ahartzok
06-01-2006, 05:28 PM
I am a 17 year old highschool student. For three years I've been suffering from debilitating head pressure and ache. I cannot think for the life of myself and it has begun to affect my school. I am so cloudy and everything is so fuzzy that I loose grasp of things very quickly.
It is pressure in the front of my head and affects my thinking very very bad. I used to be straight A honors even in the beggining stages of this, but my grades have slipped to f's and d's. I cannot help it and it is horrible, I am distrot and loosing hope in my future. This may seem like a very minor problem, when in reality it affect my whole entire life. I haven't been able to excel in sports (which used to be a big part of my life), life, school, and other intrests outside of school.
I am totally hazy and tend to sleep alot to try and cope with it. many times think as I am speaking that I have no clue what I am saying, it is as though I am high or something of the sort. It is as though I am floating and am lost. I go day to day with out really connecting with life I guess you could say because of this being so detached. And nothing I can do seems to help... School is just terrible though being as though I was once so bright (scoring 850 on the SAT in 7th grade!). It is terrible and I have become so frustrated, this may seem mental but I am convinced after three years of looking for a mental answer, that it is not-------Alchohol and drugs however play no part with me and have never really been an issue for its not really to my liking, and my issues came about even before I had ever tried.
My mom and I have been down all sorts of roads and avenues trying to figure this out and has lead me to almost no hope. its not glands, depression, ADD, ADHD, Diabetes, and so on... any of that, most common testing for diseases came up negative and not irregular.
One issue though that occured three years ago, a few months before I took notice to my condition, was I was sort of medically prescribed accidently an overdose. My medications were Stratera, Amoxacilan, Paxil, and metocycolene... these drugs interacted and used the same enzyme in my stomach to digest and lingered in my stomach for some time. As a result, I was dizzy could hardly stand and it threw me into the pits of depression... I am not sure if that has anything with what I am experiencing this far down the line.
But many people have begun to question me asking if I am high, and it has become some what of an emabarasment.... I skwint because my head is under so much preasure, and I comonly cannot make sence of many situations, and no matter what it doesn't get any better.
Please, a doctor out there, I have been to many including specialists, but someone has to understand my issue
thank you,
alex
It is pressure in the front of my head and affects my thinking very very bad. I used to be straight A honors even in the beggining stages of this, but my grades have slipped to f's and d's. I cannot help it and it is horrible, I am distrot and loosing hope in my future. This may seem like a very minor problem, when in reality it affect my whole entire life. I haven't been able to excel in sports (which used to be a big part of my life), life, school, and other intrests outside of school.
I am totally hazy and tend to sleep alot to try and cope with it. many times think as I am speaking that I have no clue what I am saying, it is as though I am high or something of the sort. It is as though I am floating and am lost. I go day to day with out really connecting with life I guess you could say because of this being so detached. And nothing I can do seems to help... School is just terrible though being as though I was once so bright (scoring 850 on the SAT in 7th grade!). It is terrible and I have become so frustrated, this may seem mental but I am convinced after three years of looking for a mental answer, that it is not-------Alchohol and drugs however play no part with me and have never really been an issue for its not really to my liking, and my issues came about even before I had ever tried.
My mom and I have been down all sorts of roads and avenues trying to figure this out and has lead me to almost no hope. its not glands, depression, ADD, ADHD, Diabetes, and so on... any of that, most common testing for diseases came up negative and not irregular.
One issue though that occured three years ago, a few months before I took notice to my condition, was I was sort of medically prescribed accidently an overdose. My medications were Stratera, Amoxacilan, Paxil, and metocycolene... these drugs interacted and used the same enzyme in my stomach to digest and lingered in my stomach for some time. As a result, I was dizzy could hardly stand and it threw me into the pits of depression... I am not sure if that has anything with what I am experiencing this far down the line.
But many people have begun to question me asking if I am high, and it has become some what of an emabarasment.... I skwint because my head is under so much preasure, and I comonly cannot make sence of many situations, and no matter what it doesn't get any better.
Please, a doctor out there, I have been to many including specialists, but someone has to understand my issue
thank you,
alex
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ticker
06-01-2006, 09:06 PM
Hi Alex. I am very sorry you are dealing with so much and have been for so long.
