Hey guys,
Gonna try & sum everything up for ya'll so that I can gather opinions on whether I have been given a correct diagnosis.
Shortly after I graduated from college and moving back to Denver in 2009, I fell ill with what was initially thought to be swine flu by my family physician. My primary symptoms (other than a slight fever and a cough) were dilated pupils and a severe head high.
Once the more typical of the fluesque symptoms ran its course, however, I found that the head high had remained as a permanent fixture in my life. Let me try and clarify, when I say "head high" I'm referring to what I've come to learn is known as brain fog. Between 2009 and 2012 I would intermittently suffer from these brain fogs during which my memory, linguistic capabilities, readers retention, problem solving and general cognitive functioning would plummet. Often, this "fog" would be accompanied by dilated pupils and a general feeling of fatigue.
Until last year, I was able to adapt because these symptoms would only arise a couple times a month (for spurts of a couple days at a time). I moved back out to California and began graduate school. However, last April, I once again fell severely ill, this time with bronchitis. In addition, a rash formed that covered the entirety of my legs (particular on my calves) as well as a blotchy rash on my right hand. I saw a dermatologist in Orange County who diagnosed the rash on the leg as purpuric. However, he was confused by the rash on my hand and indicated that it looked like the kind of rash that accompanies chemical burns.
The rashes cleared up by the end of the summer. In the meantime, I got an MRI (clean) and got tested for Celiacs/Lupes (clean), Vitamin D (low & on supplements for 5 or 6 months). However, the brain fog had become a nearly daily affliction as did a general sense of fatigue. I saw a round of doctors at the beginning of this year who came to the diagnoses of fibromyalgia. My health insurance ended shortly thereafter. Just in time for a new rash to form on my chest.
Since late March, I have avoided gluten and, at times, I feel like I am doing better. Certainly better than I was doing last year. However, the headaches are still fairly persistent and the rash on my chest has never fully cleared. (None of these rashes hurt, itch or raised). During the periods where the brain fog/fatigue is less frequent (meaning it disappears or lessens for 3-5 days), the rash begins to fade. Whenever the headaches return, so does the rash.
At this point, I have been through so many doctors and so many different diagnoses (mercury poisoning, chronic sinus infections, ext).... The symptoms have been so varied and vague (occasional erectile dysfunction, celluitis infections twice, temporary hearing loss, rashes, ext) that everyone has had a very difficult time connecting the dots. For all I know, it could be fibromyalgia. But the thing is, I don't really suffer from much pain (which I understand to be the primary symptom). I have a bit of joint pain in my wrists and knees, sure, but I also tore my meniscus when I was younger and spend 10 hours a day working in front of a computer. (I'd add that I do have restless leg syndrome and grind my teeth while sleeping).
Is it really likely to be fibromyalgia considering I fail to exhibit the main symptom of bodily pain? (In fact, I have a very high pain tolerance). Or is it possible that I am young enough that that element of the disease has yet to reveal itself? The other thing that makes me wonder is that the rhuematologist that made the diagnosis did little to give me guidance how how to take care of the fibromyalgia. Instead, he gave me a ton of samples of Lyrica (which I so far have withheld from taking due to my distaste for the pharmaceutical industry).
Honestly, my main concern is my mental functioning. I just graduated in substantial debt and am entering a hyper competitive field... I excelled at a very good school, but this past year has been a struggle, and now I find myself terrified that my body/mind may not be able to cope with the long hours and high demand that will be required in the future....
Thanks for letting me tell my story/rant. I've been meaning to find a board like this for awhile.
Post Edited (27M) : 6/12/2014 11:48:52 PM (GMT-6)