Posts by boldfalcon542

I can only say that, knock on wood, there’s been no blood for two days now, though I’m still hacking up a lot of phlegm. I actually sent a sample of that gunk off for testing myself. It came back contaminated—which, honestly, how am I supposed to cough up stuff from my trachea without it coming out through my mouth? Anyway, one thing did stand out in the results: eosinophils. Apparently, those levels can spike because of allergies or even a *Haemophilus* infection. My little guy actually tested positive for *Haemophilus* just a week before I did. Even if he passed it on to me, I guess it’s probably too late for antibiotics at this stage. I’m feeling a bit better overall, I suppose, but the wheezing and all this mucus are still really getting to me.🤔 I’m heading in for a follow-up today, but I’m not expecting much. My doctor doesn't exactly act like she's interested in figuring out why this is happening in the first place.🤦

So, this thing hits you out of nowhere. I didn't bother checking my temperature during the first couple of days because I honestly didn't feel feverish. It started with a stuffed nose, some stinging, and a ton of mucus. I felt wiped out, but not quite that heavy "flu" kind of exhausted. After about two days, the typical cold symptoms kicked in—watery eyes, runny nose—and then it felt like all that phlegm was just stuck deep in my chest. I tried to work out to shake it off, but no luck. My chest is wheezing and making these rattling sounds, but I can't seem to clear it out. Around day 6 or 7, things finally start to loosen up and I can cough it up. Usually, the nasal discharge is clear and pretty heavy. Then, on day 8, I started coughing up bits of blood mixed with the mucus. I went to get some blood work done, and most things were fine, including my sedimentation rate and CRP (which was 5.5, just barely over the 5 limit). A few things were slightly off, though: my RBC was 5.18 (ref 5.08), MCV was 77.6 (ref 83), MCH was 25.9 (ref 27.4), MPV was 11.1 (ref 10.4), neutrophils were 73.6 (ref 72), and lymphocytes were 18.9 (ref 20).

The nasal swab came back as "normal nasal flora."

Between days 8 and 11, the blood in the mucus either disappeared or was just tiny little specks. But today is day 12, and I woke up coughing up a massive amount of mucus with those little capillaries and vessels again. To be fair, I took the dog for a walk in the freezing cold last night, and I could definitely feel it aggravating my chest.

The whole thing has been like this: I don't cough constantly, but when I feel that thick stuff hitting the back of my throat, I basically pull it up and hack it out.

Here’s the kicker: I’ve been on sick leave for two weeks now. I’ve gone through garlic, onions, every home remedy under the sun, and rinsed my nose until I was blue in the face, but I feel like I haven't made any progress at all (aside from the fatigue finally lifting). In fact, I coughed up a lot of that bloody mucus today, and my morning nasal discharge turned yellow—which it wasn't before—along with some crusty greenish bits.

My doctor is some young resident, maybe 18 years old or something, covering for someone. She didn't even listen to my chest; she just kept harping on about how much water I need to drink. I actually coughed up a bunch of that bloody phlegm right in front of her, and she didn't even blink, let alone order any tests. I ended up paying for these labs out of my own pocket.

I'm starting to worry it might be some kind of fungus or mold. I work in an old archive facility where the conditions aren't exactly great—we're talking old-school, century-old mold issues, not a modern HR office.

What do you guys think? Is this just a nasty virus, or should I just head to the ER since my temporary doctor clearly doesn't give a damn about what's going on with me?

Thanks.🙂

Since I’ve been getting a few DMs about this—and honestly, I’m rarely hanging out on the forums anyway—here’s the final breakdown of everything that’s been going on: a lot of stress, insulin resistance that was basically turning into type 2 diabetes, food allergies, a H. pylori infection, and some minor issues with my neck.
He tackled the H. pylori with okra, and he’s managing the blood sugar and allergies through his diet. He’s still working on his neck, too; he was already active before, but those TRX workouts probably actually made things worse, so now he’s sticking to lighter isometric stuff. As for the stress, switching jobs pretty much solved that.

