Posts by Kimberly Morris

brightgull95 said:Look, test results only get you so far. What you actually need is a top-tier clinician who really knows their stuff when it comes to migraines, plus someone who specializes in fibromyalgia and/or chronic fatigue syndrome. That migraine paired with the dizziness? Could totally be what they call vestibular migraines—basically, those two things often travel together. Then there's the fibromyalgia, which explains the vascular issues (like those blue lips and nails) and the constant exhaustion. You've basically got two separate issues that require two different specialists—a neurologist and a rheumatologist—because it's high time to move past just diagnosing and actually start treating this. But finding both of those experts here in the States? Yeah, that's a whole other headache.

Dr. Alpgaueur,

I really have to jump in on one thing you said, because it’s the crux of the whole mess: the idea that once we diagnose it, we should just move straight to treatment. And that's where everything falls apart for me...

Seriously, triptans sent my blood pressure through the roof. Beta-blockers made my heart rate tank. And both of those biological migraine injections? They gave me a massive rash. Eventually, I saw a clinical pharmacologist who basically told me those injections were off the table.

So now what? I was at work today dealing with this insane dizziness right when I had to give a presentation. I ended up just popping some Azalonum, which knocked me out. I finished the talk sitting down, sounding like a total drunk... Honestly, I don't even remember how I made it home. This spinning sensation is just brutal...

brightgull95 said:Look, lab results only get you so far. What you actually need is a killer clinician who lives and breathes migraines, paired with someone who truly gets fibromyalgia and/or CFS. That migraine coupled with the dizziness? It could totally be vestibular migraines—those two often travel together like an inseparable, annoying duo. Then there’s the fibromyalgia, which explains the vascular stuff (like those blue lips and nails) and that bone-deep chronic fatigue. Basically, you’re dealing with two distinct issues that require two specific specialists: a neurologist and a rheumatologist. You've done enough diagnostic stalling; it's time to actually move on to treatment. But finding two top-tier experts like that in this country? Yeah, that’s a whole different headache.

brightgull95 said:They could be up because of her. Or they might not be. Honestly, Felix the Cat is way better to talk to about this stuff anyway.

Alright, thanks.

brightgull95 said:Look, the lab results are just one piece of the puzzle. What you actually need is a solid clinician who really knows their stuff when it comes to migraines, plus someone who specializes in fibromyalgia and/or chronic fatigue syndrome. Migraines paired with dizziness could be what they call vestibular migraines—basically, those two things often travel together. As for the fibromyalgia, that would explain the vascular issues (like your blue lips and nails) and the constant exhaustion. You’ve basically got two separate issues here that require two different specialists: a neurologist and a rheumatologist. It's time to move past just diagnosing and start looking at treatment. Now, finding two experts like that in the US? Well, that's a whole different headache.

Dr. Alpaqueur, thanks a ton for taking the time to give such a clear answer. Quick question though—is it possible for fibromyalgia to be the reason behind those elevated inflammatory markers (CRP, white blood cell count, ESR, fibrinogen...)?

Hey everyone, what's up?

Shout out to Dr. Felix the Cat and brightgull95,

Quick refresher on my situation: I dealt with a nasty bout of the flu and mono about four years ago, and ever since then, everything has just gone south. I’m dealing with this constant, bone-deep exhaustion and body aches that I just try to push through, but the migraines and dizziness? They’re relentless. It makes functioning almost impossible. A few months back, my right eyelid actually drooped for a few seconds—totally freaked me out. Then there’s the tingling in my neck and temples, my mouth turning pale blue, and even my fingernails looking bluish. It’s like living in a permanent state of brain fog, and I’m stumbling around like I’ve had too many drinks. I was out on medical leave for a long stretch, but I finally tried to head back to work, and man, it has been a disaster. It’s this exhausting cycle where I’ll make it in for one shift, then I’m physically incapable of showing up for the next two. Some days the vertigo is so bad I can't even get behind the wheel of my car, let alone clock in. Other days, if the stars align, I actually manage to pull off a full shift.

I've been going down a total rabbit hole with doctors lately. Spent the last few months basically living in waiting rooms, doing endless testing. Next week is the big push, though—got appointments lined up with a gastroenterologist, an infectious disease specialist, and finally some testing for myasthenia gravis. Just one more hurdle to clear.

So, I'm dropping my lab results here. Please, for the love of God, tell me what you guys think... I really need some help with this.

