Constant tiredness, breathing changes, and brain fog for months - Ideas?

palmtreegirl

Did they check you vitamin D level? Also, vitamin B12 is absorbed better if you take the sublingual ones (melt under the tongue). Good luck

moushe

I feel disconnected from the outside (people and places) Even when haaving a conversation..as if im dreaming..No one can feel what im going through because I act normal..i take Remero n (7.5 mg) to help me sleep ,but I don't think its the reason because ive been on it for one year..Lately I seem detached from those I care about and its making me sad.. does anyone understand??

Thordownunder

Depression can cause you to feel like you are out of your body. It's a normal symptom. Also have you had your potassium levels checked as that can cause some of these symptoms?

Leegh

Yes, I do understand. I think severe stress can cause your symptoms, as sometimes it is extremely hard for the body to handle extreme stress. Human beings are built very strong emotionally and physically, but sometimes life can just be overwhelming. Hopefully, in time things will get better for you. Things sometimes do change for the better!

nochange

1) Are you able to sleep deep sleep?
2) Other than Remeron, what other meds are you on?
3) Are you suffering from chronic pain?
4) Do you have a job?

BostLuvr

Kruegers -

Not sure if you're still checking this thread, but I am wondering if you ever got to the bottom of your issues. My 18 year old son suddenly came down with nearly identical symptoms- severe brain fog/feeling disconnected and fatigue with a cough. He has been tested for almost everything for the past 2 months and I am getting frustrated.

EEG and MRI normal. CBC normal. EBV, thyroid normal. Vit D slightly low - being treated. MRI showed suspected sinus infection, but a week of Bactrim did nothing.

Can anyone offer ideas? Help? He had 3 vaccines right before this started - meningitis, HPV, and DTP. I am fearing maybe the HPV vaccine did this??

Signed,

Very sad mom

kruegersc4

I have not gotten to the bottom of it and it is still an issue. I've certainly been handling it better - I even went to Canada for a semester of school and managed decent grades and a social life while there. I think my mental symptoms have been slightly worse recently and I've been feeling a bit more disoriented.

All tests so far have basically been normal. I had one 'typical' lyme test that was negative, and one Western Blot IGeneX IgM Lyme test that was borderline negative/positive (31 and 41 were ++, 83-93 was +, and 34 and 39 were Indeterminate). I tried antibiotic treatment for about 3 months until I started having stomach problems from it. It didn't seem to do anything. I've found that the doctor who tested for this is a bit too speculative and doesn't seem skeptical/scientifically rigorous enough for me, and not covered under insurance, so I probably won't be going back.

Since then, I've been to another doctor for a swollen throat. I was treated for an infection with penicillin, and the pain and whiteness in my throat went away, however my right tonsil area has stayed swollen and is a big bumpy, geographically interesting mass, but is not painful at all. It has been this way for at least a few months now and perhaps more while unnoticed. I'm wondering if it is connected to all my other problems, but don't want to jump to conclusions. The doctor was not sure if it could be or not. Removal of my tonsils was brought up, but I don't really want to do it if it's not going to help with anything...

I had that doctor refer me to a group of Stanford doctors studying chronic fatigue. Hopefully they'll get back to me. I also might try the Humaworm deworming formula recommended by someone in this thread if I conclude it looks safe and useful just to see if it does anything (Is there any scientific research available that these herbal remedies actually work?). Any further comments/recommendations from this new information would be appreciated!

ladybud

Did you ever get tested for sleep apnea? A pulse oximetry test to check your oxygen levels? It could be related to the swollen tonsils, as that can contribute to apnea by closing off the throat when you sleep. Sleep apnea can cause the chronic fatigue, brain fog, and your higher than usual red blood cell count. Your Dr can order the oximetry test, either nighttime alone or 24 hr. Very easy, and would need follow-up with a sleep study if oxygen level is dropping during night. Common problem. Treatable. Long term serious complications if goes untreated for long time. Anyone can have it and not know it.

kruegersc4

I did a pulse oximetry and it was normal, though I didn't sleep well that night and that might have affected the results. From what I remember, a few doctors looked at my throat when all these symptoms first started and never mentioned any swelling in my throat, so it probably showed up later.

ladybud

Have you been tested for autoimmune diseases? Lupus is one that notoriously causes severe fatigue, brain fog, cognitive issues and sometimes breathing problems. They are checked by a few screening blood tests, then more in depth if any are positive. First a CBC, sed rate, CRP, ANA, RA, urine, then nore if any are abnormal. How high was your red blood cell count? If you have a test result to post, that might help. A whole CBC result would lend important info. Chest xray (because of cough)?
A young man your age certainly shouldn't feel this way. Thyroid test results? Any info you can share will help us help you.

kruegersc4

My RBC was 5.63 (normal 4.20-5.40) in Feb 2012. There were also a few other ones such as Urine pH, T protein, and Albumin that were right above the upper range, but I assume the multiple doctors who looked at the results would have said something if there was a potential issue. I was told I was screened for all of the autoimmune disorders. Thyroid was normal. The cough isn't there anymore, but I am definitely breathing heavy still.

ladybud

Could you check your blood results for the tests I listed in previous post? Especially the ANA. I think the Stanford Dr. doing the study would be a good idea. I would call them rather than waiting for them to call you. There are at least 65 autoimmune disorders, so I can't imagine they tested you for all of them. You really need to know exactly what they tested you for and get copies of your test results every time you have blood work done. You might pick up a clue that the Drs have dismissed, as that happens frequently. In cases like yours, the diagnostic burden shifts somewhat to the patient, unfortunately, when the Drs run out of ideas.

EricNC

I would get checked for really bad allergies. I have had some of those symptoms plus a ton of sinus infections. Getting better treatment(after bad treatment) for allergies and a related sleep disorder has helped these symptoms to get better. For me, the antihistamine levocetrizine- a tweek of zyrtec- seemed to really get my symptoms under control. If the brain fog gets better around 7:00 pm it may be allergies with pollen count going down.