Okay, I am desperate for answers/diagnosis so I thought that i would post my symptoms to see if anyone sees a pattern or explanation. I have, of course also made a copy of this list and plan to bring it to my Family Physican as soon as I can. I have included a few past dx/ conditions in case they are related somehow. Since December of 07 my health seems to be deteriorating and I am tired of being sick and tired of the constant pain. If there is anyone who has suggestions or can just relate to what I have been experiencing please let me know. Thanks.

My symptoms:
1. major fatigue
2. joint & muscle pain w/ stiffness
3. exzema, boils & rash on neck & chest
4. Dx.- PSVT in early 90's
recent episodes feel as if my heart is vibrating & lasts approx. 2-4 min.
5. dizziness upon standing
6. short term memory loss
7. extremely stiff neck w/ back pain
(bulging disk dx.- Lumbar spine)
8. face flushing
9. sensitivity to light and eye strain when moving eyes
10. anxiety
11. frequent UTI's
12. thumb twitching
13. edema in lower extremties
14. GERD & Peptic ulcer disease
15. high cholesterol
16. carpal tunnel syndrome - bilateral (had release surgery 3 yrs ago)
17. shortness of breath with little activity
18. dry skin
19. facial hair
20. history of endometriosis & ovarian cysts
21. Frequent ear infections w/ abcesses
22. toxemia for pregnancy in 98
23. headaches
24. have had bronchitis several times & pneumonia
25. hypocalcemia
26. anemia in past
27. had appendectomy in early 90's
28. 'casting' in urine in past
29. possible miscarriage in '04
30. recent weight loss of 20 pds in 2 mths.

Go down that list again, and first prioritize those that are the most disturbing or bothersome? then list when issues started and how often for each?
I'm no doc. I am just a mere person who's gone thru the diagnosis food-processor and maybe can point you to resources to help you sort it all out.
Also are you on any meds? Sometimes a med or two, or even supplements can cause problems for some.
Can I assume that the weight loss in such a short time is a main concern?
When you see your GP, sort these issues into clumps...of priority or that you think are connected. I find that usually GP's have short attention spans-so keep issues to the main ones.
If it were me....I'd come in with a list of three 'big' issues and two minor ones and then after main testings work my way down the lists.
Have you had a bad 'flu' or a cold' in the past few months? That could be a key to some issues...or not, just a thought.
It sounds like some things are sort of piling up and it seems almost to be a car wreck. But both I and others would need some key specifics before anyone gets an 'AH-HA! moment or even an idea of what's happening to you based on our experiences and/or readings.
Hope this helps? - j

Occurs to me you might start reading up on diabetes, hypo/hyper-thyroid, and gluten intolerance/Celiac's...not that you have these, but many of your issues could overlap with these. Here's the link to the Gluten forum...be sure to read the 'stickies' at the top of the forum- they have lots of basic and advanced info.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum13.html Just click on the blue letters and you find yourself there!

Thank you, dahlek. I will definitely try to minimize my symptom list & be more specific.
I was doing a little research online and came across systemic lupus. What do you think? Just wondering.

D is a very wise women and I agree what came first list,if you can
remember,,and what meds and read stickies,I do and never bother
D. anymore ha..

One thing that sticks out,is your 20 lbs weight lost, I lost 30 in a
month with prediabetes,than 20 more with diabectices 2..
Also you mention Hypoglycemia is a low level is a low level of
glucose in the blood. When this occurs,the muscles and in your
body are deprived of engery providing glucose..If you can ask GP
to do a 12 hr.fasting but I think a 6 hr. would be better,..Please
think about this. Diabetes sounds scary it's not,And not saying
you have this..

We are a group who cares and we are willing to help the best we
can and in return you may be able to help us. Good luck and Hugs to all.
Sue PN, Diabetes,and more junk then I want...
Just heard we are having Fish Poisoning,(no joke) in the St Louis Area,
Good old Mississippi,and Missouri River..

