Hello all, I'll try to keep this organized and as short as possible but needing help finding a potential missing link. I went from a happy, healthy 28 year old male to a shell of my former self, each year showing new symptoms and a new diagnosis. I've probably spent 10's of thousands of dollars in supplements chasing "the cure".
I understand everything below isn't necessarily related, but from reading the threads around here, I've learned you don't what you don't know! Some of the orthopedic / muscle issues I'm having I'm thinking could be driving ileocecal valve and digestive issues.
Before getting sick, followed Standard American Diet. Ate hardly any fruits / veggies, drank more than I should since college. Exercised plenty.
Work in manufacturing and have worked at a Flexographic printing company with lots of exposure to N-Propyl Alcohol and Acetate. Exposure through skin and breathing.
More than 5 Years Ago
0) Ulnar Nerve Transplant- had tingling burning in hands for years. Surgeon stated I had very small nerves after the surgery.
1) Raynaud's Diagnosis - by PCP. Complaint was cold hands and feed. Doctor squeezed my fingers, saw how long it took to return to normal color.
5 Years Ago
2) Dry Eye / Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis - Sudden Onset, had worn contacts for 15 years, and one day just couldn't wear them anymore. Went to multiple doctors, stopped wearing them, did steroid drops. Nothing worked. Have been wearing glasses since.
3) Herniated Disc / Sciatica - I went to a dr. thinking I had shin splints from running. I had tightness in my calf. Went to PT for 1.5 years and saw back specialists, neurologists. Nothing jumped out in MRIs, but the tightness in the calf never stayed better. I had a few weeks of terrible lower back pain off the right side of the spine. I continue to this day having very tight piraformis muscles.
4 Years Ago
4) Anterior Pelvic Tilt - Physical therapist told me I had quite severe APT. Changed jobs, moved, got engaged, and never really pursued trying to fix this issue.
3 Years Ago
5) Neuropathy in feet - Saw neurolgists. Multiple tests, routine bloodwork all normal. Would get intense burning in feet when standing on hard services especially with shoes that don't breathe well. Working in boots at factory was miserable. I'd be wearing flip flops as much as possible at home.
-Treated with epidurals, NSAID's
***November 2017 Massive Food Poisoning after eating out - Hospitalized ***
6) Vomiting - Few weeks after food poisoning at Christmas parties, after eating rich food or drinking a couple drinks, I'd wake up in the middle of the night 3am and vomit everything up.
7) Acid reflux - Saw first GI doctor for acid reflux. I'd be popping tums like candy before seeing the GI doctor who put me on H2 blockers, then PPI's. When complained of still having issues after months, doctor suggested it was all in my head!
Spring 2018
8) Developed bad rash around wasteline, buttocks, forearms. Dermatologist gave usual topicals and steroids. Came right back. PCP thought it was candida and gave Diflucan and it instantly went away.
Summer 2018
9) Bloating, constipation, food intolerances.
Fall/Winter 2018
10) SIBO - Methane dominant diagnosis from lactulose breath test. University hospital treated with broad spectrum antibiotics followed by Rifaximin. Felt good on antibiotics but felt terrible after stopping.
Spring 2019
- Started with functional doctor
- Treated with anti-microbials, pro motility drugs, probiotics
11) Stress/Depression- doctor said stress is impacting my healing. Recommended breathing exercises, exercise
12) Brain Fog
13) Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - I used to work 12-13 hour days and be fine, at this point, by 6 hours through the workday I was fried and just mentally and physically couldn't wait to go home and just rest.
Fall 2019
14) Hydrogen Sulfide SIBO - my breath tests came back negative for SIBO, completely flat lined. Doctor said I was cured. I read online that's a sign of hydrogen sulfide SIBO. Whenever I eat sulfur rich foods, I have terrible sulfur smelling gas and get bloated. Doctor didn't believe it.
Winter 2019
15) Candida - doctor thought i had candida overgrowth due to white coating on tongue.
TODAY - SPRING 2020
Sypmtoms Still Dealing With
- SIBO/Candida/Food Intolerances - bloating and gas after eating certain foods
- Constipation (if I don't take Magnesium Glycinate daily)
- Stress - always a perfectionist, but ability to cope has continually gotten worse the longer I've been sick
- Acid Reflux - roared back out of nowhere after Flu/COVID19, I think I could have gotten a hiatal hernia but GI doctor and PCP don't think so.
- Anterior Pelvic Tilt / Sciatica - Wondering if this is related to Ileocecal and Pyloric valve dysfunction?
Current Medications
- Betaine HCL and Digestive enzymes with each meal
- Omega 3s
- Magnesium Glycinate
Recently stopped Zinc, Pure Formulations Immune Booster, Probiotics
Summary:
Otherwise "healthy" male with poor diet suddenly got dry eye and couldn't wear contacts 5 years ago. Told had small nerves from a surgeon. Developed suspected back issue that led to stopping running and on/off pain in lower right back and extreme muscle tightness in legs.
Food Poisoning episode led to digestive issue after digestive issue since end of 2017. Added stress/depression is impacting healing according to doctor.
Diagnosed from 2 different PCP's as having Raynauds.
Advice Needed:
I'm wondering is the eye/back issue somehow a nerve issue or something else that led to my digestive issues.
Where do I go from here?
