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A simple stomach bug turned into never-ending nausea. I began to grow fatigued, had joint pain and felt unwell overall. I felt lost as more symptoms piled up. In January, eight months after my symptoms first began, I became sick with the flu.
Days passed by in a blur, and I felt dizzy all the time. Going to school became almost impossible as the world seemed to spin. Make-up work piled up, and I felt paralyzed. I knew I was sick, and yet I had no answers as to what was wrong. Every time I stood, the blood pooled in my limbs, and my heart raced to try and bring the blood back to my brain.
All of my symptoms were explained by POTS. I was simply desperate for someone to help find an answer and give me treatment. Another autoimmune disease, multiple sclerosis MS occurs when the immune system attacks the body's own nerve cells and disrupts communication between the brain and the rest of the body.
Some of the first symptoms of MS are often numbness, weakness, or tingling in one or more limbs, but that's not always the case. Depending on the number and location of lesions in the brain, he adds, signs and symptoms may be more or less severe in different people. Could you have MS? You probably know to look out for tick bites and the telltale bullseye rash that can form around them if a person is infected with Lyme disease.
But not everyone develops this rash -- and Lyme disease's other symptoms like fatigue, headaches, joint pain, and flu-like symptoms can easily be confused for other conditions, says Shapiro. A blood test can check for Lyme disease antibodies in the blood, but those usually don't show up until a few weeks after infection and the test is notoriously unreliable.
It's important to remove the tick immediately and see a doctor right away. Quickly removing a tick can possibly prevent the transfer of dangerous bacteria, and antibiotics for Lyme disease are most effective when given immediately. How one woman bravely manages lupus Nick Cannon takes on lupus The most distinctive sign of lupus -- another chronic inflammatory disease -- is a butterfly-shaped rash across a patient's cheeks, but that's not present in all cases.
For those who don't develop the rash, diagnosis can be a long and difficult process, says Shapiro. There is no one way to diagnose lupus, but blood and urine tests, along with a complete physical exam, are usually involved. Treatment also depends on a patient's individual signs and symptoms, and medications and dosages may need to be adjusted as the disease flares and subsides. Irregular periods, unexplained weight gain, and difficulty getting pregnant can all be symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS , a hormonal disorder affecting women of reproductive age. Many women with this condition also have enlarged ovaries with numerous small cysts, but not everyone with PCOS has these enlarged ovaries, and not everyone with enlarged ovaries has PCOS.
To be diagnosed with PCOS, a woman must also be experiencing infrequent or prolonged periods or have elevated levels of male hormones, called androgens, in her blood. Androgen excess may cause abnormal hair growth on the face and body, but women of certain ethnic backgrounds like Northern European and Asian may not show physical signs. Signs and symptoms of appendicitis You might think that an inflamed or burst appendix should be easy to identify, and often, it is: In this case, he says, intestinal fluids can seep into the abdominal cavity and cause a potentially life-threatening infection -- but it can take days or even weeks before these symptoms appear.
I found a new primary care doctor, and during our initial appointment, I told her about my symptoms. We had gone to this hospital in the midst of a tropical storm, only to be told there was nothing wrong with me. When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras. This might include, for example, exercise, counselling and breathing exercises with relaxation. Tech Innovate Gadget Mission:
Many perfectly healthy women deal with menstrual pain and discomfort, so it's not surprising that endometriosis is often misdiagnosed. Be the first to ask a question about Your Symptoms Are Real. Lists with This Book. This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Apr 25, Laren rated it liked it Shelves: This is a good read if you or someone you know is having a lot of vague medical symptoms without getting a good diagnosis as to what is wrong. He is good at explaining the order in which they should be run, and why. Then he goes into more treatment specifics regarding certain ailments which many doctors still have trouble believing are real, including chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromy This is a good read if you or someone you know is having a lot of vague medical symptoms without getting a good diagnosis as to what is wrong.
Then he goes into more treatment specifics regarding certain ailments which many doctors still have trouble believing are real, including chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, IBS and more. Also included is advice on how to get your doctor to be your partner, and getting a new doctor if necessary. May 10, Tori Miller rated it really liked it Shelves: Already knew a lot of this so skimmed it.
I wish I read this earlier though. Aug 20, Lucia rated it liked it Shelves: Mar 13, Becky Barron rated it really liked it. This book is going to convinve me that I am not losing my mind I knew I was right!
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