helped in so many ways!! I'm not saying this is what you should do but , I would mention it to your doctor.By the way being worried all the time about what is wrong and not getting any answers causes extreme anxiety and your body gets wore out from all of the stress. I'm so glad I followed my doctors advice ! I'm happy healthy and full of energy again!

Answer 6

Yes, I can understand your predicament, I've had the same experience. It is all down to your body not coping with the stresses in your life. Too much alcohol and caffeine kept you going too long and now you have had a breakdown. I had to stop work are a consequence and now lead a very quiet life. Things have now improved substantially and I am back to normal. Unfortunately it takes at least 9 - 12 months to turn things around.

Answer 7

The fact that you were sick for so long (10 months) with physical and mental symptoms, and MD exam revealed no physical disease process, tells me that the sickness may be related to mental health. You had panic attacks and anxiety. The truth is that mental and emotional problems can manifest as physical symptoms. You should seek mental health evaluation. There is no reason that you should need to live like this for so long. There is help available. Please make an appointment. Best of health and recovery.

Answer 8

Alcohol can be the underlying problem. It can cause all of those things you mention. Did you mention the drinking to your doctors? If not and it has not YET shown in your liver/kidneys, it soon will. Lay off the booze and NEVER mix it with Tylenol. If you don't, you'll have kidney failure.

I hope you no longer drink. If you stay off it, you will get better.

Answer 9

You need to switch doctors. All doctors don't know every thing.

Write down all your symptoms as accurately as possible. It's best to record them WHILE you're having them - so that you ARE accurate.

I was sick for years until I said the 'right' words to my doctor. They are listening for a combination of symptoms to help order tests or diagnose your illness

God luck and God Bless!

Answer 10

Sounds like mono, uh hello drinking and taking tylenol?