Help with health problem?

Question

Hi,

Wondered if anybody has any ideas?

I haven’t felt well since about January. For a few days I feel ok then I don’t feel right again. It is hard to list symptoms as I generally just don’t feel right but some of my symptoms are – Dizziness, feeling faint, anxiety, weakness, chest pain and even aching in testacles for the last couple of months.

I have been to the doctors on several occasions and been looked at. I’ve had an ECG, chest x-ray and various blood tests but still no answer. I have also dropped off a urine sample and am waiting for the results

I’m aged 30, exercise regularly and eat fairly healthy.

No it's not alcohol poisoning!

Thanks to everyone who has helped. My doctor thinks it is stress due to work. He has told me to stay off work for a bit and also prescribed me citalopram 20mg. Although I am worried about these tablets as they seem to be for depression and so far I have taken one and it has left me feeling terrible. I'm not going to take anymore of these until I have spoke to my doctor again.

Any other recommendations to help with stress, i.e. herbal remedies, etc?

Answer 1

Hi there,
This sounds like symptoms of stress or being overworked. You need to relax for a while, go out with some friends and have a good time. If I am right, the urine sample may or may not come back showing a problem but I believe that it is due to stress. Do not worry about it and just sit back and relax. Summer is coming up soon, book yourself a short holiday. Its a good excuse of getting out of work anyway for a while which is what you should do. I really hope that you get better soon, and the best of luck. Good Question.

I have posted a website below that gives you 18 tips on how to cope with it.
I am not a Doctor so what I am saying may not be the case, but they are the symptoms I had when I had it (apart from the testicles).

Answer 2

Hi. Is there something on your mind that worries you and you can't talk about it.I am only speculating because you mention Anxiety which can give you the physical symptoms you mention.I have generalized anxiety disorder which means i am constantly anxious all the time for no particular reason.

Could this apply to you.If so it is best to see a Psychiatrist who can help you .If you feel uncomfortable about seeing one don't worry they are very understanding. I am seeing a terrific doctor who has been helping me for the past 14 years. I was so bad back then i had to retire from work but i was a lot older than you (48).

I hope things work out for you and you get better.
Cheers.

Answer 3

I am sorry to hear you have not been feeling well.

Do you have a lot of stress in your life? If so, try to reduce this. Change your diet completely. Cut out all rubbish. Don't eat 'fairly healthily', eat completely healthily. You will be surprised the difference a good diet can make.

Are you happy with your life? If not, only you can change it. if you are not happy in a relationship, change it.

If your doctor cannot give you a diagnosis, ask for a second opinion. You should not be feeling like this.

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.

Answer 4

I don't really have any of those... Kind of the money problem because I am a poor college student but my parents help me out a lot so that is really appreciated. As far as the love department, I have been single for about 2 years but I honestly think it's God's will. I mean, I am incredibly indicisive and still trying to figure out who I am. Plus, being single and on the edge of 21 is a pretty damn good time. Cheers :-)

Answer 5

Hi I sometimes feel unwell like this especially when sleeping is a problem (except for the testicle bit). Do you have regular sleeping patterns? You might be overdoing the exercise or sitting in front of computer too long like me.
Frustrating when Dr.s can't give an answer. Maybe if these other things don't apply - get another Dr.s opinion. You could try a holiday if Dr.s can't help.
Cheers

Answer 6

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Answer 7

Sounds like anxiety attacks.
I suffer from them myself.
Try Bach's rescue remedy.
Put it u under your tongue when you feel it coming on and it should just work.
As well as this talk to someone as to what your underlying fear is.
good luck

Answer 8

Could you have depression? I suffered all of these symptoms and more after i suffered a breakdown and had severe panic attacks it makes you feel like your dying!

Answer 9

I think the urine test might show up some infection.. but hey.. you want advice from a bush doctor right? .. 'cause to me it sounds a little like alcohol poisoning... you're not a party animal are you?

Answer 10

Hello,
sorry for that but i think you have balance proplem, its dizziness..........
Characteristics of dizziness may include:

A sense that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving (vertigo)
A loss of balance
Nausea
Unsteadiness
Wooziness
Lightheadedness
Faintness
Weakness
Fatigue
Difficulty concentrating
Blurred vision after quick head movements
How do you normally keep our sense of steadiness and balance?

Your brain constantly receives nerve messages from various parts of the body to tell you where you are and what position you are in. The three main sources of these nerve messages are:

Your eyes - what you look at helps your brain to tell what position you are in and how you are moving.
Nerve messages from your skin, muscles and joints helps your brain to tell the positions of your arms, legs, and other parts of your body.
Your inner ears. The inner ear includes the cochlea, vestibule and semicircular canals in which there is a system of narrow fluid filled channels called the labyrinth. The cochlea is concerned with hearing. The three semicircular canals help to control balance and posture. Head movements are sensed because when you move your head, the fluid in the labyrinth within the semicircular canals moves too. The movement of the fluid moves tiny fine hairs that are on the inside lining of the labyrinth. When the hairs move, this triggers messages to be sent to the brain via a nerve called the vestibular nerve. This gives the brain information about the movement and position of your head, even when your eyes are closed.



To be free of dizziness and to have good balance, it is best to have all of these - eyes, nerve signals from the skin muscles and joints, and inner ears - working normally. However, if you shut your eyes, you will still have a good sense of balance, and know the position of your head and other body parts because of the nerve messages that are sent to your brain from your inner ears, and other parts of your body.