More details about me:
I am a white female, 31 yrs old, one child who is 9 yrs old...
Although I have had frequent UTI's all my life my health really didn't start going downhill until I was about 19. That is when I was diagnosed with PSVT after having lengthy periods of extreme tachycardia. Then, I was treated for migraines for about a year before they remarkably subsided. Not long after that I had laparscopic surgery for endometriosis and ovarian cysts. Then I began to notice that I was passing 'cellular casting' (similiar to blood clots/tissue) in my urine. That mystery was never solved and soon went away.
A few months later and after being married for 3 yrs I got pregnant. I had extreme vomiting and dehydration during the first five mths. I had to have an IV in my leg for approx. three mths so that I could bolus the antinausea medication into my system every few hrs. Then it got to where that wasn't working anymore and for the rest of the pregnancy I had to give myself shots of phenergan every 4 hrs. Surprisingly, with all the nausea I still managed to gain an alarming 90 pds for the whole pregnancy! When I went into labor I developed toxemia and had to have an emergency ceaseran. But with all the complications I succeeded in giving birth to a very healthy little boy. All was good for about 4 or 5 mths. Then suddenly, I became very depressed very fast for no apparent reason. It wouldn't let up. Soon I was having episodes of psychosis and suicide began to look very appealing. After an attempt, I landed in the ICU for a few days where people worked on me to try and save my life. This was just the beginning of a road that I never intended on traveling. Now, nine yrs later, I am diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and PSTD. After being on just about every psych drug there is I have successfully weaned myself off of all of them! It wasn't easy and I still have bad days but it takes a lot of self talk and reprioritizing on a daily basis. After accomplishing that battle I have encountered recently some new issues regarding my physical health. In Oct of 07 I developed an abscess in my ear which lasted til the end of Nov. Following that I came down with a pretty bad cold. Then, soon after I recovered from that I developed bronchitis. I was prescribed antibiotics, an inhaler and antihistamine. These all seem to do the trick and cure me from all that. Except since Nov I started feeling this incredible and unusual amount of fatigue that I had chalked up to all the recent illnesses but since they had been taken care of I am puzzled of why I am still feeling such fatigue. In Jan not only was I so tired all the time I began to hurt...everywhere. Mainly, joints and muscles and sometimes my hands are so stiff I am unable to make a fist. Not to mention the stiffness in my neck which seems to become almost unbearable sometimes. I have now had the joint & muscle aches and neck stiffness since Jan 13th. Then a few days ago I noticed my thumb was twitching. Then yesterday, my GP called and said that my Vit D was low so he prescibed for me some calcium pills. The PSVT episodes have returned and have even woken me up from a good sleep, which was quite scary. I guess having a rough few months is the reason for me losing 20 pds in 2 mths. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining as I need to lose much more. I never was able to lose the weight from the pregnancy in '98.

Please understand that I am not posting my health history for sympathy but am determined to find answers to what ails me so that I can begin on the road to recovery. I am just so tired of feeling this way and it is affecting my family as well. My son doesn't understand why mommy is always tired and taking naps. It is especially hard when he asks me, "Mama, what is wrong with you?" What can I say? I don't even know the answer to that one. This weekend is his first spring soccer game and I should be excited for him but unfortunately I am more worried of how I will be able to walk way out onto the field. The pain seems to get worse everyday, sometimes by the hour. My husband tries to be supportive but he is like me, he wants answers and wants me better. Someone has told me that basically it was all in my head and I just need to excercise. I would give anything to be able to do more activity but the pain is so restrictive. As much as I hate to be on any meds (psych or medical), I am willing to take meds for an accurate diagnosis to treat the illness and to recover.

I apologize for such a lengthy post and my neck is totally killing me for it right now but, I just feel that if I share the whole story maybe someone will pick up on something that I missed. Maybe, this post will bring me closer to knowing what is wrong with me.

God bless NeuroTalk Communities!