May 2022

So, I just got my MRI results back for my brain and cervical spine... here's the breakdown:
The signal intensity looks pretty solid for the brain parenchyma in the posterior fossa. The fourth ventricle is sitting exactly where it should be, too—proper width and placement. Everything seems to be right where it belongs.
Everything looks totally normal with the brainstem, the pontocerebral angles, and the parasellar regions. Clean bill of health there.
The pituitary gland is looking a little more subtle and graceful than usual.
The cerebral hemisphere placement looks pretty spot on, and the ventricular system width seems totally normal too.
It’s basically just spreading the liquid stuff across the convex surface, nothing fancy.
So, I just got my scan results back, and honestly? It’s a total mess. The report says there are these little spots—T2 hyperintensities, if you want to get technical—scattered across the white matter in both the frontoparietal areas. They didn't give a straight answer on what they actually are, just called them "nonspecific," which is basically doctor-speak for "we aren't entirely sure." They're leaning towards them being gliotic lesions caused by vascular issues, though. Typical. Just when you think you're fine, your brain starts throwing random little glitches into the mix.
No signs of fresh ischemia, no hemorrhaging, no tumors, and nothing weird like extra-axial fluid collections. Everything looks clean.
The sinuses and mastoids look totally fine—not much air space there, but nothing to worry about. Also, the craniocervical junction looks perfectly normal. Everything seems solid.
Looking at the scans through the cervical spine and spinal cord area, you can see the neck's natural curve is totally shot—it’s straightening out and actually flipping into a kyphosis right around the C6 level.
The vertebral body heights look pretty solid, and that posterior intercorporeal line is holding steady. Everything seems to be right where it should be.
So, I've been dealing with some serious intervertebral osteochondrosis at the C5-6 and C6-7 levels. Basically, my neck is a complete mess right now.
So, basically, we're looking at some nasty degenerative spondyloarthrosis in the lower part of the neck. Yeah, sounds like a mouthful, but it’s just a fancy way of saying the vertebrae down there are getting all warped and wonky.
No bone bruising or edema to speak of. Everything looks clean.
So, I just got my results back, and apparently, I've got some minor bone spurs popping up at the C5-C6 and C6-C7 levels in my spine. Just one of those fun little surprises life throws at you, right?
Everything looks clean on the scans for C2-3 and C3-4. No issues there.
No disk herniation at the C4-5 level. Looks like I'm in the clear there.
So, I just got my imaging results back, and apparently, I’ve got this C5-C6 disk osteophyte complex going on all the way around. Basically, things are getting a little crowded in there. It’s also narrowing the neural foramen on the right side toward the bottom. Just one of those lovely little surprises, right?
The changes are way more noticeable on the dorsolateral side—specifically over on the right lateral part.
So, I just got my results back. Turns out there's a tiny bit of disc bulging at the C6-7 level, but nothing crazy—the neural foramina look totally normal. Just one of those things, I guess.
Everything looks solid on the C7–Th1 scan. The spinal cord is sized perfectly and the signal intensity is totally normal—no signs of myelopathy or anything sketchy going on there.
The muscles along the spine look totally fine. No swelling or fluid buildup under the skin in the back either. Everything looks normal.

October 10, 2022
Just got my ultrasound results back—everything looks clean on the TCD and the gallbladder side of things. No news is good news, I guess!
So, I just got my TCD results back. Basically, there's a slightly higher flow speed in the left anterior cerebral artery, but the doctor says it’s nothing to lose sleep over—not clinically significant or whatever. Everything else came back totally normal. Honestly, kind of a relief.
So, I just got my results back—the auditory evoked potentials (AEP) came back looking totally clean. Everything's solid.
So, I just got my results back—everything looks totally clean. Apparently, there’s nothing to worry about regarding those evoked potentials. Just one of those "all clear" moments that makes you breathe a little easier, you know?

November 2022
Color Doppler scan of the carotid arteries came back looking totally fine. Morphologically and hemodynamically? Everything’s smooth sailing on both sides. Checked out the origins of both common carotid arteries too—all good there. Even the vertebral arteries look perfectly normal in terms of structure and blood flow. Basically, everything's working exactly like it should.
So, I just got the results back from the Color Doppler scan on those vertebral arteries. Basically, they mapped out the whole thing using color and power Doppler to see what's actually going on under the hood. Both arteries look pretty middle-of-the-road in terms of width—nothing crazy. There’s a tiny bit of asymmetry there, just a slight mismatch where the left one is a little more dominant at 4.3 mm compared to the right side at 3.6 mm, but honestly, it's barely noticeable. Most importantly? The blood flow looks totally normal. Everything's moving exactly how it should.

Jan. 2023
ENT Specialist:
So, I went ahead and checked everything—the TADG, T, VNG, and VEMP tests. Turns out, they’re all totally fine. Everything looks perfectly normal.
March 2023
So, I finally made it to see the neurologist. Honestly? Such a waste of an afternoon. You sit there in that sterile waiting room, staring at some outdated magazines, just praying they actually call your name on time. When I finally got in, it felt like talking to a wall. Just clinical, cold, and zero personality. I was trying to explain how much my head has been pounding, and it’s like they’re just checking boxes on a clipboard instead of actually listening to a human being. Total joke.
So, here’s the official lineup of what my doctors are calling my "personality" lately: mixed headaches (basically a nasty combo of migraines and tension stuff), eye spasms, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Honestly, just reading it back feels like a punch in the gut.
So, I finally went in for that Fabry disease test... and now I get to play the waiting game for the next six months. Great. Just what I needed.
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGIST:
Diagnosis: suspected hypersensitivity to CGRPR blockers.
Look, after seeing those two nasty allergic reactions to Ajovy and Aimowig, I wouldn't touch Emgality with a ten-foot pole. It’s just not worth the risk right now. We're basically holding out hope that once those oral CGRP inhibitors finally make it onto our insurance formulary, things will look up. On the bright side, Rimegepant (Vydura) is already FDA-approved over here, so there's at least some light at the end of the tunnel.

