What is this? (med students please answer)?

Question

This is a serious question, and I ask for serious answers only. I'm having A LOT of symptoms on a daily basis, but am completely unsure of what's going on. Now, I'm not looking for a diagnosis from anyone. I'm really looking for suggestions of what this could be. Everyone thinks differently, and has different suggestions. The following is a list of the symptoms and their frequency:

-Exhausted VERY easily - chronic.
-Chronic Fatigue.
-Hungry often & if food is not ingested like clockwork numbness, blurred vision, and dizziness occur quickly (about every 2 hours).
-Some days I have energy to function, and others I can only get up to go to the bathroom.
-Frequently dehydrated
-Bloated feeling 1-2 times per week
-Fuzzy thinking - several times a day
-Vertigo once per day
-Dizziness 8-10 times a day
-Numbness in hands and feet (accompanied by blurred vision). 8-10 times a day
-General feeling of unwellness

More continued below....

-General feeling of unwellness 98% of the time
-Diharrea, 6 months consistent (at times for a month straight)
-Blood Pressure is erratic (sometimes its normal, sometimes its low, sometimes it drops when I stand up).
-Heart rate jumps about 20 beats from sitting to standing.
-Blood sugar levels are erratic.
-Muscle Pain in arms, legs, lower/upper back, mornings if not constant throughout the day
-Very sensitive to foods (especially all processed ingredients), constant
-Headaches, once every few days
-Vivid nightmares, 1-2 times per week
-Severe Allergies, constant
-Sporadic rashes, has itchy burning feeling, 1-2 times per week
-Heartburn, occurs when I eat protien and starch together
-Feeling of a Rock/solid mass in my stomach, occurs when protiens are eaten with starch (such as a deli sandwich)
-If over 80 degrees, my body feels heavy and almost like its being attacked, I get headaches and extremely tired
-Below 71, cannot keep warm

more continued below...

New Symptoms (occured in the past 3 days):

-Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling in hands, wrists, knees, ankles, and toes.
-Slight fever. Temp is normally 97.3-97.6, and its been 98.9

Previous Doctor Diagnosis:
Hypoglycemia
Benign Essential Tremor
Asthma
Hereditary Neuropathy
Gluten-Intolerance

I have been on the hypoglycemic diet for about 10 months. I eat perfect the way I'm supposed to. Lots of produce, beans, gluten-free breads, etc. I take a multivitamin everyday thats made from food. My energy got better for a little bit, but then yesterday my joints and body was so sore, it literally hurt to move. Today is not as debilitating. I'm still sore and stiff in my joints though.

I'm asking this question because I'm frustrated. I get so sick I can't get up and do much of anything. Sometimes its because I get vertigo from standing. I am a 22 year old college student.

Any suggestions you could offer... such as a type of specialist, lists of possible causes (don't be afraid you're going to scare me). More than anything, I want to feel what true health is like. I've been like this since I was a child. I'm getting to the point, where I'm close to, being tired of fighting. I've tried fixing with diet and vitamins... letting my cells repair themselves. Nothing I do works for very long.

I really don't read that much medical stuff. I've read one called "Never Be Sick Again." and a few hypo books. I'm actually an Audio Engineer major, singer, and songwriter.

I've already covered the possibily in my head approach. I really wish it was, because then it would all go away and I could be normal. A few months ago, I got excited when someone told me that... I ended up making myself even more exhausted and sick. Because I thought I could just use as much energy and eat whatever I wanted. That sucked... I wish it was in my head, but its not... its very real and its very complicated.

Answer 1

Other causes should be ruled out before stating that this case is psychosomatic. Pscyho= from the mind, soma, from the body. In short, its only in the mind.

Basis:
dizziness
blurred vision
frequently dehydrated

Diagnosis:
Benign Positional Vertigo To Consider Error of Refraction
T/c NIDDM ( non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus)
T/C Iron Deficiency Anemia
T/C Acid Peptic Disease

T/c ( To consider)

You never mentioned your blood pressure! It is important that your blood pressure be monitored to rule out Hypertension!

Benign Positional Vertigo
= always dizzy, usually noted with changes in position. If you wake up feeling dizzy, dont stand up at once, sit down first then after sometime, stand up. Sudden changes in position will cause the dizziness. Dont look down at once or from left to right fast, do it a little bit slower but not too slow.
The patient is usually given anti-vertigo for this cases x 3-5 days sometimes more if really needed.