It sounds like you may have had your thyroid tested, but I suggest getting tested again. Show your mom this post. Ask them to run a Free T3, Free T4 (besides the T3, T4) and thyroid antibody tests in addition to the TSH, T3, and T4. These tests are usually not done, but are necessary for a comprehensive view. If you want to post your results when you get them, I will try to help you interpret them. Also, the thyroid board at this site is very helpful. Even if your test results are in the normal range, they may not be optimal for you. Thyroid disorders are fairly common and they can affect many areas of the body.
Have you ever been bitten by a tick that you know of? Lyme disease is a multi-system bacterial infection caused from the bite of an infected tick. It can cause many symptoms. If you think this is a possibility, it is very important to see a Lyme knowledgeable doctor. No test is completely reliable. If you post where you are located, I will tell you of the closest Lyme doctor to you that I know of.
Are you on any medications now? Could they be causing these symptoms? If you are on medications, is your doctor monitoring you regularly? You are growing so it could be that a dose that was okay before may be too weak or too strong now.
Hang in there okay? Never give up. You will find out what is wrong.
It sounds like you may have had your thyroid tested, but I suggest getting tested again. Show your mom this post. Ask them to run a Free T3, Free T4 (besides the T3, T4) and thyroid antibody tests in addition to the TSH, T3, and T4. These tests are usually not done, but are necessary for a comprehensive view. If you want to post your results when you get them, I will try to help you interpret them. Also, the thyroid board at this site is very helpful. Even if your test results are in the normal range, they may not be optimal for you. Thyroid disorders are fairly common and they can affect many areas of the body.
Have you ever been bitten by a tick that you know of? Lyme disease is a multi-system bacterial infection caused from the bite of an infected tick. It can cause many symptoms. If you think this is a possibility, it is very important to see a Lyme knowledgeable doctor. No test is completely reliable. If you post where you are located, I will tell you of the closest Lyme doctor to you that I know of.
Are you on any medications now? Could they be causing these symptoms? If you are on medications, is your doctor monitoring you regularly? You are growing so it could be that a dose that was okay before may be too weak or too strong now.
Hang in there okay? Never give up. You will find out what is wrong.
orion
06-01-2006, 09:20 PM
Could also be a pituitary problem which can cause thyroid and other hormonal problems. Have you had an MRI of your brain to rule out possible growths?
Do you have any other symptoms like weight gain/loss, vision disturbance/loss, craving salty foods, dry skin, or rapid heart beats?
Do you have any other symptoms like weight gain/loss, vision disturbance/loss, craving salty foods, dry skin, or rapid heart beats?
Misty800
06-01-2006, 09:34 PM
Have you had an MRI or Cat Scan of your head? If not, you need to have one. This would most likely show a tumor if there was one there.
_mystictiger_
06-01-2006, 09:44 PM
A tumour? That is taking a bit too far. You dont want to scare the poor lad and besides he has been having these symptoms for three years now. If he did indeed have a brain tumour he wouldn't be sitting at his computer writing his post. So dont worry ahartzok. But Misty has made a good point. You do need to have a CAT and MRI scan to check out your brain patterns and to rule anything out brain related.
I've been having the same symptoms you have. So your not alone. I dont know what mine is caused by either but I do get very bad migraines. Do you have migraines? It may be a migraine aura as these are very debilitating and come in a variation of symptoms. See your doctor about the MRI and CAT scans and also have your Thyroid checked and full blood count done. It wouldn't hurt to get your hormone levels checked just incase this is playing a part. I wish you luck.
I've been having the same symptoms you have. So your not alone. I dont know what mine is caused by either but I do get very bad migraines. Do you have migraines? It may be a migraine aura as these are very debilitating and come in a variation of symptoms. See your doctor about the MRI and CAT scans and also have your Thyroid checked and full blood count done. It wouldn't hurt to get your hormone levels checked just incase this is playing a part. I wish you luck.
ahartzok
06-01-2006, 10:56 PM
I appreciate all this, I'll look into it,
but yes I had a Cat scan not very long ago because I was in a car accident and I had a subdermal something or other in my head, it was very very minor. but I am guessing if anything was in my head, it would have come up on that, but this also I guess would depend on how general the cat scan was.
also, I went to the endocrynologist at the childrens hospital in Philidelphia, if thats spelled correctly I'm not sure, but the doctor of glands I'll say, and I had a number of tests done, but all came back fine...
