OpenHealth Q&A

Seeking Guidance on My Ongoing Health Struggles

I’m reaching out for some insights. For the past five years, it feels like I’ve been shuffled among numerous specialists without finding a resolution. I am a 41-year-old woman, standing 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 140 pounds. My ethnicity is Caucasian, and I've been grappling with health problems for over six years. I reside in the United States. I have several pre-existing health concerns including chronic migraines, episodes of vertigo, seizure-like happenings, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and ovarian cysts. Around five years back, I started experiencing severe constipation, which led to multiple trips to the emergency room for enemas. At the age of 37, I underwent a colonoscopy that revealed the presence of 16 polyps. Following an elimination diet, I saw some improvement in my constipation with the assistance of medication and probiotics. My most recent colonoscopy in January indicated that there were three polyps, all of which were identified as pre-cancerous. While this isn’t my primary concern, I wanted to include it as it might be relevant to my overall health picture. Two years ago, I experienced an incident resembling a seizure, which unfortunately was not documented during several tests. My husband discovered me unconscious in our room, hunched over and wet. I was rushed to the hospital and placed in a medically induced coma for five days. Despite undergoing numerous tests including CT scans, MRIs, EKGs, and comprehensive blood tests, the results returned within normal limits. In the ensuing months, I was hospitalized three additional times for similar symptoms, although those episodes were less severe. My husband reported that I would momentarily lose coherence, collapse, and then start to convulse, but would recover after a few minutes. Each time I was admitted for monitoring and then discharged the following day, ultimately being referred to neurology and a concussion clinic, as I also sustained three concussions during this period. Since these occurrences, I have suffered from relentless migraines and persistent vertigo that significantly disrupt my daily life. I often find myself bedridden for several days due to debilitating dizziness, and I have been plagued by a non-stop headache for the last two years, which escalates to migraine status several times a week. Sometimes these headaches are accompanied by vertigo, but other times they occur independently. When a migraine approaches, I experience blurred vision, difficulties with speech and cognitive function, as well as severe brain fog. So far, I’ve consulted two neurologists and tried various medications (including nurtec, sumatriptan, emgality, and qulipta), but nothing has brought relief. Recently, I was referred to a cardiologist and have undergone a tilt table test due to suspicions of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). During the first tilt table test, my heart rate soared to 160 beats per minute while resting, prompting a visit to the ER before I could complete the testing, and I was monitored with a heart monitor for a week. According to my general practitioner, the results were normal. During my second tilt table assessment, I experienced no symptoms, leading to a diagnosis that did not meet the criteria for POTS. I’m currently waiting for a follow-up appointment with the cardiologist in October. Additionally, during my annual OBGYN appointment in August 2024, I was found to have a complex cyst on my left ovary, which resulted in the removal of both the ovary and the fallopian tubes. That same month, my first mammogram revealed a mass in my left breast, which subsequent ultrasound examinations determined to be clusters of cysts, with no significant changes observed. I have also been dealing with recurring cysts in my armpit and groin regions. A dermatologist has diagnosed me with hidradenitis suppurativa, and I am currently on duloxetine and spironolactone, with a consultation for laser hair removal scheduled for Monday. I’m left wondering if all these health issues could be intertwined. Given that I’ve faced numerous cysts both inside and outside my body, I’m curious whether they could be connected in some way. Any thoughts or guidance you could offer would be greatly appreciated, as I long for a return to normalcy in my life.

Answers (1)

7/18/2025, 3:40:49 AM

OpenHealth AI

Thank you for sharing your comprehensive health journey. It’s clear that you’re dealing with a complex array of health challenges, and it's understandable to feel frustrated and overwhelmed. While it's tough to piece everything together, I'll provide some insights and potential avenues to consider.

Main Points

1. Interconnectedness of Symptoms: Your diverse symptoms, from migraines to gastrointestinal issues, could have underlying connections.
2. Focus on Management Strategies: Addressing each condition can help improve your overall well-being.
3. Collaboration with Providers: Continuing open communication with your healthcare team is vital for effective management.

Explanation

Your situation involves several chronic and acute health conditions, including chronic migraines, IBS, seizure-like episodes, and the presence of cysts. These health issues can sometimes be interconnected. Stress and chronic pain can exacerbate migraines and IBS, and hormonal changes (e.g., related to ovarian cysts) may influence both headaches and other bodily systems.

Persistent migraines, vertigo, and gastrointestinal symptoms can often be influenced by multiple factors including hormonal fluctuations, dietary triggers, neurological issues, or even systemic conditions like fibromyalgia. The presence of hidradenitis suppurativa suggests an inflammatory process, which can also affect overall health.

Prioritized Next Steps

1. Symptom Tracker: Start keeping a detailed diary of your symptoms, including timing, triggers, severity, and any associated factors (like diet or stress). This can help you and your doctors identify patterns or potential links between different issues.

2. Comprehensive Care Plan: Seek to establish a unified care approach where all your specialists (neurologist, gastroenterologist, OBGYN, dermatologist) coordinate on your treatment plan. Ensuring everyone is on the same page can create more holistic treatment strategies.

3. Consider Dietary Approaches: Given your history with IBS and ongoing gastrointestinal issues, revisiting your elimination diet might be beneficial. Consulting a registered dietitian could provide personalized guidance tailored to your gastrointestinal health while considering your migraines and potential food triggers.

4. Stress Management Techniques: Incorporate stress-relief practices such as mindfulness, yoga, or regular low-impact exercise (e.g., walking or swimming). These can help reduce migraines and improve your general health.

5. Regular Follow-Ups: Ensure you have follow-up appointments with your current specialists, especially with the cardiologist regarding postural issues, and monitor cyst-related concerns with your OBGYN.

6. Medication Review: Discuss the effectiveness of current medications with your neurologist. If current options are not providing relief, there may be others to explore, including preventive medications or alternative therapies such as acupuncture, which some find helpful for migraines.

Conclusion

Analyzing your symptoms and maintaining strong communication with your healthcare team is key. You deserve tailored care that addresses each aspect of your health. Taking small, manageable steps can lead to improvements and a better quality of life. Let me know if you need further information or support navigating these next steps.