Mysterious Malaise: Persistent Nausea, Dizziness, and Exhaustion

Van_Gogh · Newbie Joined: 15 Sep 2007 Posts: 1

Hello all,
I'm posting here to get some input on a mysterious condition that's been affecting me most profoundly for about a month now. My earliest complaints about these symptoms stretches back about five years, but it's only recently that they've become severe enough to interfere with my quality of life.
It involves episodes of (suddenly occurring and long-lasting) nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and malaise. At its worst so far, I was bed-ridden for almost an entire day because I found it so hard to focus on the world around me and garner the strength to stand. It is very unusual for me to remain bed-ridden and it is not a state I wish to return to. It was much like having the flu, but without any stomach pain. However, unlike the flu, it keeps returning.
It is unlikely to be stress-related because I seemed to suffer from it worst during the later part of the summer, a time when I was not working or going to school.
More recently, aside from just a sudden physical exhaustion, I have noticed mental impairments. I have reached the point a few times where I find it necessary to speak out loud to myself in order to hear my own thoughts or think things through. Not only do I have trouble focusing on the world around me, but also on the world within me. It is only after I return to a better state that I realize I had probably been talking aloud (quietly, but nonetheless aloud) what I was trying to think.
What I find particularly strange about these episodes is that the "exhaustion" varies in its length and does not seem to be affected by rest. I may feel this way during the afternoon, then suddenly regain my normal strength and vitality by early evening, as though I'd never felt "down". If I rest during my periods of exhaustion, my normal sleep patterns are not affected. E.g. - I get up around 9:00, feel ill around 1:00, so I lay down until 3:00. Come midnight, I would still be as tired as I would have been otherwise.
I cannot find any link between when these episodes occur and their varying lengths. They can last from a few hours to days.
I have had it suggested to me that it could be depression, but I am loathe to suggest that myself, as I would say that I am happier now than I would have been several years ago. I do not feel any sense of hopelessness, nor am I plagued by dark thoughts.
My family has a history of auto-immune diseases. My sister is a Type 1 diabetic, as is my maternal cousin. My mother has lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, I believe) and Reynolds Syndrome. Several of my maternal aunts-- though I'm not sure if this counts as auto-immune-- suffer from hypothyroidism.
I have been tested for diabetes (several glucose-tolerance tests), liver functioning, thyroid functioning, and anemia.
Any STIs are unlikely, as my only sexual experience was six months ago and it was not penetrative. Further, complaints of these symptoms pre-date said experience. However, the reason I bring this up at all is because I recently noticed pimple-like bumps on my inner-thigh. I'm not sure if this could be in any way related, but I thought it was worth mentioning.
I am a 19-year-old male of Western European descent. My lifestyle is not "athletic", but it is not sedentary either. I walk quite frequently throughout the city (e.g. - I take a half-hour walk to school at least twice a day, as well as leisurely walks throughout my neighbourhood and nearby nature trails very often), unless I am suffering from the aforementioned symptoms. I eat a vegetarian diet (ovo-lacto-vegetarian), but my symptoms pre-date the switch to vegetarianism (two years ago) and I am definitely not anemic. I am thin, but not dangerously so.
My family doctor has run all the tests she can, and I am scheduled to see an Internist next month. However, having recently started school again, I am concerned as to how much of an effect these symptoms will have on my academic performance and therefore I am eager to get to the bottom of the matter.
My best assumption is that I have chronic fatigue disorder. Please, if it sounds as though I am jumping too quickly to this conclusion, tell me. I would much rather hear that I have an allergy which would cause this instead of a systemic condition.
I am a fairly research-oriented type of individual, so if anyone could propose conditions that match my criteria, I would be fine investigating them on my own.

Thanks very much.
- Van

Guest · Guest

I had (continue to have) similar symptoms. You may not be anemic, but maybe you are iron deficient. It caused symptoms similar to anemia. Talk to your doctor about your ferritin count.

geraldcuc1 · Newbie Joined: 12 Jan 2008 Posts: 1

I have been suffering with those exact simptoms for over a year now. I have been to many specialist who after performing several tests and investigating could not find any answers to this. I hope we get the answer soon. It has been inproving for me even though i still get some relapses. Yes, I also get the strange pimples between my leg and on my anus. Very strange because i never had sex before. I am an eighteen year old male. Anyone with answers please let use know.

Guest · Guest

Sorry to hear about your condition, Van Gogh... However, I just read on a different forum about people who had very similar conditions to yours, and they seem to have found relief from B6 & B12 vitamins. Supposedly, they had severe vitamin B deficiencies. You may want to try? Good luck!

fellow · Newbie Joined: 19 Jun 2008 Posts: 1

hi. i was reading your post and would like to know if you have sorted out your answer. i am suffering from almost the same symptoms you are having and would like to know if you were able to find some answrs.

Guest · Guest

Hello, I too, have these exact symptoms. And it is strange that I have the bumps and I never related the two. I have been to two doctors and they have both prescribed me to anti-depressants. I feel that it is something else, but no one has been able to help me. If anyone reading this know what could be wrong please contact me.

Mysterious Malaise: Persistent Nausea, Dizziness, and Exhaustion

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