Desperate for Answers: My Ongoing Struggles with Food and Pain
I'm a 24-year-old male, weighing 52kg and standing at 167cm, and I'm feeling utterly hopeless. I have not received a concrete diagnosis despite my ongoing health issues. For the past three months, I've been on bupropion at a dosage of 150mg. My health complications began at the age of 12, presumably starting with acid reflux. By avoiding certain foods like chips and sugary drinks, my symptoms seemed manageable. However, everything changed at 16 when I began experiencing severe abdominal pain and diarrhea whenever I consumed fatty foods. The discomfort would typically escalate at night, with lying down worsening the situation.
At 17, my throat began to hurt significantly, causing me difficulty in breathing accompanied by a low-grade fever that subsided after a week. Since that moment, every meal I consume leads to burning sensations in my throat, nausea, fatigue, and abdominal pain. I've noticed that when I eat minimally, I feel considerably better and more energetic. My diet has become extremely restricted; I can no longer tolerate spicy, fatty, salty, or sour foods, nor most fruits and vegetables or dairy products. My weight has plummeted from 62kg to 40kg within just six months. Consuming any problematic foods triggers fever, nasal congestion, weakness, and dizziness.
I frequently experience ear pain, with a persistent ringing sound that continues to intensify. Additionally, I sometimes endure sharp pains in my back and chest, especially during deep breaths. To cope, I've resorted to a bland diet that consists mainly of simple homemade dishes seasoned only with salt—no spices whatsoever. The tolerability of certain foods fluctuates; for instance, I used to handle oatmeal well, but now I find it difficult to eat chicken, and vice versa. Currently, my meals primarily consist of potatoes, lean meat, butter, and white bread. Water is my only beverage, though it can also cause discomfort at times.
Strangely, I occasionally sense a plastic and bitter taste and smell, which seems to occur in cold environments or when consuming hot or cold drinks. Smoking exacerbates my pain; even proximity to cigarette smoke irritates my throat. Although it may not be directly related, I've noticed my skin and eyes are incredibly dry, and I often suffer from hiccups. Joint pain is another recurring issue, accompanied by cracking sounds. Despite undergoing both endoscopic and colonoscopic examinations, the findings were inconclusive. Tests for celiac disease were negative, as well as screenings for H. pylori through stool, blood, and breath tests; even an echocardiogram turned up nothing.
I've had numerous blood tests that yielded no relevant information, though I no longer have access to the records. For years, I was prescribed omeprazole, but it failed to provide any relief, prompting me to discontinue its use. Medical professionals have suggested the possibility of bulimia, despite my lack of purging behaviors. Others have offered dismissive advice, suggesting I simply find a tree to hug, attributing my issues to psychological causes. I feel completely lost and am at a loss for what to do next.
IndigestionNutritionConstipation