Thanks everyone for all the advice and for looking out for us! Sorry we haven't checked this thread or anything else in a bit—we just got caught up in a whirlwind of doctor appointments and testing. Long story short, it looks like it was probably a perfect storm of several things hitting at once: stress triggers and diet. (It’s still an issue, but way more manageable now). We found out there's a severe food allergy, though interestingly, he never actually dealt with hives or swelling. The tests also pointed toward some mild pancreatitis and some issues with his cervical and lumbar spine. As for the H. pylori, he managed to clear that right up using okra, which worked like a charm, along with high doses of probiotics and natural digestive enzymes like papaya and pineapple.
The insulin test results weren't great, so we're still waiting on the follow-up for that. Lyme disease has been ruled out, though. Honestly, ever since he cut out the specific foods causing the allergy, almost everything has cleared up—he even stopped losing weight. He still gets hit with the occasional flare-up when he's under extreme stress, but it's nothing compared to how bad it used to be. I'll keep you guys posted if anything else pops up (we've still got some bloodwork pending for reproductive and adrenal hormones). Anyway, thanks again for everything.

Jose Clark2 said:**boldfalcon542**, are you **boldfalcon542**’s husband or something? You’re posting in the masculine here, yet you use the feminine on other threads.

Yeah! If that’s an issue, my bad. I didn't bother logging into my main account because I figured since this was just an anonymous question, who cares about the identity behind it? But if it's a problem (I didn't see anything in the rules about it, at least not that I noticed), just let me know. I'll go ahead and "officially" register, and if necessary, I can verify my previous posts and my actual identity via phone, email, my own records, or even in person.

Anyway, things have actually shifted a bit. Yesterday, I felt absolutely terrible—super dizzy and weak. My wife practically forced me to drink some sugar water, and honestly, after that, I felt like a new person! (Well, except for those muscles that still twitch whenever I push myself). 😲
But here's the kicker: since they prepared that sugar for me and ran that test to check for spikes in my blood sugar—which came back negative—how am I supposed to react like someone dealing with hypoglycemia? I wasn't even trying to fix the weakness with sugar because I don't have diabetes; it's not that kind of thing. Sugar isn't going to be my permanent fix. 🤷

Jose Clark2 said:Hello, if you haven't already, get some hormone panels done; specifically TSH, fT3, fT4, along with LH, FSH, Prolactin, and definitely Testosterone. Have you noticed any specific symptoms regarding this, such as a drop in libido or issues with erections?

I need to double-check my records. I can't remember if I hit all of them, but they did test my thyroid hormones—I think there were three different markers on the lab slip, but I've gotta verify.

Don't forget Prolactin and definitely Testosterone.

Yeah, I skipped those.

Are you actually noticing symptoms from this? Like a drop in libido, losing interest, or issues with erections?

Look, being in this headspace right now... yeah, absolutely.

velvetmoose9 said:So, looking at this, it seems like they haven't even run basic lab work yet—I mean, if we don't know the CPK or LDH levels, we're basically flying blind. I’m a little lost on what else was actually done; it doesn't look like even a standard chest X-ray was ordered, which feels pretty basic for a routine checkup, right? Are the thyroid levels looking okay? And from what I can gather, the adrenal hormones weren't checked either, since there wasn't any mention of things like Conn syndrome or hyperaldosteronism.
Basically, you need to get a serious diagnostic workup going ASAP, and you should hit up your primary care doctor right away. Have them figure out if they can handle the investigation themselves or if they need to refer you to a hospital for more intensive testing. Starting with some solid internal medicine would be smart, but honestly, it might be wise to pull in an infectious disease specialist too—those guys are absolute wizards—and definitely a neurologist as well.
One thing you definitely need to make sure you mention during your exams is that the muscle weakness hasn't been changing much over time, along with any history of autoimmune stuff, like being allergic to penicillin and things like that.
That bit about feeling better after switching to a gluten-free diet is actually a really interesting detail...
Also, you mentioned there was an infection right before all these symptoms started hitting.

Nah, I mean, it’s not like I’m actually showing any signs of those kinds of issues.