What are the causes of dizziness?

There are many causes of dizziness. The main causes include the following.

Vertigo
Vertigo is dizziness with a spinning sensation. If you have vertigo you feel as if the world is spinning around you, and you feel very unsteady. Often you will also feel sick or vomit. Vertigo tends to be eased by lying down flat, and made worse by sitting up or moving around. Vertigo is usually caused by a problem in one of the inner ears when the labyrinth or vestibular nerve is inflamed, damaged, or not working properly. If the labyrinth or vestibular nerve sends too many, too few, or wrong messages to the brain, and conflicts with other messages from the other ear, eyes, or body, then the brain gets confused and results in vertigo.

There are various inner ear problems that can cause vertigo. These include the following:

Spinning around. Many people get vertigo for a short time if they spin around fast. For example, on some playground or fairground rides. Basically, the brain gets bombarded with nerve messages from the semicircular canals in the inner ears due to the constantly changing position of the head. The brain can't cope with the constantly changing nerve messages. Symptoms usually settle soon after the spinning stops, but in some people the symptoms can take several hours or longer to subside.

Labyrinthitis. This means inflammation of the labyrinth in the inner ear. There are various causes. The most common is due to a viral infection ('viral labyrinthitis'). Typically, with viral labyrinthitis you develop vertigo, and often feel sick or vomit. You may have some mild hearing loss on the affected side too. You may also have other symptoms of a virus infection such as a sore throat, flu symptoms, or a cold. The vertigo can be intense and you often need to stay in bed until the condition eases. Symptoms of viral labyrinthitis can last anything from a few days to several weeks, and then usually clear completely. If symptoms last longer, or other symptoms develop in addition, then there may be a more serious cause of the labyrinthitis. See separate leaflet called 'Labyrinthitis and Vestibular Neuritis' for more details.

Vestibular neuritis. This is similar to labyrinthitis but the inflammation is in the vestibular nerve coming from the inner ear rather than in the inner ear itself. Often it is impossible to tell the difference between vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis. However, as with labyrinthitis, the common cause is thought to be a viral infection and symptoms from this cause usually clear completely as the infection clears. See separate leaflet called 'Labyrinthitis and Vestibular Neuritis' for more details.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). If you have BPPV you develop sudden episodes of vertigo that last just a few seconds or minutes. Each episode typically occurs when you move your head in a certain way. A common example is when you turn over in bed, or when you get up from bed in the morning. The vertigo is caused by a tiny fragment of solid material that has come loose inside the labyrinth. This then moves within the fluid inside the labyrinth when you move your head in a certain way and may stimulate the sensitive hairs inside the semicircular canal part of the labyrinth. This sends wrong messages to the brain about the position of your head resulting in vertigo. See separate leaflet called 'Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo'.

Meniere's disease. This condition typically causes episodes of vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus (buzzing or ringing in your ear). The episodes can vary in severity, and in how often they occur. Each episode can last from 20 minutes to several hours. Permanent hearing loss and tinnitus may eventually develop. It is thought that Meniere's disease is due to a build up of fluid in the labyrinth from time to time. The build up of fluid may increase the pressure within the labyrinth and cause swelling of the labyrinth which leads to the symptoms. See separate leaflet called 'Meniere's Disease' for details.

Vestibular migraine. Episodes of vertigo develop in some people who have migraine. These sometimes occur as part of the 'aura' that some people with migraine have before a headache develops. However, vertigo can also occur separately to headaches in some people who get migraines. The cause of migraine is thought to be due to changes in blood vessels in the brain and a similar mechanism may be the reason why vertigo develops. People who have 'vestibular migraines' tend to be sensitive to motion. Therefore, vertigo caused by a vestibular migraine may be triggered by a sudden movement of the head, or by travelling in a car, etc. Each episode of vestibular migraine can last from several hours to several days.

Acoustic neuroma. An acoustic neuroma is a benign (non-cancerous) tumour that grows on the acoustic nerve (the nerve that forms when the cochlear and vestibular nerve join up between the ear and the brain). It is a rare disorder but initial symptoms can include vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus. These are similar symptoms to Meniere's disease. However, unlike Meniere's disease which comes in episodes of symptoms, the symptoms of an acoustic neuroma tend to be constant and get worse and worse.

Uncommon causes. Various conditions of the brain, blood vessels of the brain, and nerves can cause vertigo. For example, some people who have a stroke or multiple sclerosis develop vertigo. However, this will usually be in addition to various other symptoms.
It is usually best to have an explanation for dizziness. If you have a prolonged episode of dizziness, or recurring episodes of dizziness and are not sure what is causing them, then it is best to see a doctor. In particular, if you have other symptoms in addition to the dizziness such as:

Headache, especially if it is severe, or a different kind of headache to ones you usually get.
Hearing or visual loss.
Problems with speech.
Weakness of arms or legs.
Difficulty walking.
Collapse, or periods of unconsciousness.
Numbness in areas of your body.
Chest pain.
An abnormally slow or fast pulse.
An irregular pulse.
Any other symptom that you cannot explain.
A doctor is likely to examine you. Sometimes the doctor can tell you the cause of the dizziness from your symptoms and the result of the examination. In some cases, various tests may be organised to find the cause of the dizziness