Following is a rough timeline of my major medical diagnoses given by general practitioners, internists, and specialists (including ENT, pulmonary specialist, allergist, dermatologist, OB/GYN, GI). I have undergone countless blood tests and throat cultures and have had CT and MRI scans, two colonoscopies, allergy and asthma tests, and numerous other tests and procedures that resulted in my diagnoses. I say all this to emphasize that I have not self-diagnosed any of my conditions.
I have listed approximate ages to the best of my memory. I have included every diagnosis I can remember, even ones I find somewhat embarrassing, for any future or current health care practitioners, fellow patients, and any others who might be interested. I have not included details about symptoms because it would cause this posting to be too long.
Childhood: diagnosed with
thalassemia minor, developed chronic
strep throat infections and
allergies18: had
laser tonsillectomy that partially removed tonsils; diagnosed with
gastroesophageal reflux disease (also called GERD or acid reflux)
19: diagnosed with
asthma20: diagnosed with non-specific colitis (treated for
ulcerative colitis ) and
hemorrhoids21: diagnosed with
mononucleosis22: diagnosed with
scabies, developed
eczema as a result
23: had recurrence of colitis, experienced frightening side-effects to
mesalamine (hair loss, tremors, vertigo, balance problems, numbness in toes); suffered from
influenza and 101+ degree fever (even with flu shot)
24: diagnosed with
polycystic ovarian syndrome; suffered from influenza and 101+ degree fever (even with flu shot)
24-25: developed chronic
strep throat infections, had complete surgical
tonsillectomy followed by complications (throat would not heal, unable to swallow) and visit to Emergency Room
26: officially diagnosed with
Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome; developed allergy (rash) to
quinolone class of antibiotics
27: diagnosed with mild
sleep apnea28: developed
migraines30: had recurrence of severe
hemorrhoids; developed severe iron deficiency
anemia; developed
vitamin D deficiency; new GI doctor concluded I no longer have non-specific colitis but do have
lactose intolerance and
irritable bowel syndromeAdditional Illnesses: I have had
colds, respiratory infections, and additional throat infections that I did not list because they were too numerous to list. Sometime along the way, I developed
allergic contact dermatitis to all types of earrings, as well as the glue of band-aids. I have suffered on and off from mild to moderate
depression. I have had chronic
vaginal yeast infections over the years, in addition to recurrent
athlete's foot. I suffer from bouts of
insomnia, having difficulty falling asleep. I have experienced
tinnitus (ringing in ears) and had numerous
canker sores as well as one or two painful outbreaks of
cold sores.
Comments: It is clear that several of my illness/conditions can (and often do) cause fatigue. Anemia, for example, is something I have been tested for numerous times, but I only recently developed it. Based on my overall health history, as well as symptoms and test results I have not listed on this posting, my main diagnosis is
CFIDS. I'll discuss my symptoms and test results in a future post.
Illnesses I Don't Have: (I'm listing these because people sometimes ask if I've been tested or screened for these): thyroid disease, lyme disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, celiac disease, narcolepsy, HIV/AIDS, lupus and a myriad of other autoimmune diseases . And for the record, I also do not suffer from major depressive disorder, Munchausen syndrome, or hypochondriasis.
I have listed approximate ages to the best of my memory. I have included every diagnosis I can remember, even ones I find somewhat embarrassing, for any future or current health care practitioners, fellow patients, and any others who might be interested. I have not included details about symptoms because it would cause this posting to be too long.
Childhood: diagnosed with thalassemia minor, developed chronic strep throat infections and allergies
18: had laser tonsillectomy that partially removed tonsils; diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (also called GERD or acid reflux)
19: diagnosed with asthma
20: diagnosed with non-specific colitis (treated for ulcerative colitis ) and hemorrhoids
21: diagnosed with mononucleosis
22: diagnosed with scabies, developed eczema as a result
23: had recurrence of colitis, experienced frightening side-effects to mesalamine (hair loss, tremors, vertigo, balance problems, numbness in toes); suffered from influenza and 101+ degree fever (even with flu shot)
24: diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome; suffered from influenza and 101+ degree fever (even with flu shot)
24-25: developed chronic strep throat infections, had complete surgical tonsillectomy followed by complications (throat would not heal, unable to swallow) and visit to Emergency Room
26: officially diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome; developed allergy (rash) to quinolone class of antibiotics
27: diagnosed with mild sleep apnea
28: developed migraines
30: had recurrence of severe hemorrhoids; developed severe iron deficiency anemia; developed vitamin D deficiency; new GI doctor concluded I no longer have non-specific colitis but do have lactose intolerance and irritable bowel syndrome
Additional Illnesses: I have had colds, respiratory infections, and additional throat infections that I did not list because they were too numerous to list. Sometime along the way, I developed allergic contact dermatitis to all types of earrings, as well as the glue of band-aids. I have suffered on and off from mild to moderate depression. I have had chronic vaginal yeast infections over the years, in addition to recurrent athlete's foot. I suffer from bouts of insomnia, having difficulty falling asleep. I have experienced tinnitus (ringing in ears) and had numerous canker sores as well as one or two painful outbreaks of cold sores.
Comments: It is clear that several of my illness/conditions can (and often do) cause fatigue. Anemia, for example, is something I have been tested for numerous times, but I only recently developed it. Based on my overall health history, as well as symptoms and test results I have not listed on this posting, my main diagnosis is CFIDS. I'll discuss my symptoms and test results in a future post.
Illnesses I Don't Have: (I'm listing these because people sometimes ask if I've been tested or screened for these): thyroid disease, lyme disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, celiac disease, narcolepsy, HIV/AIDS, lupus and a myriad of other autoimmune diseases . And for the record, I also do not suffer from major depressive disorder, Munchausen syndrome, or hypochondriasis.