also migranes, I suffered from head aches when I was younger, but this I am pritty sure isn't migranes because I will get a migrane ontop of this when my vison goes odd and such and thats the worst because off of that combined is very frustrating and uncomfortable esspecially when I'm at school.
but yes I had a Cat scan not very long ago because I was in a car accident and I had a subdermal something or other in my head, it was very very minor. but I am guessing if anything was in my head, it would have come up on that, but this also I guess would depend on how general the cat scan was.
also, I went to the endocrynologist at the childrens hospital in Philidelphia, if thats spelled correctly I'm not sure, but the doctor of glands I'll say, and I had a number of tests done, but all came back fine...
also migranes, I suffered from head aches when I was younger, but this I am pritty sure isn't migranes because I will get a migrane ontop of this when my vison goes odd and such and thats the worst because off of that combined is very frustrating and uncomfortable esspecially when I'm at school.
ahartzok
06-01-2006, 10:59 PM
actually at one point last year, I had lost 17-23 pounds in about a month and was feeling terrible. I was very skinny and felt very sick, as if I had some heart condition... but that all turned out ok once I went to the pediatric cardiologist from Hershey Medical Center.
ahartzok
06-01-2006, 11:02 PM
Yes I had a lyme test twice and it came back negative and the medications at one point I went off all of them and it didn't really seem to change things and have been very reluctant in the medications I'm on and only after I my physician and another doctor say that its fine
ticker
06-01-2006, 11:58 PM
Hi ahartzok. Do you have heart symptoms also?
No Lyme test is completely reliable and results can vary by lab. The ELISA or titer is the least reliable test and the one most doctors run first.
To confirm or rule out Lyme, it is very important to see a knoweldgeable doctor. Besides Lyme, ticks can transmit several co-infections including Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis (HME & HGE), Bartonella, and Mycoplasma. Many people who have Lyme are co-infected, and it may affect treatment choice and progress. It is important to be tested for these by a Lyme reputable lab such as IgeneX in Palo Alto, CA.
Are you in PA? It has the 3rd highest number of Lyme cases in the country. I know of a Lyme doctor in Hermitage, PA who comes highly recommended. His name is Dr. Chandra Swami. He treats children and adults. Maybe your mom could take you there for an evaluation.
No Lyme test is completely reliable and results can vary by lab. The ELISA or titer is the least reliable test and the one most doctors run first.
To confirm or rule out Lyme, it is very important to see a knoweldgeable doctor. Besides Lyme, ticks can transmit several co-infections including Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis (HME & HGE), Bartonella, and Mycoplasma. Many people who have Lyme are co-infected, and it may affect treatment choice and progress. It is important to be tested for these by a Lyme reputable lab such as IgeneX in Palo Alto, CA.
Are you in PA? It has the 3rd highest number of Lyme cases in the country. I know of a Lyme doctor in Hermitage, PA who comes highly recommended. His name is Dr. Chandra Swami. He treats children and adults. Maybe your mom could take you there for an evaluation.
ahartzok
06-02-2006, 10:34 PM
well I have had heart problems, pulpitations... I had a hutramonitor at one point due to the fact that I would get hot and sweaty at school and almost pass out and I"ve have pulpitations. My resting heart rate hit 170 which is remarkably high and that sent me to a pediatric cardiologist from Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, PA. He confirmed that I had the irregularity in my veins where my body doesn't produce enough of some protien that makes you veins contract when you stand so that the pressure can get to the upper portions of my body, mainly head... my hands and feet would turn purple because of the rush of blood, He put me on a steroid to increase my body's production of that steroid and actually contained the steroid, I guess that worked, I don't really have those issues anymore. I've had issues like I had, but not ver regularly at all, hardly ever .... other than that nothing much else...
Lyme, I've been tested twice..... And this has been a progression of three years of doctors, I began to seek medical help when it all began... but I will see thankyou
Lyme, I've been tested twice..... And this has been a progression of three years of doctors, I began to seek medical help when it all began... but I will see thankyou
ticker
06-03-2006, 09:54 AM
Hi ahartzok. Lyme can be hard to diagnose and many people who have it often go through many different doctors and possible diagnoses first. I highly recommend that you be evaluated by the Lyme doctor. Lyme disease is the second fastest growing infectious diseaes in the US after AIDS, and it is very prevalent in PA.
Good luck.
