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[Kevtones]

This is obviously long but I'm basically at the point where I need to use every avenue I have considering what has happened with my health insurance (I got screwed out of a standing policy by some loophole bullshit - don't go through Pacific Source)

Here is some vitals:
- I'm 23
- Before this affliction, I ran 40 miles a week and retained a healthy lifestyle except...
- I drank quite a lot (as a typical college student does, but that is no excuse) and...
- I drank a lot of soda (from plastic bottles) and...
- I bought and beat Samurai Warriors Katana for Wii and...
- I had a case of Pancreatitis about 16 months ago (when Oregon clobbered Michigan in football to be exact)
- I'm not on any medication currently but doctors think it's GERDish


So, in early September I drank heavily two nights in a row and woke up with an odd pain in my chest. The pain persisted and got more nagging over the next day and by the end of the second night I was very frightened. I nearly had a panic attack and went to the ER where they diagnosed me with Pericarditis.

Unfortunately, they only did the EKG (if that is the one with the wires?) test and some other bloodwork that night. Everything about my heart checked out but they still diagnosed me with the Pericarditis. In doing so, they put me on 800mg of Ibeprofen for about a month while I recovered. I continued (while soon after getting the ultrasound which should have been done right away) and received word that my heart was fine (no Pericarditis then). From there, both doctors I was seeing told me that it was likely GASTRO-related and that I need off the Ibeprofen immediately.

Soon, I started to feel better with more activity and less focus on the illness. Unfortunately, in late November, as I was feeling the best I had felt since it began (still not 100%) I was in a severe car accident (of which I made a thread about) and got a concussion along with some pretty bad bruising on my ribcage (on my right chest and the back by my spine). After taking some Vicoden (which upset my stomach) I got off it and after about two weeks, the identifiable muscle pain left my system.

The frustration continued however as my stomach and chest still didn't feel right ( as in 100% normal self). This continued through the holidays until early January when the symptoms have since expanded. They now include:

- Noticeable fatigue (this has been consistent but I've been able to run regularly!)
- Neck pain, particularly on the sides
- Upper Back pain (most around the tip of the shoulder blades and right in the center, it feels internal)
- Frequent muscle contractions (way too frequent)
- Random joint pain (not just related to exercise, knees, shoulders)
- Chest pain (right around the nipples on both sides of my chest, it feels like the original symptoms)
- Soreness around my chest that almost feels muscle related
- Joint popping with abnormal regularity
- Pain in the center of the chest that feels different than the pain further deviated from the center (this is rather uncommon)
- The fatigue becomes weakness when I haven't eaten for awhile (more than it used to)
- Quicker pins and needles to my appendages (leg/feet fall asleep much faster not completely)

So...


There might be some that I'm forgetting but I just want to get the word on here and see what I can learn. I've seen many doctors and the internet is one of my few options beyond self-medication. This illness/feeling is unlike anything I've experienced. Until this, I've only had physical (broken bones) injuries, and I've never been sick for more than a week or two, tops. I'm sick and tired of not being myself.

Please, if you can reference or give me any advice, I would be extremely thankful. Also, if you've had any encounter with these symptoms or GERD-like symptoms please let me know.

 

[AlexMogil]

Go get an endoscopy with an esophageal and stomach biopsy.

 

[Kevtones]

Go get an endoscopy with an esophageal and stomach biopsy.

Without health insurance, what price range am I looking at?

 

[themadcowtipper]

West Nile Virus....

 

[Marvie_3]

- I bought and beat Samurai Warriors Katana for Wii and...

Damn dude....that's been known to cause death.

 

[Future PhaZe]

Shit like this can be so frustrating without insurance. Good luck. Things like this can often times take several trips and differing medications to find a solution.

 

[White Man]

That's an awful lot of symptoms for GERD, particular in the pain department. I hope you figure out what's wrong. I'd let you use my insurance if I could. I'm terrified of hospitals so I never go even though I have all sorts of legit reasons.

 

[Outlaw]

I'm sorry but...you've got the aids.

 

[bggrthnjsus]

EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE

anyway do you get the pain after eating, or any wet cough associated with eating? what about if you lie down after eating? what kind of foods, etc. it doesn't really sound like GERD from the history. kinda sounds heart related, or if the doctors were saying it was gastric related, maybe they were thinking ulcers. just go see a doctor...which would be easier if you had insurance, as everybody should have insurance.

also, any more details on this?

Unfortunately, they only did the EKG (if that is the one with the wires?) test and some other bloodwork that night. Everything about my heart checked out but they still diagnosed me with the Pericarditis. In doing so, they put me on 800mg of Ibeprofen for about a month while I recovered. I continued (while soon after getting the ultrasound which should have been done right away) and received word that my heart was fine (no Pericarditis then). From there, both doctors I was seeing told me that it was likely GASTRO-related and that I need off the Ibeprofen immediately.

 

[Particle Physicist]

are you absolutely positive you dont qualify for Medicaid? you should double check to make sure.. because you really need health care, otherwise this is going to be extremely expensive for you.

