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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / October 2006Advice needed (long read)
My name is Eugene and I'm a 29 year old male. never had any history of sexual diseases. I do however have depression linked with anxiety and was treated for it during the past 3 years. (Currently taking Escitalopram (lexapro) 15mg and Valium 10mg at nite to sleep) This whole ordeal has been going on for so long I dont even know where to start. I had two anal polyps removed in Dec '05. (After the op I did notice my bladder was sensitive, but thought it was due to the anesthesia and the operation) They turned out to be inflammatory polyps and the doctor assured me that they were not malignant in any way. He said I should come back in six weeks for a colonoscopy just to make sure everything is ok in my colon. I was healing great for that six weeks and went in for the colonoscopy. The problem is that during that six weeks before the scope I was very anxious and I was convinced that I had colon cancer or that they were going to find more polyps. This resulted in several trips to the ER for a spastic colon that had to be treated. Needless to say, when the doc did my colonoscopy and said all was ok, I was very relieved. Then the problems started. Two days after my scope, I started getting muscle twitches and burning sensations overy my body. A few days later I got severe muscle pains. My joints also started to hurt, (esp my hands) and I got "electric" shock like sensations in different parts of my body. I went to my GP with this and he said we should not take any chances and did a whole range of tests on me (Full blood count, ESR, C-reactive proteine,Thyroid, Diabetes, Muscle enzyme, Vit B12, Iron, Kidneys function, EKG,Epstein barr virus, Brucella virus, HIV, Cytomagella, Paul Bunnel test) He even sent me for a brain CT scan. My symptoms got worse and almost all my joints were hurting and muslces too. I started getting headaches and eye pain. All my tests came back normal and my GP was stumped. He had no idea as to what could be wrong. So he referred me to a specialist physician for his opinion. The SP looked at my tests and did a full physical and said that he suspects I suffered from trauma/stress. He did refer me to a Neurologist for the pins/needles feelings I got in my hands and feet. The Neurologist did tests and concurred that this was most probably related to anxiety. Needless to say at this stage I was getting really worried and even had to take a month's leave from work just to keep my sanity. My GP sent my back to my Psychiatrist and the Pdoc upped my lexapro and gave me some valium to relax. My symptoms started improving a bit and I got back to work at least coping. Then I started getting testicle pain (right one) and went to my GP. He referred my to a Urologist. They Uro did an ultrasound of the testicles, bladder and kidneys as well as a urine flow test and urine analysis. He also did a rectal exam. He said this was most probably a infection in my epididimus and gave my ciprofloxacin to take for 14 days. It did clear up a bit and I actually started feeling better. (muscle and joint pain even got better). About a week or two after the cipro treatment I got rectal pain again (I thought this might be polyps coming back). So I went to my GP...he did a rectal exam and a rectal scope and said he could not find anything wrong (no tears, tumors, polyps). He said it was probably a fungal infection/proctitis and gave me some suppositories and cream. It didn't work. The testicle pain came back, but not as bad as the first time and then went away again. Rectal pain stayed there and I thought it would be best to see a gastro doc. He didn't even to a rectal exam. Just pressed on my abdomen and said I had an obvious case of IBS and Proctalgia Fugax. Rectal pain didn't get better and I started taking sleeping tablets just to sleep. The rectal pain continued and I started getting the testicle pain again. This time accompanied by penis pain and bladder pain..It also burned when I urinated. I got another prescription of antibiotics and cortisone tablets. This took the pain away immediately and I was feeling great for about a month. Got an attack of shingles (which the doctor suspects was due to the cortisone). Got acyclovir for that and it resolved itself. Then I started getting skin burning sensations all over my body. Almost like someone was throwing hot water over me. Doc suspected inflammation/interaction of medication and gave me some shots....got better and it is gone now. Muscle and joint pain also went away for about two months! But my bladder/rectal and testicle pain still remains. I went back to my urologist and he did the same exam as the first time and said it was prostatitis ad gave me antibiotics AGAIN. Got a little better, but not much. Now it's back again. Together with the muslce and joint pain. I also notice tenderness under my armpits although there is not swelling of any nodes. I'm starting to get lower abdominal pain too (intermittently). I really don't know what to do anymore. I went to so many doctors and got so many different treatments that did not seem to help much. At one stage I thought I might be dying of cancer. I'm really depressed and cannot see any reason for going on like this. I'm even thinking about suicide. Really guys, I'm desparate...I don't know what to do anymore. (Luckily I'm on a medical aid which is excellent and I didn't have to pay a cent out of my own pocket. And I can choose my doctors). PS. I'm updating this as I recently went back to my specialist physician for the bladder/testicle/rectal/muscle/joint/skin burning pain. He wanted to start me on Topamax and see how it goes. I insisted on a liver and kidney function test and to my surprise.....everything was normal except my ALT and GGT levels. ALT was 56 and GGT 80. I refused the topamax and he said it was most probably due to all the medication I took. I went back to him two weeks later and asked him to give the Topamax as I was in terrible pain. He agreed, but said he wanted to test my liver function again...This time is was WAY off. My ALT was 140 and my GGT was 260!!!!! It was more or less the same time that my testicle and bladder/stomach pains got real bad.. He immediately sent me for a liver ultrasound...got the results back today...all looking fine, excepts for a fatty infiltration of the liver in the gallbladder are.no gallstones or anything abnormal detected. .but I haven't heard anything from the