Is my thyroid panel looking okay?

Yeah.

If I’m following this correctly, the adrenal hormones aren't being regulated either? It seems like terms such as Conn's syndrome or hyperaldosteronism weren't even mentioned in the discussion.

Nah, they didn't actually run the hormone tests.

So, here's the deal... Get this to a specialist for a real evaluation, ASAP. You should probably get in touch with your primary care doctor ASAP. Have them figure out if you can handle this on your own or if they need to send you in for some more serious testing. I’d suggest starting with an internist, but honestly, it would be smart to ask for a referral to an infectious disease specialist—those guys really know their stuff—and definitely loop in a neurologist too. Better safe than sorry.

I was actually hoping for a full, standard workup, but my GP basically brushed me off. After she looked over my neurology report—which I had done back in July before I even started losing weight—she told me there was no reason to refer me to an endocrinologist or anything else. She just suggested I take some folic acid and leave it at that. So, I did what she said, but honestly? I felt like my body was falling apart. Since I couldn't rely on her for any real support, I ended up booking a private specialist on my own to get some actual answers. Looking back at everything being discussed here, it’s pretty clear that those doctors could have pointed me toward this exact path from the start. 🙄

Thanks for the input! I’m going to try to switch up my OBGYN as soon as possible. Hopefully, if I find someone who actually listens, I'll have better luck getting some proper guidance.

velvetmoose9 said:If I’m reading you right, you generally feel okay when you first wake up, but things start sliding downhill as the day goes on—muscle weakness kicks in whenever you try to move, leaving you totally wiped out even from minimal effort (especially since you used to be pretty active), and you’re dropping weight despite eating just fine...
When the neurologist was checking you out, how did you hold up during these specific tests:
- staring at an "X" for as long as possible
- blinking your eyes rapidly over and over
- reading a passage from a book or counting up to 100
- walking up and down a flight of stairs a few times
Did you notice any weird shifts during those movements, and did they give you any injections? If so, did you notice any change after getting them?
Were your CPK and LDH levels looking normal on your blood work? Which tumor markers did they actually run? Also, if I understood correctly, there's no sign of anemia? Are your CRP and sedimentation levels within the normal range? And what about the peripheral blood smear? Has anyone looked closely at your chest via imaging—like checking the lungs for anything suspicious, or maybe even mentioned the thymus gland?

That’s exactly it. The dizziness and that weird "head" sensation mostly follow a daily rhythm. I have some good days, sure, but the muscle weakness is a constant—it doesn't really come in waves.

So, this whole thing with the nausea, heaviness, and dizziness—that feeling like I’m drunk—has been hanging around since roughly March. Then, about 9 or 10 months after dealing with a stomach bug/diarrhea, the rapid weight loss and muscle weakness joined the party. Since last summer, there’s been this burning or tingling sensation during and after exercise, and since autumn, it’s turned into a total loss of strength. In the beginning, I even had visible muscle twitching (I saw a neurologist when I was having those dizzy spells and tingles back in late summer, before these worse symptoms kicked in), but if I’m just resting, I’m relatively fine. As soon as I do anything physical, I just crash and it takes forever to recover; it feels like I went way too hard at the gym and completely drained myself, like my muscles just aren't getting fueled. It’s tough to put into words, but it’s like if you were lifting weights and could actually feel the tension and power returning to the muscle, except for me, it happens without the tingling or with very little of it.

When the neurologist checked you out, how did it go when you:
- looked "up" for as long as possible
- blinked your eyes rapidly
- read a passage from a book or counted to 100
- walked up and down a flight of stairs a few times

They didn't actually perform a full exam on me, but I tried doing what you described and nothing happened. Okay, I didn't count all the way to 100, but I did the rest. 😁

Were there any changes then? Did you get any injections, and did they make any difference?

I got an injection yesterday for my mental state—I don't remember the exact name right now because I had a panic attack at the doctor's office, and the shot didn't help at all, neither immediately nor afterward. I didn't even feel relaxed. Honestly, a protein shake helped me more during those sudden bouts of weakness.
The biggest change happened when I intuitively decided to cut out gluten and dairy, since I'd noticed they were already a bit tough on my system. That stomach heaviness vanished immediately, and I actually managed to gain a pound and stop the rapid weight loss.