The Lab:
Search Results | Value | Reference Range
So, my white blood cell count came back at 10.7... which is technically flagged as high since the "normal" range tops out at 9.7. Honestly, seeing that little "H" next to the number always gives me a momentary mini-heart attack. Typical, right? Just one of those things where you're staring at the lab results like, "Okay, cool, so I'm officially an outlier."
Red blood cell count came back at 4.92. The lab range says anything from 3.86 to 5.08 is fine, so looks like I'm sitting right in the sweet spot. No drama there.
So, I just got my blood work back. My hemoglobin came in at 142. Looking at the lab's range, they say anything from 119 to 157 is "normal." Looks like I'm sitting pretty right in the middle of the pack. No need to panic today, I guess.
Hematocrit came back at 0.422. The lab range says 0.356 to 0.470, so looks like I'm sitting right in the sweet spot. No reason to freak out today.
My MCV came back at 85.8, which sits right in that 83 to 97.2 sweet spot. Looks like we're officially in the clear on that front.
So, I was looking at my latest labs, and my MCHC came back at 28.9. The reference range says anything from 27.4 to 33.9 is "normal," so technically I’m fine, I guess. Still, seeing those numbers always makes me a little twitchy. Just one of those things that keeps you staring at a screen wondering if you should actually care or just grab a coffee and move on.
MCHC 336 (Normal range: 320–345)
So, I just got my latest blood work back, and my RDW-CV is sitting at 13.5. Looking at the lab's reference range—which goes from 9.0 to 15.0—I guess I’m technically "normal." Still, seeing those numbers always makes me a little twitchy. Just one of those things, I suppose.
Reticulocytes at 13.5... looking at the range of 5.0 to 21.6. Seems like we're right in the sweet spot.
Platelets came back at 318. Normal range is 158 to 424, so looks like I'm still in the clear.
My MPV came back at 10.2. The lab says the normal range is somewhere between 6.8 and 10.4. So, I guess I’m technically "normal," if you consider being right on the edge of the cliff considered safe. Just my luck.
Eosinophil granulocytes: 1 (Normal range is 0 – 7)
Basophils: 0 (Normal range is 0–1)
Segmented neutrophils 67 (Normal range: 44 – 72)
Lymphocytes: 23 (Normal range: 20 – 46)
Monocytes 9 2 – 12
So, my ESR came back at 51. High. Way high. The normal range is like 4 to 24, so yeah, I'm definitely off the charts. Not exactly the news you want to see on a lab report, right?
Prothrombin time came back at 1.24. The lab says the normal range is between 0.7 and 1.27. So, technically, I'm still within the lines, but man, I am cutting it close. Just hovering right on the edge there.
My PT/INR came back at 0.91.
So, I just got my labs back and—surprise, surprise—my fibrinogen activity came in at 4.9. High. Like, way above the "normal" range of 1.8 to 3.5. Just my luck, right? Apparently, my blood is throwing a little party it wasn't invited to. Time to see what the docs have to say about this mess.
Prothrombin time came back at 18.8. Normal range is usually between 14 and 21, so looks like I'm sitting pretty right in the middle of the pack.
The APTT ratio is sitting at 0.86, which falls right in the sweet spot of the standard 0.80 to 1.20 range. All good on that front.
D-dimer came back at 369... totally within the normal range since anything under 500 is fine. No cause for panic there.
Cholesterol came back at 4.71. Still under that 5.00 threshold, so I guess I'm not totally doomed just yet.
My triglycerides came back at 0.93, which is well under the 1.70 limit. Looks like I'm actually doing something right for once.
HDL cholesterol? Sitting at 1.38. Not too shabby, since anything over 1.20 keeps me from totally panicking.
So, my LDL cholesterol just came back at 3.23... which is officially in the "High" zone since anything over 3.00 is supposed to be a red flag. Great. Just great. My body is out here doing its own thing while I’m just trying to exist. Time to go buy some kale or whatever.
PTH, intact 34 | Ref range: 15 – 65
Folic acid: 15.3 | Normal range: 7 – 45.3
My Vitamin B12 levels came back at 310. The lab says the "normal" range goes from 138 to 652. So, technically, I'm fine, right? Just floating somewhere in the middle of the pack. Still, feels like I'm barely scraping by. Anyone else feel like they're living on the edge with numbers like this?
Aspartate aminotransferase came back at 21. Normal range is 8 to 30, so looks like I’m still in the clear there.
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) came back at 17. Normal range is 10 to 36, so looks like I’m still in the clear on that front.
Alkaline phosphatase: 95 (Normal range is 54–119). Looks like I'm right in the sweet spot.
So, I just got my latest blood work back, and my Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) is sitting at 39. According to the lab report, the "normal" range is supposed to be somewhere between 9 and 35. Technically, that means I'm slightly out of bounds. It’s not like I'm hitting numbers that would have me rushed to the ER or anything, but it’s definitely enough to make me do a double-take when I see it on the screen. Just one of those little things that makes you wonder if you should cut back on the cocktails or if it's nothing to sweat. Anyone else deal with these weirdly specific "out of range" results?
Glucose: 5.6 (Normal range: 70–99 mg/dL)
Urea: 3.7 (Normal range: 2.8 – 8.3)
Creatinine: 70 (Normal range: 49 – 90)
Urati 315 134 – 337
Total bilirubin came back at 9... the lab says the normal range is 3 to 20, so I guess I'm technically "fine" according to the paperwork. Still, seeing numbers on a screen always makes me a little twitchy.
So, my CRP came back at 14.4... which is obviously way higher than that "normal" range under 5.0 they always talk about. Great. Just what I needed to see on a lab report today.
So, I just got my bloodwork back and my ASLO levels are sitting at 360. Apparently, anything under 200 is "normal," so yeah, I'm officially off the charts. Just my luck, right?
Sodium: 139 | Normal Range: 137 – 146
Potassium: 4.3 (Normal range: 3.9 – 5.1)
Total calcium levels came in at 2.51. The standard range is usually between 2.14 and 2.53, so looks like I'm hovering right near the edge of the line. Not exactly a gold star, but I guess I'm not crashing and burning just yet.
Ionized calcium came back at 1.30. The lab range is 1.18 to 1.32, so I guess I'm technically "normal" or whatever. Just sitting right there on the edge.
A1C levels came back at 5.6. Still under that 5.7 threshold, so I guess I can breathe easy for now.
My A1C just came back at 38... okay, so technically it's still under that 39 threshold, but man, talk about cutting it close. One more slip-up and I'm officially in the danger zone. Just one more little snack and I'll be over the edge. Wish me luck, I guess.
Iron levels: 14.3. Normal range is usually between 8 and 30. Honestly, I’m pretty much right where I need to be. Not exactly winning any gold medals here, but definitely not crashing and burning either. Just cruising along in the middle of the pack.
My UIBC levels came back at 55.5. The lab says the normal range is somewhere between 26 and 59. So... I guess I'm officially "normal"? Honestly, feels like just another way to say "nothing's happening here." Typical.
My TIBC came back at 69.8, which is sitting pretty right in that 36 to 75 range. Looks like my iron-binding capacity is totally normal.
Transferrin saturation came back at 20... normal range is like 16 to 45. So, yeah, I guess I'm technically "fine," if you want to be technical about it. Just sitting there on the edge of the cliff, waiting for things to get interesting.
The transfer went from 3.12 to somewhere between 2 and 3.60.
So, my ferritin came back at 65. The lab says the normal range is anywhere from 10 to 120, so technically I’m totally fine, right? Just sitting there in the middle of the pack. Still, seeing those numbers pop up always makes me wonder if I should be feeling more... something. Anyone else deal with this kind of "perfectly normal" result that still feels off?

