Anterior mediastinal mass and autoimmune disease symptoms
 

I am a 44 year old woman who has suffered with numerous medical issues that I believe may be related. I have joint pain, fatigue, nodules that appear and disappear on my elbows, frequent infections(sinus and UTIs with chronic kidney stones) and was diagnosed with a mass in my anterior mediastinum a year ago that is still undiagnosed(insurance issues from hell). I am in constant pain, and had been treated with biologics for seronegative RA(they aren't sure) for a period of time. I have lost weight due to lack of appetite, night sweats that drench me, bone pain, and pain in my lymph nodes. I tested negative for MG, and recently had emergency surgery to implant a pacemaker/defibrillator for Long QT Syndrome, as I coded at the ER after suffering from v tach fainting. Has anyone else suffered similar seemingly unrelated problems like this? I am desperate for a diagnosis as I can't work and my quality of life sucks. I weigh 90 pounds and it's hard to keep that weight on. Thank you!

Nobody has attempted to biopsy the mediastinal mass?
 

If your insurance is willing to pay for other diagnostic tests then they should be willing to pay for tests to determine why you have a mediastinal mass. Is your physician ordering specific tests or referring you to physicians that can find out what is going on? Where I used to work, it was usually cardiovascular surgeons and pulmonologists that investigated mediastinal masses.

You need a biopsy. You probably need a mediastinoscopy.