Good luck.
dg_lvr_n_wa74
06-04-2006, 01:54 AM
You may want to do more research regarding your heart-many times this can go undiagnosed in younger people--maybe get an echocardiogram performed. Another possibility could be 'food intolerance'. Not the same as a food allergy. Try reading up on it, there are diagnostic tests for this. You may be amazed at some peoples stories and how food intolerance has affected their health/well-being. You are far too young to be experiencing such a low quality of life. Continue pushing for more testing, second or third opinions, and researching your symptoms.
TimeWarp32
06-04-2006, 02:28 AM
I appreciate all this, I'll look into it,
but yes I had a Cat scan not very long ago because I was in a car accident and I had a subdermal something or other in my head, it was very very minor. but I am guessing if anything was in my head, it would have come up on that, but this also I guess would depend on how general the cat scan was.
Don't be so sure, very often, things are not diagnosed until doctors are told to look for specific things. I've had plenty of chest xray's, but until one of my doctors took a chest xray to rule out congestive heart failure, none of the xray's ever came back saying I had an enlarged heart, even one taken a month prior to the one I am referencing.
but yes I had a Cat scan not very long ago because I was in a car accident and I had a subdermal something or other in my head, it was very very minor. but I am guessing if anything was in my head, it would have come up on that, but this also I guess would depend on how general the cat scan was.
Don't be so sure, very often, things are not diagnosed until doctors are told to look for specific things. I've had plenty of chest xray's, but until one of my doctors took a chest xray to rule out congestive heart failure, none of the xray's ever came back saying I had an enlarged heart, even one taken a month prior to the one I am referencing.
Cassie4u22
06-04-2006, 11:20 AM
A tumour? That is taking a bit too far. You dont want to scare the poor lad and besides he has been having these symptoms for three years now. If he did indeed have a brain tumour he wouldn't be sitting at his computer writing his post. So dont worry ahartzok. But Misty has made a good point. You do need to have a CAT and MRI scan to check out your brain patterns and to rule anything out brain related.
I've been having the same symptoms you have. So your not alone. I dont know what mine is caused by either but I do get very bad migraines. Do you have migraines? It may be a migraine aura as these are very debilitating and come in a variation of symptoms. See your doctor about the MRI and CAT scans and also have your Thyroid checked and full blood count done. It wouldn't hurt to get your hormone levels checked just incase this is playing a part. I wish you luck.
I agree with the last poster, actually. A CAT or MRI is most definitely in order, because this very well could be a tumor. A tumor can grow in the head for years without any symptoms until it grows large enough to put pressure on certain areas of the brain to affect function. It depends on the area of the brain that is being pressured by the tumor as to which cognitive or physical functions are affected, which essentially means that someone could lose all reasoning skills yet still be able to play sports or type on a computer. This post is not meant to scare you, because the odds are, it is not a tumor, but please go and get yourself checked out so you can at least rule out the most serious possible culprit. Good luck.
I've been having the same symptoms you have. So your not alone. I dont know what mine is caused by either but I do get very bad migraines. Do you have migraines? It may be a migraine aura as these are very debilitating and come in a variation of symptoms. See your doctor about the MRI and CAT scans and also have your Thyroid checked and full blood count done. It wouldn't hurt to get your hormone levels checked just incase this is playing a part. I wish you luck.
I agree with the last poster, actually. A CAT or MRI is most definitely in order, because this very well could be a tumor. A tumor can grow in the head for years without any symptoms until it grows large enough to put pressure on certain areas of the brain to affect function. It depends on the area of the brain that is being pressured by the tumor as to which cognitive or physical functions are affected, which essentially means that someone could lose all reasoning skills yet still be able to play sports or type on a computer. This post is not meant to scare you, because the odds are, it is not a tumor, but please go and get yourself checked out so you can at least rule out the most serious possible culprit. Good luck.
auntjudyg
06-05-2006, 10:38 AM
Sorry to hear what's going on. School years are tough enough without added stress.
I always start looking at basics. How are your eating habits? It took me a LONG time (into my 40s) before I realized what a difference good eating can make. And I think some people are more sensitive to the overly processed, fast food, junk food that has become so dominant in our diets - and especially the diets of so many younger people.
I always start looking at basics. How are your eating habits? It took me a LONG time (into my 40s) before I realized what a difference good eating can make. And I think some people are more sensitive to the overly processed, fast food, junk food that has become so dominant in our diets - and especially the diets of so many younger people.