[TheHunterKid90]

So for the past 6 months or so I have been very achey. Joints are stiff and lock up on me. After a normal work day of moderate lifting and being on my feet I am on the couch all night crying because I am in so much pain. I wear good sneakers or boots and my feet have the worst pain in them after standing for a few hours.
In the morning, my feet are often tingly when I first get out of bed. And speaking of sleep, I sleep a whole lot. I can always nap and it takes serious effort just to get out the door in the morning to do barn chores.
To top it all off, I'm experiencing really heightened anxiety. I had a panic attack about two weeks ago. It effects me days after as I just don't feel 100%.

I'm no currently on any meds...I was to the doctor and he sent me for bloodwork and I go back to see him next month to review my results.

But in the meantime, does anyone have any guesses as to what in the world is wrong with me? It's effects my daily life at this point and makes it extremely hard to go to work and function normally.

[Kryswyn]

Lyme Disease? Diabetes?

[gieriscm]

Lyme?

[stolen virtue]

RA, get it checked out now. Push for tests to get it investigated.

[TheHunterKid90]

Also just a note that I'm 20. This just seems like symptoms I should not be feeling so young.

[SAcres]

Sounds like Lymes to me.

[mvp]

Lyme Disease? Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Honey, get checked out and keep bitching until you get a diagnosis. Do you have other weird immune system stuff going on? Are you the type to have anything other than "I don't get sicker than your average bear" life?

[stolen virtue]

Also just a note that I'm 20. This just seems like symptoms I should not be feeling so young.

RA can strike when you are young, but you will need to push for testing. Could be that your thyroid or any one of many things is out of whack, you should not be in pain or that tired. Seek help and push for answers.

[Louise]

You shouldn't have to wait a month to get the results of your bloodwork. Push for an earlier appointment. And, if the results don't show anything conclusive, keep pushing the doctor to find an answer. This is not normal for someone as young as you. Heck, it's not normal for an old fud like me.

[twotrudoc]

RA...I'm sorry, but it does sound like that I have two friends with it and it does strike young. Go get that bloodwork and get a ref for a specialist if your doctor won't address the issue.

[darkmoonlady]

All your symptoms also sound like sleep apnea. It can affect people of any age and any body size. The anxiety comes from the fact that you stop breathing for brief moments and your body dumps adrenaline to start you breathing again, which happens many times over the course of the night. I'd get a sleep study if tests for other things don't come up with anything.

I felt like I could sleep all the time, got head snaps where I couldn't keep awake at times during the day. I also had anxiety and panic attacks and if my mask leaks on occasion all those symptoms return. I also had body aches, felt fatigue and just overall crappy feeling but those went away after about a month using my CPAP machine.

[tradewind]

Sounds like RA to me...make sure you are firm in getting the proper testing...I had a friend who suffered for years before it finally got properly diagnosed.

[Petstorejunkie]

RA
or fibromyalgia.

[Pony Fixer]

Hypothyroid, specifically Hashimotos. I had many similar symptoms, including joint pain. If thyroid tests are run and your TSH is over 3 (although for some docs, they think this is normal--endos know more) you should persue further testing.

[BuddyRoo]

A good work up is a good idea. It could be something major. But I will say that a good ol' case of depression and anxiety can cause some very physical symptoms too. Obviously, the converse may be true as well.

I would recommend keeping a journal about how you're feeling on a scale of 1-10 with the worst pain you've ever had being a 10 and no pain at all being a 1. I would also track your sleep patterns, your diet, and your daily activity.

THat kind of info can be very helpful to have in hand when you visit with your doctor.

Sometimes, it takes a journal like that to put all of the pieces together. I had some ongoing issues for about 8 years on an intermittent basis before they diagnosed me with lupus. Making some changes and being aware of my limitations has minimized flare ups. The journaling really helped get to the diagnosis though.

I sure hope you feel better soon.

[TheHunterKid90]

A good work up is a good idea. It could be something major. But I will say that a good ol' case of depression and anxiety can cause some very physical symptoms too. Obviously, the converse may be true as well.

I would recommend keeping a journal about how you're feeling on a scale of 1-10 with the worst pain you've ever had being a 10 and no pain at all being a 1. I would also track your sleep patterns, your diet, and your daily activity.

THat kind of info can be very helpful to have in hand when you visit with your doctor.

Sometimes, it takes a journal like that to put all of the pieces together. I had some ongoing issues for about 8 years on an intermittent basis before they diagnosed me with lupus. Making some changes and being aware of my limitations has minimized flare ups. The journaling really helped get to the diagnosis though.

I sure hope you feel better soon.

What an awesome idea! I should definitely start this.

Also to add, this has greatly effected my mood...I often am very snippy with my husband...and the troubling thing is that he is the very sweetest person....I swear, he never gets impatient with me even when I'm a tornado of emotions.

[LauraKY]

Sounds like my Lyme Disease symptoms. I was misdiagnosed for years. My daughter was misdiagnosed for 10 years.

You need a very good doctor who is good at diagnosing or ruling out Lyme disease and treatment options.

[TheHunterKid90]

What I can remember on my script was tests for:

Lymes
Rheumatoid Factors
CBC
SED
something about inflamation

I'm drawing a blank as to the others at the moment...just very desperate to get this fixed! I want to feel normal again!

[spurgirl]

Get checked for Lyme Disease and other tick borne illnesses. My extremities felt tingly, and like I was walking through concrete, I was very tired and achy, esp. at night. Severe joint pain.

I had Lyme disease AND Babesia (or Babesiosis), I've heard it called both.

Good luck to you, hope you can get results soon!

[Alagirl]

gosh, just reading this makes my knees hurt...

Last year i was in a similar situation....everything started to hurt, I was tired, etc...

it turned out I was D deficient and - at my age(43) - tested positive for mono...

You feel like crap, don't wait around, bug the doctors.
I had waited around nearly for a year before I dragged my butt to the office for blood tests (was the best fall break vacation ever though... with four bottles of pills, each saying 'may cause drowsiness' I was RESTED after! )

I understand there si more than one thyroid test, and many more RA tests.

Something is making you feel bad, find the reason.
(and take somebody with you to the doctor's appointments. Sometimes, especially when we feel bad we fail to ask the right questions!)