I'm a male college student, and also a part time worker. Sadly I'm not as a active, exercise-wise, as I'd want to be.
Basically, it all started in early July (or late June) of this year. I started feeling weird sensations throughout my body. The best way I can describe the feeling is it's as if I'm high on vicodin; I feel somewhat tingly and restless in my back and arms. Also during the early stages of my symptoms, I would experience on and off fatigue. My fatigue was moderate since I noticed that I can get through daily activities, although I would feel powerless as a consequence. I also experienced random muscle and joint aches throughout my body. Sleep was unrefreshing, even though I would sleep enough hours sometimes even more (plus naps).
In August, my symptoms somewhat intensified. There were incidents where I felt overwhelmed with (what I think was) dizzy spells or fatigue. Similar symptoms carried over from the previous month. In early August, I went out to play baseball with my brothers, and I noticed that even after 30 mins. of light to moderate throwing, I again felt lethargic. The same week, I went swimming with family friends and it felt as if my calves were going shut down. After these two activities during the same week, I never felt like I've recovered. My left arm/shoulder (I'm a lefty) has felt sore almost everyday since; same goes for my (the following are on and off) back, left hip, elbows, legs, neck. At one point during middle August, (for one evening) my heart was pounding loudly and quickly, and I also felt light headed. There was also this one time during late August where I was unable to attend school, because I felt too lethargic and dizzy.
Now it's September (same for October), and I've noticed the fatigue has subsided. I still have dizzy spells, and carrying over from late August, is discomfort in my throat; not quite sore but there's definitely some scratchy, hot, lumpy sensation. My shoulders/back/arms/legs/neck still ache sporadically. Particularly during this month (September), have been headaches (or migraines, not sure)(intensity and duration varies), which tends to radiate from the left side of my head (once or twice, the headache felt like it numbed my face). Sometimes, my eyes would feel sore and blurry as a result. I've also been waking up with really sore calves (feels like a ran several miles).
Physically, I am miserable. My mental side has also taken a beating. Everyday, I wake up with worry regarding my symptoms. I've become socially withdrawn, irritable, anxious, and sometimes depressed. I've visited the doctor a couple of times, and even had a blood test, as well as an HIV test. The blood test revealed that I'm completely healthy. And the HIV test showed I'm negative. I also had a physical done , where the doctor checked for any obvious enlargement in my organs (liver, spleen); which also proved that they were completely normal, thus healthy.
Other observations:
-Low level of activity all summer long (lol I was too lazy to go out and exercise)
-Had good days and bad days
-Nightime calf/leg cramps
-Weird kind of dizziness (not quite vertigo). Feels like there's a rubber band pressuring the sides of me head.
-Most of the muscle/joint discomfort favored left side of the body
-No fever, diarrhea, rash, swollen lymph nodes (as far as I recall), urine color normal, appetite normal, weight stable, sun/heat exacerbated condition
-Sometimes I would even feel dizzy when sitting down (some occasions when I would shake my leg, as soon as I stopped shaking, I would feel like I'm still "moving")
-Sometimes, I would feel lightheaded if I stood up or got up too quick after laying down or even when sitting (sometimes my heart felt "loud")
-I've had rare moments where standing felt tiring.
-Basic motor skills, reasoning, logic, balance, and sensitivity are all normal.
Medication: Ibuprofen (sporadic, irregular use [no more than two pills used on a given day]) Daily vitamin supplement intake, Vitamin Water
What I think it may be: Brain tumor, POTS, CFS, Fibromyalgia, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Thyroid
UPDATE---------------------------
I went for another visit with my doctor to get more blood work done. My first lab test prior to this second visit was just a comprehensive blood test. During the second visit, my doctor took blood samples to be tested for mono, thyroid, and a SED rate. Again, the results all came back with positive news; I'm healthy.
He also had me perform balance/strength tests (walking on my toes, hopping on one foot, "walking on a tightrope"), and checked my reflexes. He also checked for any palpable inflammation in my neck, and abdomen. And yet again, he found nothing.
I should feel reassured with the positive news, but now I'm just confused. I will be meeting with a psychologist soon as I've started to accept the fact that the manifestation of my physical symptoms is due to anxiety and stress.
Question: Can I experience anxiety-related symptoms even when I'm not having an attack?
Post Edited (justMe0138) : 10/12/2012 2:51:46 PM (GMT-6)