 

[Kevtones]

That's an awful lot of symptoms for GERD, particular in the pain department. I hope you figure out what's wrong. I'd let you use my insurance if I could. I'm terrified of hospitals so I never go even though I have all sorts of legit reasons.

Thanks, and it just frustrated me that when I did have health insurance, I saw 4/5 doctors, had TONS of blood work, heart tests, and organ function tests to see how I was doing and the only thing that came out was that on two occasions my potassium was low.

also, any more details on this?

The first night in the ER they did the wires connected via patch to my body (EKG?) thing but no ultrasound (they did do x-rays and bloodwork). I had an ultrasound about two weeks later as well as two more wire/patch things and additional bloodwork to test the functions of my organs (mostly because it persisted and the pancreatitis I had at one point). They decided on Pericarditis during my ER visit (misdiagnosis) and therefore stuck me on a bunch of anti-inflammatory medicine (Pericarditis is inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart). After the doctor told me it was NOT pericarditis, he instructed that I get off the medicine quickly because it had probably destroyed my stomach lining (boo rectal bleeding). That should've healed by now according to my main physician.

Also, I've yet to have a fever but it has continually felt viral (throughout) and it is worth mentioning again that it all began after two nights of hard alcohol intake.

are you absolutely positive you dont qualify for Medicaid? you should double check to make sure.. because you really need health care, otherwise this is going to be extremely expensive for you.

I'm not entirely sure. I recently graduated from University but I don't have a real job yet. I do get Food Stamps so maybe this is a possibility, thanks

 

[bggrthnjsus]

After the doctor told me it was NOT pericarditis, he instructed that I get off the medicine quickly because it had probably destroyed my stomach lining (boo rectal bleeding). That should've healed by now according to my main physician.

i'd be worried about ulcers rather than GERD. if you've eroded your stomach wall in pretty much any place you've got the potential to mess with some important arteries and nerves, which could potentially explain a lot of your other symptoms. what color is your shit? (lol no srsly)

 

[Kevtones]

i'd be worried about ulcers rather than GERD. if you've eroded your stomach wall in pretty much any place you've got the potential to mess with some important arteries and nerves, which could potentially explain a lot of your other symptoms. what color is your shit? (lol no srsly)

It actually is fairly normal in it's dark brown appearance. For awhile it was lighter in color (October-early November) but since returned to normal. Sometimes my conditions seems to feel worse when I gotta' go (and can't) but for the most part, my shitting has been normal. I've sadly become very analytical of my stool.

 

[Rewrite]

I can't even tell it's you without having to look at your avatar and tag. :\

 

[Kevtones]

Considering the abundance of medical threads I thought I'd give an update:

After consulting a couple more doctors and then a physical therapist, they've deemed my issue to be a large disturbance of the nervous system (related to the automobile accident I had some months ago). While it is somewhat odd to have delayed symptoms, it was sort of a relief to have a medical person nod their head in a knowing fashion after waiting so long for something reasonably concrete.

Unfortunately, or sort of unfortunate is that I had a vacation starting directly after this diagnosis (non-refundable plane tickets to see my girlfriend) so I've been about 900 miles away dealing with odd issues meeting possible future in-laws. I haven't been able to receive the proper neurological treatment nor get effective treatment for those persisting nervous system issues so its been difficult to say the least. The big issue is that the attacks and odd/off feelings related to the issue are so random and debilitating that I can't relate it to any of my activites and its made me push back and possibly cancel aspects of this trip. Overall though, the main thing is just keeping my head on straight and trying to divert my mind from all the frustration. I guess this might come off as a pointless update but seeing the concern for White Man's health (and his response) in the other thread made me feel compelled to follow up and give back somewhat to those that showed compassion here a couple weeks back. Thanks ~

 

[Cereal KiIIer]

Move to Canada. free heath care and abortions

 

[Kevtones]

Move to Canada. free heath care and abortions

I was actually considering it after going to Vancouver this past June (and loving it) but I contracted a shitty virus while there that sidelined me two weeks. It was actually the main reason I was misdiagnosed the first time around (the virus I had is well-known for causing sudden Pericarditis). Never staying in shitty downtown hostels ever again. I also shouldn't have had sex in the public bathroom...

Further though, I almost applied for the PWC office up there as little as a year ago but some of the recent negativity in the economy has discouraged me from it (especially the insane cost of living I hear of in Vancouver). Might still be worth it though...

 

[Kabouter]

Probably Marburg

 

[Tornado Condor]

it's obviously a tumor

 

[VOOK]

it's obviously a tumor

It's not a tumour

 

[godhandiscen]

If you are a college student living on Financial Aid, a part time job, and shitty food, there are programs that can help you pay your bills (you qualify as poor). I had to go to ER a while ago, and they detected I had kidney stones. My time in ER costed me around 4k and I didn't have insurance, but I don't have to pay anything now because I applied for a program for people with low income like me. The only problem is that it only covers ER. AKA, you will have to go to the hospital feeling a horrible pain, or I don't know, maybe fake it?

 

[B.K.]

It's Lupus.