Thyroid hormones... seriously, where do I even start? It’s like my body’s entire internal thermostat decided to go on strike without giving me any notice. One minute I'm freezing under three blankets, and the next, I'm sweating through my shirt like I just ran a marathon in downtown Chicago. It's exhausting.
Result | Reference Range
So, I just got my labs back. My TSH came in at 4.89. The "normal" range they gave me is 0.35 to 4.94. Basically, I'm redlining right on the edge of being totally fine and having my thyroid throw a tantrum. Living life on the edge, I guess.
FT3 was sitting at 4.01, while the normal range is somewhere between 2.63 and 5.70. Not exactly breaking any records, but I guess it's fine.
FT4 levels are sitting at 11.31, while the normal range usually runs from 9.01 to 19.05. Looks like everything is pretty much right where it should be.
The TRAb levels hit 1.4... which is still sitting above that 1.26 mark. Not exactly where we want to be.
Anti-TPO came back at 0.58. Anything under 5.61 is considered normal, so I guess my thyroid isn't currently staging a full-blown coup against me. One less thing to worry about, I suppose.
My triglycerides are sitting at 14.95... meanwhile, the "normal" range on my lab report goes all the way up to 64.15. So, I guess I'm doing just fine? Or maybe the lab is just having a good day. Who knows.