I feel like the last 3 years of my life have been wasted, I've spent tens of thousands of dollars, and have done nothing to root cause solve my issues!
I understand everything below isn't necessarily related, but from reading the threads around here, I've learned you don't what you don't know! Some of the orthopedic / muscle issues I'm having I'm thinking could be driving ileocecal valve and digestive issues.
Before getting sick, followed Standard American Diet. Ate hardly any fruits / veggies, drank more than I should since college. Exercised plenty.
Work in manufacturing and have worked at a Flexographic printing company with lots of exposure to N-Propyl Alcohol and Acetate. Exposure through skin and breathing.
More than 5 Years Ago
0) Ulnar Nerve Transplant- had tingling burning in hands for years. Surgeon stated I had very small nerves after the surgery.
1) Raynaud's Diagnosis - by PCP. Complaint was cold hands and feed. Doctor squeezed my fingers, saw how long it took to return to normal color.
5 Years Ago
2) Dry Eye / Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis - Sudden Onset, had worn contacts for 15 years, and one day just couldn't wear them anymore. Went to multiple doctors, stopped wearing them, did steroid drops. Nothing worked. Have been wearing glasses since.
3) Herniated Disc / Sciatica - I went to a dr. thinking I had shin splints from running. I had tightness in my calf. Went to PT for 1.5 years and saw back specialists, neurologists. Nothing jumped out in MRIs, but the tightness in the calf never stayed better. I had a few weeks of terrible lower back pain off the right side of the spine. I continue to this day having very tight piraformis muscles.
4 Years Ago
4) Anterior Pelvic Tilt - Physical therapist told me I had quite severe APT. Changed jobs, moved, got engaged, and never really pursued trying to fix this issue.
3 Years Ago
5) Neuropathy in feet - Saw neurolgists. Multiple tests, routine bloodwork all normal. Would get intense burning in feet when standing on hard services especially with shoes that don't breathe well. Working in boots at factory was miserable. I'd be wearing flip flops as much as possible at home.
-Treated with epidurals, NSAID's
***November 2017 Massive Food Poisoning after eating out - Hospitalized ***
6) Vomiting - Few weeks after food poisoning at Christmas parties, after eating rich food or drinking a couple drinks, I'd wake up in the middle of the night 3am and vomit everything up.
7) Acid reflux - Saw first GI doctor for acid reflux. I'd be popping tums like candy before seeing the GI doctor who put me on H2 blockers, then PPI's. When complained of still having issues after months, doctor suggested it was all in my head!
Spring 2018
8) Developed bad rash around wasteline, buttocks, forearms. Dermatologist gave usual topicals and steroids. Came right back. PCP thought it was candida and gave Diflucan and it instantly went away.
Summer 2018
9) Bloating, constipation, food intolerances.
Fall/Winter 2018
10) SIBO - Methane dominant diagnosis from lactulose breath test. University hospital treated with broad spectrum antibiotics followed by Rifaximin. Felt good on antibiotics but felt terrible after stopping.
Spring 2019
- Started with functional doctor
- Treated with anti-microbials, pro motility drugs, probiotics
11) Stress/Depression- doctor said stress is impacting my healing. Recommended breathing exercises, exercise
12) Brain Fog
13) Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - I used to work 12-13 hour days and be fine, at this point, by 6 hours through the workday I was fried and just mentally and physically couldn't wait to go home and just rest.
Fall 2019
14) Hydrogen Sulfide SIBO - my breath tests came back negative for SIBO, completely flat lined. Doctor said I was cured. I read online that's a sign of hydrogen sulfide SIBO. Whenever I eat sulfur rich foods, I have terrible sulfur smelling gas and get bloated. Doctor didn't believe it.
Winter 2019
15) Candida - doctor thought i had candida overgrowth due to white coating on tongue.
TODAY - SPRING 2020
Sypmtoms Still Dealing With
- SIBO/Candida/Food Intolerances - bloating and gas after eating certain foods
- Constipation (if I don't take Magnesium Glycinate daily)
- Stress - always a perfectionist, but ability to cope has continually gotten worse the longer I've been sick
- Acid Reflux - roared back out of nowhere after Flu/COVID19, I think I could have gotten a hiatal hernia but GI doctor and PCP don't think so.
- Anterior Pelvic Tilt / Sciatica - Wondering if this is related to Ileocecal and Pyloric valve dysfunction?
Current Medications
- Betaine HCL and Digestive enzymes with each meal
- Omega 3s
- Magnesium Glycinate
Recently stopped Zinc, Pure Formulations Immune Booster, Probiotics
Summary:
Otherwise "healthy" male with poor diet suddenly got dry eye and couldn't wear contacts 5 years ago. Told had small nerves from a surgeon. Developed suspected back issue that led to stopping running and on/off pain in lower right back and extreme muscle tightness in legs.
Food Poisoning episode led to digestive issue after digestive issue since end of 2017. Added stress/depression is impacting healing according to doctor.
Diagnosed from 2 different PCP's as having Raynauds.
Advice Needed:
I'm wondering is the eye/back issue somehow a nerve issue or something else that led to my digestive issues.
Where do I go from here?
I feel like the last 3 years of my life have been wasted, I've spent tens of thousands of dollars, and have done nothing to root cause solve my issues!