Were your CPK and LDH levels normal in your blood work?

They didn't test for those.🤷

Which tumor markers did they run?

Ugh, I think they ran some tests for my thyroid, but I'm not 100% sure if anything else was included. I'd have to dig through my lab results to be certain.

If I'm reading this right, there's no anemia?

No, unless you count a low hematocrit—I mean, if a normal level is 415, mine was 399. But that’s not really a huge drop, is it? Everything else seemed fine.
From the blood work I had done, the only thing off was an IGRT of 165, and I think my cholesterol was up at 6.5.
The rest was okay. I didn't go overboard running every single test under the sun just for the sake of it; I just stuck to what the specialists actually ordered.

Are the CRP and sedimentation levels normal?

Yeah.

What about a peripheral blood smear?

Didn't do that one.

Was the chest scanned (looking at lungs for any malignancy, or maybe checking the thymus)?

No, nobody suggested that since I don't really have any breathing issues or shortness of breath, other than having chronic sinus issues and being a former smoker (though I wasn't a heavy smoker).

Thanks again, everyone!🙂

If it matters, I had a lot of allergies when I was a kid—feathers, milk, strawberries... mostly skin reactions. And after penicillin, which I'm still allergic to today; I think that was the only time I ever swelled up like crazy.

I know this sounds totally bizarre—I’ve done so much searching and everything—but I don't know what to do. When I pick up a standard 40-liter trash bag filled with just paper and packaging, not even heavy stuff like lead, my muscle aches for hours afterward. I feel completely drained, like I just lifted a literal ton. It’s at the point where I can't even pick up my kid in my arms. 😢 So, it’s not like I’m feeling generally exhausted all the time; it’s this specific sensation where the muscle just lacks any power, and once you use it, it feels like it needs hours of recovery time. Or—get this—I’m eating plenty all day long. My main meals are huge, and for snacks, I’m hitting them with calorie-dense stuff like dried fruit, nuts, bananas, and so on, yet I’m still losing weight. Back in the day, I’d eat three big meals a day and absolutely kill myself with cardio, and I'd barely drop an ounce a month. This isn't just me being a hypochondriac, dammit. 🤷 It’s not like I’m feeling depressed or anxious or anything like that, and I never have been. Of course, after dealing with all of this, I might end up developing those issues too. 🙄 😁 Anyway, thanks for the input. I'll let everyone know once I get a diagnosis ☕🙈

Oh, I totally missed one detail! My IgE levels were actually a bit high—around 165, if I recall correctly—but they wouldn't even bother with allergy testing until I cleared out the H. pylori first. That was just three days after I cut out gluten and dairy. Just to test the waters this morning, I had some oatmeal made with oat milk (since oats are technically gluten-free on their own, though they’re almost always cross-contaminated), and man, it hit me hard. It wasn't just a stomach thing; it felt like total physical exhaustion and dizziness, almost like being drunk or completely wiped out.

I’m really hoping it’s nothing serious, but honestly, I’m a little spooked. This stuff is seriously messing with my ability to live a normal life, and the last thing I want to do is overlook something important.

Nancy Morris5 said:Anxiety can look like just about anything. Believe me, I know.
Maybe try taking an anti-anxiety med just to see how you feel? If things improve, then you'll probably have your answer.🤷