Viruses. Seriously. Just when you think you’ve got your life together, some microscopic little jerk decides to crash the party.
Search Value Result
So, I just got my lab results back, and the Anti-HSV-1 IgG came in at 0.035. Basically, it’s negative. Looks like I'm in the clear on that front!
Anti-HSV 2 IgG results came back at < 0.5. So yeah, basically negative.
Anti–HAV IgM: 0.284 (Negative)
HBsAg results came back at < 0.03—basically, it’s negative. All good on that front.
Anti-HBs results came back at less than 2. So yeah, basically negative.
Anti-HBc total: 1.99 — Negative.
Anti–HBc IgM: 0.079 — Negative.
HBeAg: 0.09 – Negative.
Anti-HBe results came back at 1.42—Negative.
HCV Antibody Test: 0.059 (Negative)
The results came back, and good news: Anti-Treponema pallidum is under 0.1. Basically, negative. We’re all clear on that front.
So, I just got my bloodwork back, and it looks like I’m officially in the clear on the Toxoplasma front. My Anti–Toxoplasma IgM came back at less than 3, which basically means it's negative. No fuzzy little brain parasites for me!
Anti – Borrelia burgdorferi IgM 8,456 negative
Anti – Borelia burgdorferi IgG < 5 AU Negative
Anti HSV ½ IgM 0,974 Borderline
The serological profile for HSV 1 suggests a likely recent infection (anti HSV ½ falls within the equivocal range during repeat testing.) If necessary, retest for HSV in a few weeks to monitor antibody titer dynamics.

So, yeah, that’s the whole thing.

I'd love some input here—any advice on what else I should get tested for? I'm just trying to figure out what the hell is causing these dizzy spells.🙏🤣

Hey Nicholas Myers, here I am with yet another symptom, and I still haven't figured out why my lips are turning pale blue...

So last night, I wake up just like every other night—you know, gotta hit the bathroom and check on my kid. I open my eyes, but my left eyelid just starts drooping on its own. I’m rubbing at it with my fingers, trying to force the eye open. It’s just not happening. The lid keeps dropping. I'm sitting there thinking, "Please, God, not today, I can't have a stroke right now!" I'm finally supposed to be heading back to work after my sick leave and I'm actually looking forward to sitting in my office... I spent a good thirty minutes trying to lift that lid, but nothing. It kept falling down, and honestly, it felt like someone had literally taped a weight to it...

Once I finally managed to see again, I went back to sleep. But then this morning, and all through the day, my eyelid just feels weak. I haven't gone to the doctor yet. Fingers crossed it's nothing big...

Maria Fisher46 said:Hey there,

What you're looking at could be caused by a vasospastic disorder—think something like Raynaud's or some other similar issue. You probably want to look into this with a rheumatologist or maybe a neurologist.

I'd suggest getting a CCTT done (you can usually get that through neurology over at the Mayo Clinic) and also scheduling a capillaroscopy.

Thanks so much for the response, Doc. I really appreciate it. I'll try to get those tests sorted out somehow...

Maria Fisher46 said:Hi there,

I don't think all your symptoms can be pinned on potential celiac disease, but since you’re dealing with a bunch of unexplained issues and have the genetic predisposition for it, I think we really ought to find out once and for all if you actually have celiac. Usually, the standard procedure involves an endoscopy with multiple biopsies, but if the serology (blood tests) comes back strong enough alongside that genetic link, a biopsy isn't always mandatory—though it’s still the gold standard most of the time.

It would definitely be worth doing if you haven't yet.

Doctor, thanks again for everything.

Could I get one more quick take and some advice?

I’m totally lost on what other tests to run regarding this lip color that’s driving me crazy. Basically, about 80% of the time, my mouth turns this weird pale blue color, and honestly, it looks terrible. I’ve seriously never seen anyone else look like this. Of course, everyone keeps staring and asking me what’s wrong... If I had been born this way, I wouldn't be freaking out. But this color started showing up right along with all these other bizarre symptoms.

So, heart scan was normal. Hemoglobin is fine.

Like, just today, there was a moment where I turned deathly pale blue—I can actually feel it happen, like this weird wave of weakness hits me. I immediately checked my blood pressure, and it was perfect. Checked my blood sugar too. Then I used a pulse oximeter for my oxygen and heart rate. Everything looked totally fine. But my mouth? It looked like I’d passed away three days ago...

Maria Fisher46 said:Hey there,

Have you had a stool calprotectin test or any serology done to check for celiac disease?

Dr. Nicholas Myers,

Thanks for getting back to me. No, I haven't done the calprotectin test or the celiac serology yet. My immunologist is insisting that the only way to be absolutely certain about celiac is through a colonoscopy, which—given how rough I'm feeling right now—I honestly don't think I can handle.

Do you think all of this could actually be caused by celiac disease???

Hey everyone, though I’d really love it if brightgull95 or Nicholas Myers could weigh in on this.

So, you guys might remember me—I haven't posted in a while. I'll try to lay out everything that's going on in order:
- I've been dealing with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's for a while now, taking Euthyrox for replacement therapy, plus hyperinsulinemia which caused me to pack on about 45 pounds.

