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 February 19, 2009, 06:05:16 PM
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Full Member
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Posts: 125
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Hello there!! My name is Jenny and I'm a 19 year old university student in Canada and I am so thrilled to have come upon this forum while googling my symptoms one day. After reading alot of your stories and struggles with your undiagnosed symptoms, I feel less alone with my own problems. Like Samantha, my symptoms started 3 years ago but in my 2nd year in highschool. One day after exercising on my tredmill, I noticed a significant decrease in urine output. My face, hands, and feet swelled up and stayed that way for about a week. This still happens today if I exercise in any form. Ever since, I noticed that I have very severe diarrhea after I drink any kind of fluid. I control this now with Imodium pills. Also after I drink anything, my face starts swelling and I look like a whole different person. I refrain from drinking too much anymore. Before my symptoms started, I was having irregular menstrual cycles (and I still do). So irregular, one time I skipped 9 months (and no, I was not pregnant nor sexually active). My gynaecologist told me to go on Yasmin and that made me gain weight and made me moody, so I went off the pill. Now I skip 2-3 months before I get my next period. Irregular periods run in the family (great grandma, grandma, sister), so I don't know if I should count it as a symptom. I also smell metal/gasoline everytime I swell up, and the intensity of the smell varies with how bloated I am and the smell usually goes away after I take a nap. My first appointment with a gastroenterologist was disapointing. He told me I had a mild form of IBS and I had to eat more foods with fiber. Even though I was eating healthy before, I upped my fiber with suppliments, but still my symptoms persisted. I had a barium x-ray done on my colon, but it was normal (except for a small "pooling" which they said was probably an ulcer and didn't think a followup was necessary). I had countless blood tests and urine tests, all normal. I did a 24 hour urine test that I assume was normal (no one called). This past month, I fell into depression (No doubt from the frustration and hopelessness I felt about finding a diagnosis). I am taking a anti-depressant now called St. John's Wort. It's a herbal, off-the-counter remedy that I find is helping so far (I'm not crying as much  ). Sorry I just realized I was ranting.. but thanks for reading and I'll be sure to update and check out this forum daily. :) -Jenny
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February 21, 2009, 10:34:36 PM
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Group: Administrator
VIP Member
Gender:
Posts: 921
I Will Be Diagnosed !
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Hey Jenny  Some weeks are better than others, this week has hit me hard but I'll bounce back soon I hope Jas is very good with picking up diagnosis not thought of previously. There could be a huge list of issues going on here, by the sounds of it you're going to have to push with other Doctors for further testing. DON'T GIVE UP  and try not to let the Doctors get to you.... Have you been given any Ultrasounds of the Abdominal area and Pelvis/Ovaries etc ? Might also want to look into Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Do you have any of these symtpoms? Irregular or no menstrual periods (you've already mentioned this one ) Acne Obesity, and Excess hair growth Other signs and symptoms of PCOS include: weight gain, acne, oily skin, dandruff, infertility, skin discolorations, high cholesterol levels, elevated blood pressure, and abnormal hair growth and distribution. Keep us posted, I hope we can help find the answers  Sammy
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February 28, 2009, 02:34:44 AM
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Full Member
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Posts: 125
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So, today's the day of my 19th birthday which is just another reminder of how time is slipping through my fingers. These past years and the years ahead are suppose to be when I'm at my healthiest, my prime years. I know I'm kind of being a downer right now, especially on my own birthday..but I can't help but vent.  I am sick of being sick. I'm sick of not knowing what's wrong with me. The mornings are the worst when I wake up and realize that it's not all just a nightmare. The reality is, my body is faulty and no one knows why. I used to be so active, and now if I exercise even a little, I get severe edema. I hate the way edema makes me look, my puffy, ugly face and how I can't grasp a pencil in school properly because my fingers are so bloated. I used to be healthy, funny, cheerful and pretty.  I'm sorry guys. I know my ranting and complaining won't solve anything..but it helps that I get it out there and not hold it all in. In truth, no one in my "real" life truely knows and understands what I'm going through. I pray to God that I get a referal for an MRI soon.. I have a feeling it's my hypothalamus or pituitary that's causing all of this mess..
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February 28, 2009, 05:29:55 AM
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Sr. Member
Gender: 
Posts: 319
Tired..
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Happy birthday jenny :) did you do/get anything exciting?? as much as i wish i didnt... i know how you feel. i started getting sick shortly after my 18th birthday only a week after i came in to college.. i'm almost 22 now. it ruined my entire college experience. supposed to be the greatest years of my life, turned out to be an absolute nightmare. i'm sick of being sick to.. i want you to know that here, ranting / venting / rambling, whatever is a perfectly acceptable thing to do. go on for ten pages if you want, it's okay, and we'll read it (eventually ;) ) dont ever stop yourself. this place is meant to help, if it needs to come out.. get it out, we'll listen.
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If you have to ask, you are not ready to know -
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March 09, 2009, 11:04:27 PM
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Full Member
Gender:
Posts: 125
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Hey guys! I just had my appointment with my GP. I told him I think I have cyclical cushings, and he didn't seem to optimistic about the idea, but gave me an xray called sella turcica xray to look at my pituitary (instead of an MRI) and gave me a salivary cortisol test and a blood test. I kind of lost it at the appointment, I was hysterical, trying to manage some words between my sobs. Desperation has a way of showing itself through embarassment? HAH well good news is that he seems like a good doctor (not great, but the best one I've seen so far), and he said if these tests come out normal again, then he MIGHT consider an MRI. He kind of hinted that I might be a hypochondriac which really ticked me off, but at least he listened. Oh, and I also showed him my past pictures of me when I was "thin-faced" and healthy from three years ago and he definately saw a dramatic difference in my appreance, he said that really convinced him that something was awry. No appointment is needed for the xray and I really hope they find something in my pituitary. I'm getting my pelvic ultrasound this week, but I'm pretty sure it's going to turn out normal..again.. Has anyone ever heard of a sella turcica xray?  I've never heard of it before, and I'm scared it's going to be "less effective" than an MRI and miss something..
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