P.S : I have posted this in the Autoimmune Disease section because after much research I suspect it might be a form of Lupus. You can see a full list of my symptoms above in the original post. What do you think?

Have they tested your pituitary hormones? Your adrenal hormones? That can effect your vitamin D, your immune system and when cortisol goes up and down, it causes great pain from steroid withdrawal. Just a thought. I had Cushing's disease and gained a lot of weight. I had the cyclical type and so most of my tests came back normal while I had most (but not all) of the symptoms.
Unfortunately, most endos are not very skilled at treating this but you need to persevere if you have the hallmarks. I had to see 10 before I got help. Have you seen a rhuematologist?

Please if you can get all the your records of tests and meds you have
had ,or as many as you can,there your's and you have a right to them.
The weight gain when youwere so ill having the baby,I wonder
if they did a test for your sugar levels..
Endrom. is so painful the tissues can go anywhere. I had a adhesion
on euretha before they found it i was peeing blood clot's.
Adreanalin tests they found a tumor on mine must be checked.
This can cause Anxiety but We all have that,wonder why.
How much calcium for the vit. D problem Mrsd is good at helping
you with that.

I know its hard on your son ,mine are in there 30's even they have a hard
time understanding why there once strong Mom isn't,it scares them.
Tell him Mom loves him and she's trying to get better,I wish you so much
luck wih that...Please read everything but I hope you find a GP go in
say I really sick help me,hand him or her you paper word,spesk up
and take someone to help you talk and listen.. Hugs Sue

Hi rumpled,

No, I haven't had my pituitary hormones tested. I was researching and came accross an autoimmune disease called Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) of which I noticed I had many of the symptoms of. Now, I realize different disorders/diseases/conditions sometimes describe some of the same symptoms but when I was reading the ones on Lupus I felt as if i had wrote it. I don't have all the symptoms but it says if you are experiencing at least 4 then you should be tested. I have at least 6 or 7. I have an appt to see my GP Monday and plan on bringing in my symptom list and some of my records from the past hoping this will help him figure out just what it is. Ironically, he has a brother that is a rhuematologist in the next town so that is probably where I will be referred.

Thank you so much for your input. I need all I can get right now.

in going to the GP first. But have you discussed all these long term issues with him before? I'd guess that your thyroid and endocrine systems are probably off from all you've said. Sure sounds like it.
If your GP refers you to a specialist of any type be sure that you get two names from two different practices [if available in your area] and check them out on-line....You can either find info about them and their practices [colleges they went to, certified as docs since year 1800 and so on] and often from your local hospital. You can also sometimes find info about them at your state medical board's web site [tho these are hard usually to navigate] and sometimes your courthouse [lawsuits]. The rheumatologist or endocrinologist would be the first specialists to see, I think. But if you can find a real endo [they hide I believe] that would be who to see first. Some GP's are good tho not total specialists in this area when they treat lots of diabetics.
I guess I have to ask tho, have you had any follow ups on the whole edo issue?
I'm willing to bet that you will either be ignored [then find other docs!] or have soo much blood taken for tests, then Cat Scanned, MRI'ed, and sonogrammed that you will feel like you've been vampirized and should glow in the dark. I truly hope it's the endo system, some endo issues are easy to fix tho often hard to get diagnosed to fix. I hope it's not Lupus. But know that we're here and that it will probably take a long time to know what's what! Some folks on these boards have seen many many docs before getting it near right to right.
Do keep one thing in mind: YOU KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG! Don't take no for an answer.....if you have decent insurance, second opinions are cheap compared to 'finding out' too late. I know those second opinions probably saved my life from one indifferent neuro.... Go knock 'em out! - j

Many endocrine diseases are also autoimmine (hashimotos, cushings) so there is some overlap.
Agree with Dahlek - get copies and don't give up. It took me 12 years to get a diagnosis (but I don't agree endo stuff is easy to fix!!! sorry!) and had 12 surgeries to boot. See as many docs as you need to get answers.