OpenHealth Q&A

38-Year-Old Male Seeking Clarity After 9 Years of Health Struggles

Hello everyone, I’ll aim to be succinct and straightforward. **About Me:** I am a 38-year-old male, who avoids smoking, alcohol, and drugs. For a significant part of my life, I dealt with obesity, but in the period from 2012 to 2015, I achieved a personal best by dropping from 220 pounds to 145. Unfortunately, I’ve regained that weight due to limitations preventing me from staying active and engaging in desired activities. My blood pressure has consistently hovered near the hypertension threshold. Anxiety wasn’t part of my history until the onset of my health issues. **Health Problems:** The emergence of my symptoms began around 2016. Initially, they were mild but progressively worsened over a couple of months. I experience severe fatigue, occasional bouts of dizziness, nausea, cognitive clouding, headaches with migraines, and neck pain. Shortly after these symptoms manifested, I noticed blood in my stool for about a week, alongside developing heat intolerance. At times, I feel faint or as if I lack sufficient blood flow or oxygen to my head, similar to the sensation of being tipsy despite not consuming alcohol. Engaging in cardio-intensive activities exacerbates these issues significantly. **Medical Journey:** I have sought help from numerous healthcare professionals without uncovering any explanations for my symptoms: - Consulted five primary care physicians, undergoing extensive blood tests. - Visited three ENT specialists, including several sinus CT scans. - Met with three cardiology experts, who performed EKGs, stress tests, and heart ultrasounds. - Consulted an endocrinologist who dismissed my concerns quickly. - Spoke with a sleep specialist who diagnosed me with mild hypersomnia. - Had a brain MRI with a neurologist. - Had an upper GI assessment with a gastroenterologist. - Made multiple trips to the ER, seeing 6-8 different doctors. - Attended therapy sessions to help cope with these prolonged issues. - Continued regular visits with a chiropractor, who I had been seeing for five years prior. **Additional Remarks:** - Residing on the east coast of the US, an area known for Lyme disease, I spend a lot of time outdoors. I had to advocate for Lyme testing, which showed three out of ten indicators, but I was informed that this result is considered negative. - One ER physician suggested checking my kidneys, but his recommendation was never entered into the system, leaving me unable to follow through. - Three years ago, desperate for relief, I started Cymbalta as advised by my primary care physician, but it hasn’t altered my symptoms. - My wisdom teeth were extracted a year before my health issues began. - Lying down in any position seems to alleviate my symptoms; consequently, I frequently rest in this manner during my free time. - Three years ago, my vitamin D levels were low enough to require a prescription, despite taking daily supplements. - An ER doctor once noted scarring on my left lung, asking if I was recently ill, which I wasn’t beyond my ongoing symptoms. He suggested following up with my PCP, who showed little concern and offered but did not carry out follow-up X-rays. - I meticulously tracked my diet and blood sugar levels for over a month, utilizing finger pricks and a continuous glucose monitor. I found that my symptoms tended to flare up when my levels dropped to around 70 or lower. However, my endocrinologist insisted that those levels fall within a normal range and are not to blame. This summarizes my current situation. I’ll add any additional thoughts as they arise.

Answers (1)

8/16/2025, 8:51:03 PM

OpenHealth AI

Thank you for providing such a comprehensive overview of your health challenges. Your experience with multiple symptoms over the years underlines an ongoing struggle that understandably causes concern. Let’s focus on addressing your current health status and providing actionable steps.

Main Points

1. You are experiencing a range of persistent symptoms without clear diagnoses after extensive medical evaluation.
2. Your concerns relate to both physical symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, and gastrointestinal issues, as well as mental health related to anxiety.
3. Given your history of obesity and fluctuations in weight, managing your overall health remains crucial.

Explanation

Your symptoms could stem from various underlying factors, including potential autoimmune issues, chronic fatigue syndrome, vitamin deficiencies, or Lyme disease given your exposure risk. The combination of fatigue, dizziness, and cognitive clouding can significantly affect your quality of life. Here’s what you might focus on moving forward:

Prioritized Next Steps

1. Symptom Tracking: Keep a detailed diary of your symptoms, alongside activities, meals, and stress levels. This may help identify potential triggers and patterns, informing future conversations with healthcare providers.

2. Follow-Up on Kidney and Lung Health: Since there was a mention of kidney concerns in the ER, it’s wise to ensure you have appropriate follow-up tests, including kidney function tests. Given the note about scarring on your lung, consider asking for a follow-up chest X-ray to monitor any changes.

3. Vitamin and Hormone Levels: Since your vitamin D was low, it might be beneficial to recheck your vitamin levels and thyroid function. These can play a critical role in energy levels and overall health, and finding a healthcare professional who listens and acts on these tests might be vital.

4. Deep Dive into Lyme Disease: Discuss with a Lyme-literate healthcare provider if chronic Lyme disease might be a factor despite previous negative tests. They can offer insights into treatment and further testing.

5. Lifestyle and Weight Management: Given your history of weight fluctuation, explore structured support for maintaining a healthy weight. This could involve working with a nutritionist or joining a group for lifestyle change support that emphasizes achievable, sustainable goals.

6. Mental Health Focus: Since you’ve noted anxiety emergence, consider revisiting mental health support. It may help to engage with a therapist specializing in chronic illness, since ongoing support can empower you as you navigate your symptoms.

7. Cardiovascular Health Monitoring: Since you mentioned having borderline hypertension, pay close attention to your blood pressure. Keeping it monitored at home could give more insights and is something to discuss with your healthcare provider.

Reassurance

I understand that this has been a long and complicated journey for you. It is vital to continue advocating for your health and seeking the answers and support you deserve. Make sure to find a healthcare provider who is willing to partner with you in exploring these concerns comprehensively, as persistent symptoms warrant a thorough approach.

Feel free to reach out if you have further questions or need clarification on any of these steps!