- This whole mess actually kicked off after I had the flu four years ago. Since then, I've been hit with constant headaches, crushing fatigue, sleepiness, joint pain, and a low-grade fever that never dips below 99.1°F. Plus, there's this constant tingling in my temples.

- Honestly, I never feel okay. When it's hot, I feel terrible—weak and lightheaded. When it's cold, my fingernails and lips turn totally blue, making me look like I've been dead for three days. I can't walk for long before the weakness hits, my lips go pale, I get the shakes, and my heart feels quiet but fast... I can't even stand for more than a few minutes without my whole body starting to tremble.

- Cardiology says everything looks fine (Holter, ultrasound with color Doppler)

- Abdominal ultrasound was normal, aside from a tiny cyst on my left kidney.

- Blood work was all good except for my sedimentation rate, which is always double the upper limit.

- CRP never goes below 15.

- Fibrinogen and immunoglobulins are twice the normal level.

- Other rheumatic tests are normal, and ASLO is also normal, even though I get strep throat every couple of months.

- HLA typing shows a predisposition toward psoriatic arthritis and celiac disease.

- Back in May, I had an MRI of my brain and cervical spine because of those non-stop temple tingles and unbearable headaches paired with dizziness. The results showed bilateral lesions, but the doctor thinks they're likely vascular issues stemming from intense migraines. My neck shows some changes, but nothing alarming, probably just from my job (sitting at a computer for 10 hours a day, both at work and home...).

- I was low on Vitamin D and was taking drops, but my calcium levels spiked, so my endocrinologist told me to stop taking it.

I usually deal with painful cramps and diarrhea about once a month, but things settle down after I clear my bowels. Occult blood tests were negative.

I kind of learned how to live with my "normal." I knew the second I got up I had to eat, and I don't smoke, drink coffee, or touch fast food—not even pizza. I stick to lots of fresh veggies, fish, stews...

But then, I caught COVID-19 in August, and everything went sideways. I've been on medical leave ever since; I literally don't leave the house because I physically can't move. I only head out to see my doctor or for necessary tests. Now, I have this constant head pain—it feels like my skull bones are aching. It's like there's a headband or a vise tightening around my head so hard I think something is going to snap inside. There's this unrelenting pressure in my ears, though no tinnitus. The dizziness is so bad sometimes the whole room spins and I feel nauseous. When it isn't quite that intense, I just feel unsteady, but I don't dare drive or walk alone because I feel like I'm going to collapse, which is terrifying. I had a carotid color Doppler—all normal. Had a TCD of the vertebral arteries—normal. Did auditory and visual evoked potentials—all normal. Still waiting on caloric testing.

Every morning when I wake up, the spinning starts, along with pressure in my forehead, around my eyes, and in my ears... Once I stand up and start walking, my heart rate spikes so high I can barely breathe. Taking a shower is basically impossible. I have to sit down to shower and even to cook. As long as I'm lying in bed, I'm relatively okay, but any extra effort triggers dizziness, a racing pulse, sweating, tremors, and such soul-crushing fatigue that I can't even keep my eyes open. Sometimes my eyelids just shut on their own.

Please, what other tests should I be looking into? And I'm doing everything privately because it's just too much to handle walking through hospitals and sitting in waiting rooms...

Thanks in advance, and Happy New Year to you all!!!

Hey everyone, especially shoutouts to Nicholas Myers and brightgull95!

You guys know me—I’m not gonna dump every single lab result and diagnosis here because you'd be reading forever.

The big headache right now is Vitamin D. Ever since I started seeing my endocrinologist back in 2017, my levels have been sitting way below the baseline. Between working an office job and having a huge house that needs constant cleaning, I basically never see the sun. Not sure if that was the main culprit, but my Vitamin D was trash every single time I got bloodwork done. I tried taking it in capsules, then switched to a spray. Basically, I was super consistent with it. A few months ago at my checkup, here’s what showed up:

VitD3 19.9 (20 - 150)

Ca 2.58 (2.14 - 2.53).

My endocrinologist actually called me to say that because my Calcium is creeping up, I need to stop the Vitamin D supplements immediately. We’re supposed to meet for a follow-up to figure out a game plan.

I haven't had the follow-up yet because they're all out on vacation. What really has me spiraling, though, is how sick I am all the time. Constant viruses, sore throats, coughing, runny nose, stomach bugs... as a total amateur, I’m thinking my immune system is just completely trashed.

Ever since COVID-19 hit, I've been working from home and being extra careful so I haven't caught it yet. I didn't get vaccinated because my immunologist recommended I hold off. I'm not some anti-vaxxer or anything, I just panic easily, and once my doctor told me "don't get the shot for now," that was it for me.

I read a ton about this, and everything says people with low Vitamin D struggle with immunity and face more complications with COVID-19. So, how do I supplement without my Calcium spiking? And what else can I take to fix my immune system?

Any advice is welcome. Thanks in advance.

