Struggling with Multiple Unexplained Symptoms - Seeking Insights
Hello everyone, I’m a 22-year-old female and I have a lengthy message to share. I hope to connect with anyone who might identify with my situation or can offer insights. Here’s a summary of my current health issues: **MY SYMPTOMS** - For the past three years, I have been grappling with persistent tachycardia. Despite undergoing various tests including electrocardiograms (EKGs), heart ultrasounds, and monitoring, doctors have concluded that my heart is normal. I take propranolol daily, but my symptoms don’t align with POTS, as I experience increased heart rate while resting, lying down, and even during sleep. Notably, I don’t have anemia and my thyroid levels are within the normal range. - I often notice unexplained bruising, with instances where I have over 40 on my limbs at once. Although these incidents have become more frequent during my menstrual cycle, they can also occur sporadically. Blood tests revealed normal results overall, including normal inflammatory markers and clotting factors, yet three hematologists have been unable to provide an explanation for this symptom. - I've been feeling reactive lymph nodes that can only be detected through touch, located in both submandibular areas, an armpit, and the back of my head. These first appeared after I had an EBV infection in 2023 and have remained enlarged ever since. Occasionally, their size fluctuates; there was a recent instance where one submandibular node measured 9 mm when previously, there were two at 17 mm. - My blood analysis frequently shows slightly reduced neutrophils and a higher percentage of lymphocytes since the EBV incident, although the absolute counts remain normal. - Gastrointestinal issues plague me with symptoms such as bloating, audible stomach noises, gas, cramping, mucus in my stool (sometimes floating), alternating between constipation and soft, light-colored bowel movements, undigested food remnants in my stool, acid reflux, and infrequent nausea and belching. I often experience false hunger pangs that are not truly related to hunger. - I also deal with episodes of chills, flushing in my face, sweating, and cold extremities without fever. These episodes, which began alongside my EBV infection in 2023, can be triggered by heat or occur seemingly at random. - A persistent dry cough has lasted over a month. After consulting with a pulmonologist who evaluated my blood parameters and conducted a spirometry test, all results were normal. Allergy tests indicated sensitivity to grass pollen. I had allergic asthma during childhood, which resolved itself after puberty, but antihistamines recently prescribed haven't helped my cough. - Other troubling symptoms include hair thinning, dry hair and skin, brittle nails, fatigue, intolerance to exercise and heat, constantly dry or bloodshot eyes when outdoors, insomnia, and while I haven’t lost weight, I have experienced significant muscle loss leading to thinner limbs. Additionally, I have developed irregular and painful menstrual cycles, alongside persistent feelings of anxiety and depression, which have emerged with these health issues. **DIAGNOSTIC TESTS UNDERTAKEN:** - Multiple heart ultrasounds and a heart monitor showed only the abnormal heart rate. - Blood clotting factors appear normal, as do my thyroid hormones. - Ultrasounds of the lymph nodes assessed through various radiologists indicate they are merely reactive. - Stool tests returned negative for H. pylori and other bacteria; I tested negative for celiac disease twice. - Five fecal occult blood tests came back negative. - Pancreatic amylase levels are normal, alongside sedimentation and CRP results, revealing mild changes in lymphocyte and neutrophil percentages but not absolute counts. - Iron levels are normal, as is glucose, while tests following EBV reactivation remained negative. - I have had an abdominal ultrasound numerous times demonstrating significant intestinal gas but otherwise normal findings. - A colonoscopy and terminal ileum biopsy yielded normal results. - An endoscopy revealed incompetence at the cardia, mild chronic gastritis, and non-specific inflammation in the duodenum without atrophy. - Abdominal and transvaginal ultrasounds conducted at a gynecologist’s office were normal. - Three gastroenterologists diagnosed functional dyspepsia and IBS; however, one referred me to a more specialized doctor who disputed the IBS diagnosis due to observed inflammation in my duodenum and insisted on investigating the cause further. This doctor prescribed treatment for gut dysbiosis, with a follow-up plan contingent upon my response to the treatment within 20 days. **APPROACHES I HAVE TRIED:** - Following a gluten-free diet for several months. - Implementing low FODMAP and low histamine diets, and avoiding lactose. - Experimenting with various probiotics, including VSL#3, and fiber/prebiotic supplements. - Trying digestive enzymes such as Creon, along with activated charcoal capsules and simethicone, antispasmodics, and antihistamines. - Using sodium butyrate and various supplements including aloe vera juice, black seed oil, and curcumin, as well as iron, zinc, omega-3, magnesium, and vitamins D and B. I would be grateful for any advice or if anyone else has experienced something similar. 🥲
Answers (1)
6/23/2025, 8:21:02 AM
OpenHealth AI
It sounds like you’ve been facing a complex combination of symptoms for quite some time, and it’s understandable that this is concerning for you. From your detailed description, here are the main points regarding your health concerns:
- Persistent tachycardia: Normal heart tests but ongoing high heart rate.
- Frequent unexplained bruising.
- Reactive lymph nodes post-EBV infection.
- Gastrointestinal issues.
- Other diverse systemic symptoms (e.g., chills, exercise intolerance, skin/hair issues, and menstrual irregularities).
Understanding Your Situation
Your symptoms can arise from multiple factors, such as immune responses post-infection, gastrointestinal dysregulation, and potential chronic inflammatory conditions. Persistent symptoms with no clear diagnosis can be frustrating, but it's good that you've systematically tried various approaches and sought multiple opinions.
Prioritized Next Steps
-
Document and Analyze Symptoms:
- Keep a detailed symptom diary. Note when each symptom happens, what you ate, activity levels, emotional stressors, and how you felt physically. This can help identify patterns or triggers over time.
-
Gastrointestinal Management:
- Continue the advice from your new gastroenterologist since they are investigating gut dysbiosis. If your current treatment for this is ineffective, discuss the findings with them and consider medications like probiotics or prebiotics under their guidance.
-
Monitor Lymph Nodes:
- Regularly check the size of your lymph nodes in consultation with a healthcare provider. If they fluctuate significantly, consider following up with the specialist who is monitoring them closely.
-
Lifestyle Adjustments:
- Adopt stress-reduction practices (e.g., mindfulness, yoga, or relaxation techniques) which may help with symptoms of anxiety and overall well-being.
- Focus on hydration and a balanced diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods (e.g., omega-3 fatty acids from fish, fruits, and vegetables) while minimizing processed foods.
-
For Persistent Cough:
- Consider continuing to monitor how this responds to antihistamines you’ve already tried. If symptoms persist, discuss further evaluations with a pulmonary specialist, considering allergy testing and potential asthma triggers.
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Regular Follow-Ups:
- Maintain regular follow-ups with your healthcare providers to update them on any changes or developments in your symptoms. This can also involve revisiting previous specialists if new symptoms emerge or existing ones worsen.
Affirmation & Support
It’s clear you are doing a lot to understand your health situation and that you care deeply about finding answers. Continue to seek knowledge and advocacy in your healthcare journey, and don’t hesitate to voice your concerns to your providers as they arise. You deserve comprehensive care and support throughout this process. Take care, and please feel free to reach out if you have more questions or need further guidance.
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