Question: Hi my name is xxxxx. For more than 2 years I have had extreme body aches, I feel like my muscles do not get enough oxygen (or something!), my joints hurt everywhere - also in my hands and feet, when I sit still there is no pain - but when I stand up to walk after sitting the pain in my thighs are quite significant to the point walking is stiff and painful (particularly in my buttox - back top thigh area), hips burn when sleeping, when I exercise I feel like falling asleep an hour later and i am totaly exhausted by any physical movement, walking up stairs kills me, breathless, top of my arms ache particularly when lifting/or taking of my top etc. On top of that I have gradually put on weight over the last 2 years and no matter what I try I just can't lose it - my stomach in particular has blown out. I feel bloated all the time and seem to hold fluid more. I have also gone on tablets for high blood pressure. These are the things I want my Doctor to check (already been checked for RA and been diagnosed with fibromyagia, which was a quick response from a RA specialist! - seemed an easy diagnosis at the time!). Things to check: 1/ PAD (peripheral artery decease) - affects the legs in particular, but can also affect the arms and buttox, Adrenal insufficiency - some of my systems I can relate and the last but one I am going to try first is Aspartame Poisoning! The reason for the last is that it keeps popping up when I google my symptoms. I gave up smoking 2 years ago and have been addicted to nicorrette gum ever since. It is full of artificial sugar and I also have diet coke because I am always on a diet!! grrrr. I am 48 years old and feel like I'm 78yo. Anyway, if anyone would like to comment or add to this I would welcome your opinion.

Hi Dr. Naval,

Thank you for your prompt response. In answer to your questions please see below:

1. I definitely experience dryness of the eyes. I just had my eyes retested and they advised that I had dry eyes. My eyes water consistently and constantly wiping away fake tears. I have had this problem for a number of years. Dry mouth - yes on occasions but not a symptom I have thought of too often. My vision seems to be more blurred in recent times as well. My reading glass prescription has been increased 3 times in 3 years.
2. I have had a full bone scan which shows a number of areas of inflammation around shoulder, large toes and index fingers. Slight wear and tear of joints, but advised typical of my age. I did have low vit D at one stage and have taken vitD3 ever since (8years) and bone density has got better over the years. The report suggested I be checked for iron overload - 2 out of 4 reports (over 2 years) showed high iron and was checked for hemachromatosis but only have the carrier gene. Last iron levels were okay.
3. medication i am on at the moment:
(a)....Endep (Amitriptyline) - Fibromyalgia. Hasn't done a thing for my symptoms.
(b)....Xarelto (blood thinners) - I had DVT and lung clots last year for no reason. They did find a 12cm benign tumor on my ovaries which they thought might have caused this. I had my ovaries removed (uterus removed 15 years prior) last September. These symptoms I had previous to this and have worsened since operation.
(c).....Estradot 100 (HRT)
(d).....Irbesartan 140mg (blood pressure)
4. No ulcers, photosensitivity or hair falling out.
5. I do have a flat red flush around chest and neck (looks mostly like a heat rash - not raised or causes irritation). Because it doesn't irritate I have never sort advice :)
6. If I had any x-rays it would not have been recently (except on fingers and feet, which showed slight osteoarthritis due to age). I have had many CT scans of recent times due to health issues last year. Not sure if this would have showed up anything?

The biggest problem I have is not so much being tired in my head, but tired in my whole body. My legs feel like they belong to someone else, heavy, slightly numb and very very stiff. My feet feel like they are going to crack and they are made of glass. I have also suffered with achilles issues around the same time this has all happened. So walking is an issue in general.

Trying to find an answer to this is so frustrating!

I look forward to your response.

Jules

Hi Dr. Naval,

Yes I have gone through a few things in the last year :). I run my own successful mortgage broking business with 15 brokers. One minute a healthy lady and the next minute being sent to Cardiac, Haematologist, gynecologist and then my favourite Oncologist. I was told my tumour was probably cancer but no one would touch me for 3 months due to my lung clots. I had to keep working through all this until surgery (waited approx 3.5 months to find out it was benign). Between my blood clots and the tumour I was poked prodded and stabbed with needles on a daily basis (also learned how to inject myself twice daily). Makes you appreciate life a little more I must say.

In answer to your question, I have seen a rheumatologist and a Haematologist who both did so many blood tests I could only say I would have hoped they did these tests (ANA or if necessary ENA). I have sent an email to both to make sure though. Is it possible that even with a negative result that someone could still have lupus or Sjogrens? I only mention Lupus because it keeps popping up on google when I type in symptoms (yes I know I shouldn't read google! :)).

I only went on HRT because I literally couldn't function due to my hot sweats and mood changes and run a business. Hot flashes every 5 min left me drenched all day and night. Hence having to stay on the blood thinners.

I definitely haven't had a Schirmmer test completed. Would this be done through a GP or specialist?

Sorry for my long winded response, but I seriously don't even talk about my pain to my wonderful partner as he went through enough hell with me last year!.

I will look further into these things and hope to find an answer. Firstly though I am taking myself off anything with fake sugar to see if that helps. I have about 20 chewies a day which is way over recommended dosage plus diet coke - one a day. I will give that a good month to see if any changes occur. It just seems like my body pain started when I gave up smoking 2 years ago.

Regards

Jules