Undiagnosed. Widespread symptoms.: Hello everyone... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

137,936 members161,765 posts

Undiagnosed. Widespread symptoms.

13 Replies

Hello everyone. For the past four years I have been struggling with a bunch of symptoms, but have yet to find out what's wrong with me. I just got some extended blood work done, which practically tested everything in my body. Literally, not a single thing showed up. The results say I'm completely healthy and nothing is out of range. I also had an eye xray done, because I've had a bulging left eye for most of my life. The xray showed nothing as well. This is quite frustrating, because now both the doctor, and my father, are saying it could be all in my head. I've been experiencing persistent symptoms for the past four years, and nothing has gotten better. I'm starting to feel frustrated and hopeless. I know my eye has a bulge, I've seen photos, videos, and looked at myself in the mirror for hours. It's frustrating they are dismissing my issues.

Symptoms I've been experiencing: The first notable symptom to appear is the bulging left eye. I've had it since I was very young, because I've seen photos of myself at age 3 and 4, where the bulge was present. It's only my left eye, it has a staring appearance at all times, and is bigger and more out than my right. Next present issue, is the circulation to my hands. Since I was about 11 or 12, my hands would get extremely red and sweaty with exercise. This seems to have only gotten worse with time. They also get cold and purple/blue when it's cold outside. Even when I'm under stress it can cause them to change colors. Next notable symptom, feeling stuffed without eating much. Sometimes when I eat, I will feel stuffed right away. When this happens I get very tired, and my face gets extremely oily. I have also been off dairy and gluten for the past 3 years, because my first doctor was a naturopath, and some tests showed I may be sensitive to both of those things. Whatever is affecting me, really shows in my face. My skin is dull and unhealthy looking, it looks malnourished. I'm also extremely pale, but just in the face. My face was very tan before all these issues started occurring. On top of all of this, I'm extremely fatigued all the time, and suffer from bad depression and anxiety caused by these issues. Any help would be much appreciated, I'm just in a slump at the moment. The doctor is saying there's nothing wrong, and so is my father. It's bull s#^t nothings wrong. I wouldn't be feeling this way, and having these symptoms if I were healthy with no problems. Thanks a lot guys. PS. I'm 17 years old.

13 Replies

Also to add, I get frequent gas pains at night. It makes my stomach hurt and feel like I need to go to the bathroom, but when I try it ends up just being gas. I'm not constipated, but I get those pains almost everyday.

Clutter profile image
Clutter

Welcome to the forum, Lowprofile.

Can you post the results of the thyroid blood tests you've had done with the lab ref ranges (the figures in brackets after your results) and members will advise whether you appear to have a thyroid problem. Post any results you may have for iron, ferritin, vitamin D, B12 and folate too.

Gluten-free usually helps with gas and bloating so given you're still experiencing them and are feeling stuffed when you eat ask your GP to refer you to a gastroenterologist for investigation.

Are you taking anti-depressants or other medication which may cause gut issues?

in reply to Clutter

Thanks for the response. I'm currently working on getting the results from my blood work, so when I do, I will post them on here for you all to look over. No anti-depressants. The doc put me on probiotics about 3 weeks ago, that's all I'm currently taking. It almost feels as if the probiotics are making me feel worse.

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to

Lowprofile, if there's no improvement in a few days go back to your GP. Probiotics should help balance gut flora but I don't think they should make you feel worse. I'm no expert on this, however.

in reply to Clutter

still working on getting my blood test results. would it make sense that this could be some type of digestive/enzyme problem? I'm fatigued, my skin looks extremely unhealthy, I have gas and stomach pains. Don't those all seem like clear digestive problem symptoms?

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to

Lowprofile, get your bloods and we may be able to advise. Low thyroid &/or autoimmune thyroid disease can slow metabolism and cause gut and digestive issues but there are other causes too.

The first thing to do would be to get hold of a copy of your blood test results. You're legally entitled to ask for them and they may be a small charge. Don't get fobbed off and this will help:

nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1309.aspx?...

When you've received them post up on here and members will be able to comment.

Many people feel let down by the NHS and I'm afraid that we do need to be pro-active and not be sent packing by ignorant GPs. Please be positive and see this as taking the first step.

in reply to

I'm currently working on obtaining a copy, should have it within two days.

I agree, it's very frustrating. They can't possibly expect me to be happy with "it's all in your head." worst medical advice I've ever received. Maybe I'll believe that when my symptoms are gone.

in reply to

Can I just pick up on these probiotics you've been prescribed - have they actually made your digestion problem worse? Could you be lactose-intolerant?

Hang in there, you can get better and you need to be positive.

in reply to

Currently taking Multidophilus, 3 Billion. Triple Strain Formula. It's hard to say whether or not they've made the problem worse, I have been a lot more stressed and anxious lately than I have before, so this is probably affecting the issue as well. They are in capsule form, I've been off dairy and gluten for about 3 years, so I made sure to get the pro's without any dairy.

in reply to

Have you checked the ingredients? Perhaps they contain gluten? I can understand you being stressed - being told that it's all in your head is offensive and unhelpful.

rosetrees profile image
rosetrees

Hi lowprofile. How frustrating for you and well done for not accepting the "there's nothing wrong" line. Obviously there is and you need to find out what it is. It ought to be your doctor's job to find it, but most doctors have different ideas of what their job involves.

Have you thought of having your cortisol levels measured? You can order the saliva cortisol test from Genova UK thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Start by doing this adrenal questionnaire adrenalfatigue.org/take-the...

in reply to rosetrees

I just read about cortisol levels, it seems to be very relevant to my symptoms. I should probably look into getting a test done, I'm just stumped. I need to make a smart next move, because all my tests so far have shown nothing. I just don't know where to go for all of this, because I don't know whats causing everything. To me it seems like it's digestion related, because most of my symptoms can somehow be tied to digestion. I actually live in the U.S. I'm new to this site, so if I'm in the wrong section, I didn't realize it.

You may also like...

Undiagnosed but suffering symptoms

with symptoms for quite sometime. They used to be sporadic and seem to come and go but the past 6...

Symptoms yet undiagnosed

by my symptoms, hence I thought to check directly with people who may have similar symptoms. I'm a...

Undiagnosed as yet but getting more symptoms.

within range one below ft4 and increasing TSH 3.24. I'm now getting groin and hip pain and sore...

Undiagnosed

doctors found nothing had 24hr heart monitor placed nothing found all good but still nothing to...

Frustrated & possibly misdiagnosed/undiagnosed?!

help thinking that I do have a thyroid issue. And I'm frustrated I'll need another blood test very...