Concerning Rash and Other Symptoms
Greetings! I am a 23-year-old woman and a smoker, with no current medications. I have a pollen allergy and certain food sensitivities but lack any additional diagnoses.
I have visited healthcare professionals numerous times regarding my symptoms. Routine blood tests and an EKG have been performed, both returning normal results. However, I do experience an elevated heart rate; at times, my resting heart rate can spike to 170 bpm, although it typically hovers around 120 bpm. While I exhibit symptoms commonly associated with POTS, they are not consistent, occurring roughly two times each week.
For many years, I've battled overwhelming fatigue, a sensation akin to being utterly drained and immobile, which I suspect has been present since I was around 13 years old. Recently, I have also become unusually sensitive to cold temperatures. Although I had no prior issues with cold intolerance, I find myself feeling cold more consistently now. My weight is fluctuating; in recent months, I’ve lost about 5 kilograms, which is not out of the ordinary for me given my ongoing struggles with weight management.
Over the past year, I have noted a swelling sensation in my throat. Initially attributing it to anxiety, I now realize it is progressively intensifying. I frequently feel the need to clear my throat due to mucus accumulation.
At times, I experience a stinging sensation in my lower throat, accompanied by brief pulsating pain that usually lasts only a few seconds.
I've also begun to contend with significantly blurred vision. While I’ve suffered from astigmatism for many years, this new blur doesn’t dissipate with blinking, as a foreign object in the eye typically would.
In addition, my skin has become extremely itchy, particularly at night. It often feels like insects are crawling on me, which is incredibly frustrating. My armpits, in particular, are irritated with dry patches. Despite switching soaps, deodorants, and laundry detergents, I see no improvement. I've tried numerous moisturizers, investing in quality products, yet the discomfort continues.
In the last two weeks, I have experienced peculiar episodes where my face feels as if it’s on fire. During these times, I feel extremely fatigued and dizzy. My hands swell and feel tight, and I develop red, burning, itchy spots on them. I also struggle with wheezing and have shallow breathing all the time, not just during these episodes. While I manage to take in air, there’s a noticeable difference in my usual breathing pattern during these times. These episodes can escalate rapidly, occurring within a minute and lasting about 20 minutes, with some spots lingering on my hands throughout the day. Strikingly, one day I noticed similar spots emerge on my groin and abdomen.
In an attempt to identify potential triggers, I stopped using any deodorants, scented soaps, and moisturizers a week ago, but so far, there have been no noticeable changes.
I have also been experiencing unusual bruising, especially around my hands.
While I understand that a definitive diagnosis is not possible here, I am eager to hear any suggestions or insights from others. What further blood tests might be useful? The healthcare providers I've consulted seem uncertain about the next steps since all initial tests have returned normal results.
If you have any additional questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to reach out. I appreciate any advice you can offer.
I'll add an image of the rash on my hands in the comments for reference.