I sometimes feel like I'm going back in time. My heart has been racing more and I've had some heart palpitations, insomnia, and headaches like I haven't had in a few years. So, what does that all mean? I'm not sure. I'd like to think it means I'm reversing this problem and will start to feel myself again before too long. I have an appointment with an endocrinologist in March, so it will be interesting to get her take on all these things. Right now I'm pretty convinced that my problems are a combination of adrenal, thyroid, and candida issues. How to fix it all, I'd sure like to know. I hate feeling half-dizzy like I have the last few days. I'm eating as healthy as I can. I've removed all white sugar and white flour and products containing them and don't eat fruit high on the glycemic index. I've tried to balance protein, complex carbs, and healthy fats. I've tried to eat more non-starchy vegetables. I'm trying to exercise at least 3 times a week. It's not real strenuous exercise -- Wii Fit, Yoga Pilates, and a little basketball -- and I haven't been consistent as I should, but still. I should be feeling better than I do. I mean I'm 35, 5'7", and 125 pounds, don't drink or smoke, don't drink caffeine, eat healthy, and live a pretty low stress lifestyle. I should be feeling great -- but I'm not! I guess that's why I'm still continuing my quest for answers.
My eye twitch finally went away. Not sure what the cause of that was. Go figure!
3 comments:
I’m new to blogging. I hope I’m not overstepping myself. I read your story and felt compelled to write. I’m 38 and my story is similar. I struggled with anxiety, fatigue, light headedness, near fainting, brain fog, shaking than isn’t quite shaking but I can feel it, heart palpitations, light and other sensitivities, weak and irregular pulse, digestive issues, unusual numbness and tingling and irregular menstrual periods.
I sought the help of gynecologists, endocrinologists, and chiropractors. No one could help. After much testing, I was told by each doctor that there was nothing wrong with me and that I should be happy because I’m healthy. The gynecologists told me that for some people it’s normal to have your period all the time. I had my period for nearly 7 years straight. I knew I wasn’t healthy and that something was terrible wrong.
Then 4 years ago, a friend suggested that I go to the Clymer Healing Center. She thought I may have adrenal issues. She was right.
After one month, my periods became regular and the anxiety was nearly gone. Since then, I have been on a normal 28 day menstrual cycle. What a relief! I’m health continues to improve. I’m so grateful of the care I received.
The Clymer Healing Center has researched adrenal dysfunction and their proven approach has helped thousands of patients resume their lives for over 50 years. What I like the most is that they explain and educate. Questions are encouraged and readily answered.
I read and reread the book Chronic Fatigue Unmasked 2000. It explains in detail how adrenal glands affect your overall health. I know you have done a lot of research on the subject. Should you feel that your treatment is somewhat incomplete or that you would like another opinion, I thought I would pass this information on to you. Dr. Neville is the naturopathic at the center and he offers phone appointments for distant patients. His email is neville@healing.org
I know how difficult it is when your health is an issue. You have a great attitude. I wish you all the best.
Wow! I can relate to most of your symptoms and have been trying to figure out what is going on too (anxiety, fatigue, light headedness, brain fog (this is tough when you normally have an amazing memory), insomnia (can usually fall asleep I just can't stay asleep),hand shakiness, heart palpitations-feels like it is going to beat out of my chest but halter monitor didn't show anything to worry about, higher than normal blood pressure, digestive issues, and irregular menstrual periods).
I do have hypothyroidism but after test after test after test that says "blood tests are normal", I started looking into the possibility of hormonal imbalance (gyno indicated my estrogen and testosterone were lower than she would like them to be but putting me on the pill caused my BP to go even higher). I, like you, have thought about the possibility of some type of pituitary or adrenal insufficiency.
