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Hi All, I'm hoping someone here can shed some light on my symptoms or at least let me know I'm not alone. So far twelve doctors have given up and referred me on to someone else.
I have previously been a fit and healthy male, currently 27. My only past medically problems are gastro-enteritis (age 1) and appendicitis (age 22).
I have not been able to exercise for over a year and this illness has put my entire life on hold.
Symptoms
My problems started very suddenly in January 2010 when I lost hearing in my left ear and was incapacitated through dizziness for a few minutes, then everything was normal again. Then on 7th April the same thing happened. On 8th April 2010 It started and again and the dizziness hasn't stopped. Just the one symptom. I was 'diagnosed' with wax in my ears by my GP and given drops, which didn't help.
Since then new symptoms have continued to occur including - headaches, earache, tinnitus, faintness, tiredness, muscular neck pain, metallic taste on tongue, a wet sensation on my legs (like it's raining under my clothes!), inability to focus vision, heart palpitations (up to 180bpm during light exercise), shortness of breath, anxiety, panic attacks, stomach pain when eating, stomach pain when hungry, loose bowel movements, overly-frequent bowel movement, infrequently blood in stool. For a while I was also sleeping about 16hours per day, but now I have trouble staying asleep - usually waking up 10-15 times a night.
Tests
Initially I saw an ENT consultant who diagnosed possible labrynthitis and started me on betahistine - which did nothing. Then he said it was in my head and tried me on tricyclic antidepressants - which did nothing. He performed a hearing test and a head MRI. The hearing test was bad but the MRI was all clear, so he discharged me.
Next I saw a Neurologist. He got me to walk in a straight line and touch my nose and then said there was nothing he could do and he discharged me.
Then I paid for a private health screen which turned up an abnormal ECG, so went to see a Cardiologist. He gave me an echo, and said my heart is enlarged and I would need to see a specialist. I went straight onto beat-blockers.
As my stomach problems had now started I went to see Gastroenterologist, who performed a colonoscopy and gave me the all clear. He discharged me.
Then I started seeing a therapist. I went onto Fluoxetine, which helped with my depression (brought on by not being able to do anything). She also made me stop taking beta-blockers as these can mask anxiety. She helped with a lot of my problems and after eight months I was finally able to do some day-to-day activities. Then she said I was cured and discharged me.
Finally I have now seen a specialist cardiologist who ran a signal averaging test which came back 'irregular', and I've also had a heart MRI which I am awaiting the results for. He also started me on Ivabradine which is an electrical inhibitor for the heart. This doesn't seem to do anything.
It is now 16 months since the sudden onset of my symptoms and I have not been able to exercise since, apart from walking. My GP believes I am ill but refuses to see my problems as important. I am able to go to work now, but I can't leave the office for site visits, and my bosses are getting impatient.
Current State
Currently the digestive problems are not too bad. My main symptoms are dizziness, fatigue and heart palpitations (especially when active).
Suggestions
Coeliac, MS, Brugada Syndrome have been suggested and ruled out. Having read a lot of literature, Lupus has come up as possibility, and my GP has mentioned Pheoromocytoma.
Please, does anyone have a thoughts, or similar symptoms?
Chris
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