Maria Fisher46 said:Let me say it again: radiological imaging—specifically a CT scan, or even better, an MRI of the brain with angiography—is definitely indicated here, in my opinion.

Yeah, I get that, but obviously I'm gonna have to go out of pocket and pay for it myself. The ER doc and the neurologist aren't seeing the need for it.

Casey Wilson6 said:Hey there,
I need a recommendation for a private rheumatologist.

Edit: I see Dr. Budisin was suggested. She’s super sweet, but honestly, she wasn't really my cup of tea.

Dr. Shime Mijic.

So, after spending a solid 10 days basically hovering somewhere between life and death, I finally dragged myself to the ER today. Honestly, I’ve spent the last 10 days just glued to my bed. I had a headache unlike anything I've ever experienced—and look, I've dealt with migraines since my freshman year of college. My head was spinning (well, more like this dizzy feeling shooting from my forehead down to the bridge of my nose), I lost my balance, my ears felt constantly pressurized, and my whole face was tingling. I finally forced myself to go in this morning because the nausea finally let up enough for me to tolerate the smell of the car ride without puking. Even then, I was squinting the whole way because seeing things move too fast triggers that weird dizziness in my forehead again. They pulled some blood, the neurologist checked me out, and basically told me it’s nothing scary—just a "neglected" migraine. They didn't even bother with any imaging; they just handed me some Torecan, which has left me feeling totally wasted all day (honestly, can't tell if it's the meds or just pure exhaustion, who knows anymore). I'm posting my labs below, so please, if anyone has thoughts... do you think I actually needed a brain CT or maybe an X-ray of my neck?

Neurological status: Heart rhythm is regular, no carotid bruits heard. Eupneic. Pupils and bulbar function are normal, no nystagmus. No diplopia reported. No signs of facial or glossoparesis. Speech and swallowing are fine. Trigeminal nerve exits are not tender to palpation. Facial sensation is normal, both peripheral and central. Lhermittean sign is negative. No motor weakness noted during AG or Mingazzin maneuvers. Reflexes are symmetric and appropriate. Babinski sign is negative. Limb coordination is okay, though the right arm feels a bit weaker. Stable in Romberg.

WBC 10.6
E 5.26
Hb 154
Hct 0.458
MCV 87.1
MCH 29.3
MCHC 336
RDW-CV 13
PLT 353
NEUT 7.20
LYM 2.42
MONO 0.83
EO 0.11
BASO 0.05
PV 1.38
INR 0.9
CRP 12.5
Glucose 6.5
TBIL 11
CREAT 77
UREA 4.0
ALT 17
AST 16
GGT 33
Na 138
K 4.2

Recommended therapy: Propranolol a 40 mg, 1/2 tablet twice daily, moving to 1 full tablet twice daily after one week.

Thanks in advance, everyone!

Maria Fisher46 said:Hey there,

My bad—looks like some technical glitch swallowed my reply yesterday. So sorry about that.

So, I mentioned earlier that a total calcium level of 2.58 mmol/L probably isn't what’s causing your symptoms. It's just a super mild case of hypercalcemia, but honestly, we really need to see those ionized calcium numbers to get the full picture. When you see this specific combo—low Vitamin D paired with high calcium—it usually points toward hyperparathyroidism. Primary is the usual suspect, though you can occasionally see secondary hyperparathyroidism when Vitamin D is low, but then the calcium levels are typically normal or even low. I see your Endocrinologist already flagged that possibility and ordered more tests.

That said, none of that explains why your ESR is spiked, your CRP is up, and you've got leukocytosis with neutrophilia. Those markers scream systemic inflammation, which, frankly, worries me way more than the calcium levels do. We don't know the cause of the inflammation yet, but maybe a colonoscopy to rule out Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) could clear things up. Then again, that wouldn't necessarily explain the neurological stuff you're feeling. I guess there's a slightly higher chance of migraines with IBD, which can be triggered by inflammation, and those should settle down once the disease is under control. But man, it's going to be a real headache if the endoscopy and biopsies all come back clean.

As for temporal arteritis, the clinical picture and the lab work just aren't adding up for that.

It’s entirely possible that the neurological issues are one thing, and this systemic inflammation is a completely separate issue. It's tough to say for sure right now.

Felix the Cat, how can I ever thank you enough? Seriously, you're a lifesaver. Thanks so much for the reply.

What's actually eating at me is this terrible Vitamin D reading. My Endocrinologist told me to stop taking supplements because of the hypercalcemia. But everywhere I look online, people are saying Vitamin D is absolutely huge when dealing with WHO. I never caught it, I haven't been vaccinated, I'm carrying some extra weight, and I've got all these other diagnoses too.

Do you have any suggestions for what I should take to boost my immunity, since my Vitamin D levels are basically non-existent?

brightgull95 said:Man, those D-Dimers... they're freaking amazing when they come back negative, but a total nightmare when they're positive.