doctor yet....this is nerve wrecking..... PLEASE HELP! Go back to the gastroenterologist ASAP!!! . . . Donna G. . . . ANGELS EXIST, but some times, since they don't all have wings, we call them FRIENDS...... Keen, I am not sure what we can do to help you, nothing you describe sounds like fibromyalgia. And it sounds as if you have a doctor who is taking your complaints seriously and trying to figure out what is going on with you. It's hard when you are feeling such anxiety to be patient, especially when the problem has gone on for almost a year, but that is exactly what I would advise you to do, be patient and persistent. Best of luck to you--fran Jeez Eugene you've been through the gamut. A lot of what you list leaves me clueless...but the muscle & joint pain...if they are related to the liver enzyme fluctuation sounds a bit familiar. I had lots of aches & pains and exhausting fatigue...after multitudes of tests & doctors they diagnosed hepatitis C by accident when we were applying for life insurance...a year or so after that they added fibro to the diagnosis...then IBS... During the search they diagnosed depression and started the anti-depression med & anxiety meds... The whole process of finding out what is wrong leaves you feeling like a freaking flake, liar or hypochondriac is how I was feeling before they finally found what was wrong. I am always sorry to see anyone else going through the same or similar process... Still sick as a dog...currently taking zip, nadda...nothing (occasionally wondering if it is the right choice). Cindy in Pa > My name is Eugene and I'm a 29 year old male. never had any history of > sexual diseases. I do however have depression linked with anxiety and [quoted text clipped - 100 lines] > > PLEASE HELP! Keen, you have had a rough year and although it doesn't sound like RA or FMS most of us understand all too well what your going through. I don't know what the average '# of years' spent trying to get a DX is around here. I do know that it would be measured in years, not months. 25 years ago it took me 8 years to confirm the RA. So, when Fran says patience is important she speaks the truth. I know this isn't what you want to hear. I know how frustrated and anxious this process can be. But, you are also fortunate that you have doctors that are willing to work with you on resolving this. Many of us have been told by more than one 'good doctor' that our problem wasn't physical and they couldn't help. In my case 3 years of therapy and disfigured hands proved them wrong. The therapy did me no harm but joint damage due to RA is irreversible and now I have plastic knuckles and titanium wrists and my life as a concert pianists was cut tragically short.>g< In order to survive the frustrations of the medical system your most important weapon will be a "sense of humor". Develop it, honor and cherish it. If you can laugh about it you can overcome it. It may take a while. Funny is hard to find when your in pain but it was what prevented me from drowning. I truly hope you resolve your health problems quickly. johnie Keen, As this is an older post I hope you see my responce. Of course, I don't know exactly whats going on. However, some of the symptoms you describe sound like some I had with my fibro. The "electrical" sensations you have had were like some I had when I first got sick. The only thing I found to help them was xanax. I've always taken a very low dose PRN as not to get "addicted to it". You do have some symptoms that I haven't had, especially since I'm a woman. Those I don't know about. You might have several things going on right now. I've dealt with depression and anxiety for many years and know how miserable it can make you feel. Have you gone to any kind of counseling? This helps me tremendously. Since you've been checked out fairly well and they haven't found anything concrete like cancer that you are so concerned about then maybe you can begin to relax some. I hope you can get things to settle down soon. It really sounds like a combination of things going on. I wish I could help more, but just wanted you to know that I read your post and I've had some of the symptoms you've had. debbie m. > My name is Eugene and I'm a 29 year old male. never had any history of > sexual diseases. I do however have depression linked with anxiety and [quoted text clipped - 100 lines] > > PLEASE HELP! Eugene, I feel for ya' , kiddo. Been through my own medical maze, took years to figure it out. johnie is absolutely right when he said to cherish your sense of humor. If you can keep things from getting too grim, you'll have a good chance of surviving the frustrations until you DO find the answer. One of the best forms of support in this support group are jokes and more jokes, so we're laughing instead of crying. If you get really down, skim through the threads here for the OTP's - they're usually jokes, good or bad, but funny. Since you mentioned depression and anxiety as being big issues, it's good that you already have an M.D. psychiatrist who possibly understands your various medical problems better than a non-M.D. psychologist, and is able to prescribe the 'correct' antidepressant for you - maybe what you're on now isn't quite doing the job. And s/he can also prescribe anti-anxiety drugs like Buspar... it's an older drug with a good track record, few side effects, one of the more "benign" drugs around, but still quite effective. See him/her on a regular basis for counseling. For many folks, me included, it can take months, or years, working on your feelings and issues, and getting your worries in check. As far as other doctors are concerned, since you've had frequent rectal pain, have you seen a Proctologist? Some of the problems you mention might be auto-immune based -- have you been seen by a Rheumatologist? It seems that your GP is trying to help, but maybe you need to have a really earnest talk with him about tying together all the different problems, diagnoses, and treatments that work for a while then fail. Maybe he could refer you to an internist who has a good track record in figuring out medically complex cases? Someone who hears hoof beats and doesn't just think 'horses', but maybe 'zebras'??? Good luck, whatever you do. Ginnie >^..^< _________________________________ > My name is Eugene and I'm a 29 year old male. never had any history of > sexual diseases. I do however have depression linked with anxiety and [quoted text clipped - 100 lines] > > PLEASE HELP! |
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