Posted 7/4/2013 10:43 AM (GMT 0)
2000/2001
Chronic neck tightening (back of neck LHS), into upper back (under scapula) on LHS.
(Started about 6 mos post 1st pregnancy)
Ultrasound showed nodules on thyroid (benign), & ct scan showed neck muscle was 'pulling the other way' - muscle relaxers & 4 mos of chiropractic help did not improve anything...... Subsided out of the blue (but cant remember when, maybe a year later)
During this time, weight shot up to 150lbs (highest), & had zero energy, hair loss (not very apparent, but recall my husband noticing alot of my hair in the drivers seat of my car, and I couldnt wear black) - no recall of depression or any other symptoms
2003/2004
Neck tightening again (now referred to as ' my neck thing'), also developed my first ever 'allergy' to ragweed...... chronic sinusitus, chronic conjunctivitus & hoarseness off & on.......... This started about 3 mos after my 2nd second child was born.
'My neck thing' progressed into mild headaches (nothing bad), awareness of my eyes (off & on) itchy/red/dry/swollen & now tingling in extremeties on lhs, with occasional numbness in fingers and toes........ Again, weight went up ....
Weakness in left arm (nothing crazy), tingling feeling still in left arm & sometimes left leg, feeling of pressure in upper chest thro lower ears, an 'awareness' of my neck at all times (with or without the on/off throat constriction). Referred to cardiologist & ekg & stress test showed nothing. Then was told I had heartburn & possibly gerd (which I debated - cuz, I live in my body, & think Id know if I had heartburn), was given a script for a ppi, and sent on my merry way. Ppi/antacids proved useless. 'Neck thing' dissipated within the year.
2009
Developed melasma (awesum) ..... Got worse the following spring, but my allergies seem to disappear....weight went down to 98lbs ( but yet my appetite had increased) Menstrual periods started becoming more & more irregular.....
2010/2011
Went on mirena (due to irregular periods, age, and family heart history). Within 6 mos, the neck thing started again). Stomach started to 'blow up' for no apparent reason. Throat became more & more annoying, & always felt as though i was wearing something that was too tight around my neck (even wen wearing a vneck, bikini ). Noticed my melsama didnt reappear.....Distended stomach would lead into nausea & subsequent bad mood. Eye problems increased, as did intolerance to noise (off & on). Started noticing I was becoming moody, & yet, would get irritated at small things & would ignore the big ones. Increased WHOPPING intolerance to heat (but not all the time) & yet would find myself wearing a sweater in july.
During same two years had had back to bak to bak upper respiratory infections, which included 2 bouts of facial staph infections. Spring allergies back this year with a vengeance. Stomach still distends for no apparent reason. My voice goes hoarse at the same time that I get the restricted/tightness feeling in my throat. Tightness of muscles in my left upper back (under scapula) and tightness in back neck muscle on lhs leads to joint pain in elbow, tingles & numbness/weakness in left arm and hand.
3 weeks ago I developed HUGE welts all over my legs & stomach, but they disappeared within 24hrs. My hands and upper chest area have red dots (like broken capillaries) all over them. I either pee ALOT or very little, & recently have lost urine pressure (but no signs of a uti/bladder infection). My motivation in general has dissipated. Short term memory loss is embarrassingly bad. My upper eyelids are either swollen or they seem to disappear under the skin below my eyebrows which hang down over my upper eyelid. I have constant black circles that are sometimes swollen under my eyes. I also had a recent bout of acne (chin area) that lasted about 3 months.
I have started having peripheral vision disturbances of light flashing, and find it hard to drive at night (cant explain y). Sometimes my hearing is extremely sensitive (same kind of feeling as when one is pregnant and is hypersensitive to smells - but with sound obviously:)
There is always a connection between these symptoms that are increasing (& embarrassing) and my upper back/scapular area & neck muscle (again, only on the lhs)
Blood work has come back 'normal' for thyroid disfunction, but have elevated wbc, elevated liver enzymes, elevated cholesterol & very low iron. My ultrasound showed a mildly enlarged heterogeneous thyroid (even though I did not have any feeling of tightness/fullness in neck area the day of the ultrasound).
My BP can go from 144/97 to 101/60, and only when it falls in between those, (more twds the higher side) is when I feel good (physically, & therefore my mood is better)
I had to beg my doc to do additional thyroid testing (he only got TSH done initially), so he got my TPO(ab), free t3 & free t4 - which again fell within normal range.
He keeps on trying to make me take seraquel because he thinks I am bi-polar :/ (even though I tell him I am not depressed, and that I am only in an 'off mood' when I am PHYSICALLY not feeling well (*** ???am I supposed to be dancing/singing & laughing when all the above symptoms strike????? - that would be more indicative of a mental disorder to me)
Labs are as follows and if anyone can help me or has any insight.....please, please, share your experience, cuz I am at a loss.....
TSH-.82. (Range .45-4.5)
Free t4-1.29 (Range .82-1.77)
Free t3-2.8 Range (2.0-4.4)
TPO (ab)-15 (range 0-34)
Hemoglobin-15.9 (Range 11.1-15.9)
MCV-98 (range 79-97)
MCH-34.8 (range 26.6-33)
MCHC-35.9 (range 31.5-35.7)
Absolute EOS-0.4 (range 0-0.4)
Glucose serum-99 (range 65-99)
BUN-8 (range 6-24)
Creatinine-.6 (range .57-1.0)
BUN/Creat ratio- 11 (9-23)
Sodium-144 (134-144)
Potassium-4 ( 3.5-5.2)
Chloride-107 (97-108)
Co2-20 (20-32)
Bilirubin-0.1 (0.0-1.2)
AST--40 (0-40)
ALT-47 (0-32)
CBC with platelet diff - 12 (4.0-10.5)
RBC -4.47 (3.77-5.28)