I have also found that when I have blood tests, ultrasound, CT scans, I ask for copies of the report (and for CT scans-you can ask for a CD of the actual scan). After having several episodes of very intense upper right abdominal pain (after eating) and heartburn (which I hadn't had since I had gastric bypass over 5 years ago), and losing about 30 pounds in less than 5 months (now down to 105 pounds), I went to my family practice doctor who ordered an upper right quadrant ultrasound, complete blood work panel to include liver, pancreas, etc. and put me on Protonix. I got a call from them that day indicating my ultrasound was normal (although when they did the ultrasound and pushed on one particular area, it was very, very painful) and my blood work was normal. In the meantime, I decided to call my bariatric surgeon to ask her if she knew of anything I needed to be checked for. They ordered a CT scan for later that same week. The day before the CT, I was at work, in a meeting and all of a sudden my fingers on my left hand started going numb as did my left arm and my chest felt tight. I went to the ER, they did the CT scan, didn't identify any heart issues though. The CT scan report indicated I had a 2mm kidney stone in my right kidney (not the cause of my pain per urologist) and a 2 inch by 1 inch cyst near my left ovary (I have polycystic ovary syndrome but this cyst is much bigger than those are - I am also, or was pre-gastric bypass insulin resistant). Nothing else was noted in the CT. Mind you, I am still having the upper abdominal pain.
I called my family practice doctor to ask them to send me copies of the ultrasound, CT and blood work reports. After I got them I was SHOCKED! The ultrasound indicated a positive indicator for gallbladder inflammation when the tech checked the gallbladder area. I immediately called my surgeon's office again to share this new information. They ordered a gallbladder function test for me. Well...I went for that appt, they injected tracer, watched it go to my liver then gallbladder then gave me a shot of a hormone to make my gallbladder contract to watch the tracer be pushed from my gallbladder to my small intestine. I finished the test then went home to lay down because the pain in my abdomen was very uncomfortable. I got a call back this past Monday that the HIDA scan results were normal...I almost started crying!!! I asked the nurse if it was possible for someone to have an issue with their gallbladder but the test give a false negative. She said yes, I again mentioned that the ultrasound was positive for possible inflammation and the HIDA scan caused great abdominal discomfort. The nurse said she would talk to the surgeon and call me back. I got a call back the next day that the surgeon indicated my gallbladder needed to be removed. I had already conducted research on the net about the negative HIDA scan and positive indicator on the ultrasound and found that one CAN have an inflamed gallbladder that may function but causes episodic intense pain. I also looked at my gallbladder CT scan CD since the report didn't mention anything about the gallbladder other than it was present. My gallbladder looked MUCH larger and egg shaped versus other "normal" gallbladder pix I found online. Interesting that wasn't mentioned by the radiologist. I also started pouring over the blood work values they sent me. There were several that were abnormal but again I was told everything was normal. The ones that were abnormal were ones related to liver function, bile production, bilirubin, that woudl indicate some type of liver, gallbladder issue. My next step is to get the gallbladder out, see how or if any of my symptoms improve and then make an appt with my endocrinologist if they don't resolve. It is soooo very frustrating when you have to pretty much diagnose yourself or even go to the doctors and say, I think it could be this or that but the tests don't reveal that diagnosis. Hang in there. I feel like a hypochondriac sometimes except that I know my body and what I am experiencing is not normal for me!
Oh, one last thing...I also had an endoscopy and have "pouchitis" or an inflammation of the stomach pouch which is similar to gastritis.
I just saw these two comments and appreciate the information. I have come across so many people online that have been experiencing similar symptoms and have received little in the way of qualified help or support. I too can relate to the tests coming back "normal". What Katherine said about "I feel like a hypochondriac sometimes except that I know my body and what I am experiencing is not normal for me" is totally how I feel too. I really don't feel like myself anymore. I used to be so strong and confident, and now I feel like I'm in a daze most of the time. I've read so much about neurocardiogenic syncope, adrenal fatigue, candida, thyroid, etc. to the point that I feel I know more than most the doctors I talk to.
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