Error of Refraction:
When was your eyes last evaluated? Better consult an optometrist or ophthalmologist if you need a pair of eyeglasses. It usually presents with dizziness and vertigo.
It is important that the doctor give you first medication for dizziness if needed, however, refraction will be done once there is no longer dizziness.

Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus:
(+) polyphagia ( excessive eating)
(+) polydipsia ( feels thirsty most of the time)
(+) polyuria ( urinates most of the time,
a normal person only
urinates once at bedtime
& upon waking up, a
person with diabetes is
often awaken at night just
to urinate every now &
then.
these are the 3Ps of Type 2 Diabetes.

Your blood sugar should be evaluated. It is done fasting depending on the laboratory guidelines. Some have it 8 hours, after midnight , no more food or water. Then have your blood be extracted at 8 am.
It is better that a doctor see you first to rule out other causes and to determine what other laboratory tests have to be done on you.
Blurred vision might be also due to high sugar. In some cases, all the 3P's are absent and yet you have diabetes.
Numbness is one of the other symptoms noted in diabetes.


Iron Deficiency Anemia:
= presents with dizziness, fatigue, and unwellness

Acid Peptic Disease:
= Do you have missed meals?
People who are bloated might be due to hyperacidity. Avoid missing meals. Have breakfast, lunch, dinner and 2 snacks in between.
Eat small frequent feedings if you miss your meals.
Avoid coffee, tea, juices, sour and spicy foods. Dont take milk also, it will aggravate on what you are feeling.
Stress likewise can present with all the manifestations.

It is important that you be seen by a family physician first. She/he should interview and examine you first before coming up with a diagnosis and treatment. Follow-up should be done or a 2nd opinion is also advisable if you arent contended with the doctors explanation and management.

Answer 2

Your symptoms could be caused from a multitude of things. I will tell you what COULD be happening; however, you need to be evaluated by at doctor. Get a complete physical w/ blood work. Unless an exam is performed, everything else is just a guess. My guess is that most of your symptoms are form anxiety and depression. You need an evaluation by a therapist as well as a medical doctor because some of your symptoms point to diabetes or at least hypoglycemia. The vertigo and dizziness could be something as simple as allergies or sinus trouble. However, I do not understand the dehydration. Are you having frequent urination's? If so, this also points to diabetes. Usually a multitude of problems are multi-factorial, meaning they are caused by numerous things. I would call at once to make an appointment with a medical doctor and a therapist. I hope this has helped and I wish you luck in resolving your issues.

Paramedic in SC

Answer 3

Oh my gosh! It sounds like several different things! Not one disease would cause all of these symptoms. Sounds like maybe MS + IBS, or thyroid problems maybe. More likely thyroid. MS symptoms usually don't come and go several times in one day, they will come on gradually and then last solid for 5 or 6 weeks. Sounds like also you're reading too many medical books! It happens all the time, especially to med students and nursing students. See your Dr, good luck!

Answer 4

maybe you are iron deficient. go get a blood test. iron deficiency is common in females of menstruating age. i do not know if you are.

there could be other more serious conditions that will be revealed through a blood test. i do not want to scare you by telling you what they are. see your doctor and I am sure he will order a blood test.

sorry I didnt read the whole thing. ask for a full chemistry, endocronology, and blood panel from your doctor.

Answer 5

well hi those were a pretty detailed list u got up there and doc would have diagnosed u easily if u had gone upto him .... i don't know about other docs in here but to me there is just one probable diagnosis and that is Diabetes nothing else fits in . Get a urine glucose test maybe using a dipstick if a friend of urs has one ... and find out .

Answer 6

I'm no doctor but you really need to go to your doctor to get some tests ultra sounds and maybe an m,r,i...when you start getting allt hose kind of symptoms it's time to go to a doctor or even an emergency room...i have troubles with my eating and walking ect....i tried to go to a specialist myself'but your dr.has to refer you please if you don;t have money to go 'at least go to an emergency room.they can help you from there..do one of them asap,,,,,,good luck and get well soon....

Answer 7

This is the time when you and your boyfriend should be having the most sex in the relationship. It's a great stress reliever. Realistically, take my advice.

Answer 8

You are dieing.

Answer 9

you are a hypochondriac. that is my diagnosis.