A value of 1,800 what? ug/L? That’s probably what it is, but who knows. What’s considered "normal" for whatever unit they're using here? If it really is mg/mL, then up to 740 ug/L might be okay since the mother is over 50—I think some rules say the upper limit is ten times your age. I'm just asking because I'm used to seeing numbers around 0.5. I need to double-check the units, though they're likely ug/mL.

If all the results look fine, does that mean her D-Dimers were clear at the ER? Honestly, it’s possible.

Look, stop obsessing over me and go dig through some medical websites instead. Even though D-Dimers are super sensitive, they aren't specific enough to drive you crazy. Basically, they can be elevated for absolutely everything or for nothing at all. You're actually there seeing your mom, whereas we're just staring at screens. For starters, go calculate the Wells score:
https://www.mdcalc.com/wells-criteria-dvt

Then maybe you'll have a better idea of what's going on.

A CT scan won't help much here, and neither will an ultrasound or any other basic imaging alone. An experienced doctor using ultrasound can usually spot signs of a clot in the large leg veins with pretty high probability, but even then, it's never 100%. If the ER told you DVT was ruled out, they meant the suspicion was low, but that doesn't technically mean a DVT isn't physically there.

I swear, I live for brightgull95's posts. That dry humor is top-tier. It actually helps break up the tension for us sick folks and everyone following along.

Maria Fisher46 said:Look, lady,

all those symptoms you’re bringing up? You can't just chalk them all up to high calcium levels. It really depends on how high we're talking about the concentration here. Seeing hypercalcemia paired with low Vitamin D isn't exactly common, so someone needs to dig deeper and figure out what's actually going on. Plus, high calcium usually causes constipation, not diarrhea—that's a weird twist right there. Then you've got these systemic issues that still don't make sense, even though the rheumatologist is convinced it's not an autoimmune thing.

So, besides the fact that this whole cluster of results is pretty unusual, most of what you're describing doesn't fit the typical profile for just high calcium, and more testing is definitely needed. Unfortunately, I've gotta run, so I can't go into more detail right now.

Hey Nicholas Myers, I asked my doctor to send over the lab results so you could take a look. If you wouldn't mind giving me your take, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks a million!

restlessdriver said:Have you actually been tested for Borrelia?

I've got antibodies for EBV and CMV.

Jacob Lopez51 said:Hey there!
I remember you mentioning that anxiety stuff before. Honestly, those high calcium levels? It’s probably because you were taking D3 without any K2. Go find some highly-rated D3K2 on Amazon or iHerb—maybe something around 5000 IU.
As for everything else, I can't tell if it's just all in your head or actual physical issues.
Good luck.

It's definitely not psychosomatic. I'm dealing with anxiety and depression because there are days I literally can't even leave my house thanks to the dizziness, the pain, the exhaustion, the weakness, the headaches... but hey, thanks for the input.

Hey Nicholas Myers, brightgull95, and everyone else,

You guys know me—I’m pretty much a regular on all these forums by now thanks to my endless list of physical issues that are starting to mess with my head because, honestly, I'm feeling totally dysfunctional.

So, here’s the deal: constant low-grade fever, body aches everywhere, fainting spells, migraines, insulin resistance, Vitamin D deficiency, frequent diarrhea, and this bone-deep exhaustion that doesn't go away even after sleeping or doing light exercise. My immunologist ran some tests, and apparently, it’s not rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. But, get this—she says my HLA typing suggests there's a high chance I have inflammatory bowel disease, which might explain those middle-of-the-night bathroom trips (though I used to just blame my crappy diet). I'm waiting on a colonoscopy now. On the bright side, my cardiology checkup came back clean.

On the morning of December 20th, I woke up with this insane pressure in my temples. I thought, "Okay, here comes a migraine." But the migraine never actually hit; instead, I just had this weird headache hanging over me all day. It lasted a few days, and then that pressure turned into tingling. This tingling sensation would hit my temples and spread down into my cheekbones. Every single day it got more intense, mostly on the right side. After ten days of this, I finally saw my doctor, who told me it was probably just linked to my migraines and my neck. She suggested I take some Excedrin and get a massage. Well, I took the meds, I got the massage, and... absolutely nothing. It’s been 20 days now and my temples are still tingling, pressing, driving me crazy...

Then today, my endocrinologist calls me to say my latest lab results finally arrived after seven months (!!!!!). My Vitamin D is still low, but my calcium levels are way too high. She told me to stop taking the Vitamin D immediately until I can re-test my calcium.

I don't have the actual report in front of me, but my question is: could these neurological issues be connected to having too much calcium in my system?
It feels a bit like temporal arteritis, but I'm really hoping that's not it since my jaw doesn't hurt when I chew and I'm not even 40 yet... 🙈

Thanks in advance to everyone for reading and for any help you can give.

42-year-old female here. I dealt with Covid about 10 days ago.
Just got my bloodwork back today, so if anyone could weigh in on my GGT and Vitamin D levels, that would be great.

I'm dropping the photos below. Thanks in advance!