Look, I get that we’ve already looked into this, but those muscles are still driving me crazy. It just feels off—it's honestly suspicious how poorly they react to even the slightest bit of strain, or even just a long walk. It’s like my body has zero shock absorption left.
So, I’m checking things again and still seeing zero ketones in my urine... does that even matter? Or am I just overthinking this part?
As soon as I cut out gluten and dairy, my hunger levels just went through the roof. It’s constant. I find myself snacking on little bits of food all day long, but nothing seems to actually stick—I'm never feeling full. It’s wild because before I made these changes, it felt like it took me forever just to drop a few ounces. Now, the hunger is real.🙄

velvetmoose9 said:You've clearly gone through the ringer with testing, which is good.
I don't have any info on your medical history, age, or anything like that. Does anyone in your family deal with similar stuff? Did these symptoms hit you all at once like a freight train, or has it been a slow crawl over weeks, months, or years? Is there ever a window where you feel totally fine? How long has this whole situation been going on? Also, what do you do for a living—is it physically demanding, are you around chemicals, or is it a desk job?
Was the EMNG performed during those moments when the muscle weakness is at its absolute worst? Do you ever feel heart palpitations, like it's racing or skipping beats? If the EKG was clear, did you perhaps do a 24-hour Holter monitor? And does feeling cold play into any of this?
Have you done any glucose tolerance testing with insulin? Was the potassium level checked specifically when the muscle weakness was most intense? Any thought on a muscle biopsy? Is there a specific type of food that makes things significantly worse? How long does a "flare" of muscle weakness usually last? If I'm reading you right, these issues aren't happening immediately after every single meal, right?

Based on what I know—nope. I'm 37, and my toughest bout with being sick was just a nasty sore throat.
Yeah, so back in September, we dealt with a stomach bug. No fever or anything, just some lingering diarrhea—basically just really loose stools for a bit.

Did this all hit you like a ton of bricks out of nowhere, or has it been a slow burn that's been getting worse over the last few weeks, months, or even years?

It’s a slow rollout over three months—mostly focused on the GI side of things—but honestly, the neuromuscular stuff is proving to be a bit more of a grind than that.

Is there ever a time when the symptoms just... stop? Like, a window where you actually feel normal?

Yeah, it usually hits hardest in the morning, but things definitely tend to take a turn for the worse in the afternoon.

How long does this whole thing even last?

It’s been hitting me since around October or November—maybe even a bit stronger lately. It’s one of those sneaky, lingering things that just won't quit, ever since I dealt with that sinus infection about three months ago.

What kind of grind are you all into? Are we talking heavy lifting and manual labor, dealing with chemicals in a lab, or just the classic soul-crushing desk job?

Office life can be a real grind sometimes, especially when things start getting stressful.

Is EMNG usually performed right when muscle weakness is at its peak?

Unfortunately, no. It was put together back when those kinds of issues weren't even on anyone's radar yet.

Ever get that weird sensation where your heart feels like it's racing out of nowhere, or you get those sudden little skips, like it missed a beat?

Yeah, things definitely start moving pretty quickly after I eat—usually somewhere between 30 minutes to two hours in. But honestly, it’s a massive improvement compared to how bad it used to be before I cut out gluten and dairy.

The EKG came back clear—maybe it's worth looking into a 24-hour Holter monitor too?

Nah.

Does the cold play any role in what we're seeing here?

Yeah, things are getting worse.

Have you done any glucose tolerance tests with insulin?

Nah, just standard blood sugar from my regular checkups and that A1C test where they look at the three-month average.

Was your potassium checked right when the muscle weakness was hitting hardest?

No.

Muscle biopsy?

Nope.

Is there any specific food that makes everything feel way worse?

Gluten, basically just carbs. But I tested negative for Celiac 🤷 and my blood sugar seems fine.

How long does this "muscle weakness flare" actually last?

It's pretty much always there, though it really kicks in during physical activity. Even small stuff, like carrying a bag of groceries.

If I'm reading you right, these symptoms don't necessarily happen right after every meal?

No. The muscle weakness isn't tied to eating, and neither is the twitching. But the type of food I eat definitely impacts how much I crash afterward.

Symptoms: I get this mild nausea every now and then, usually within two hours after eating (though it's better since I went gluten-free and dairy-free). I also deal with occasional dizziness, intense muscle weakness that gets way worse if I do anything physical, visible muscle twitching under my skin in certain spots, tingling in my hands and feet, and I've been losing weight fast. Here’s what I’ve done so far: MRI of my abdomen and head, an MRI of my cervical spine to check the nerves (one of those specialized scans), a general neurological exam, full blood work—minus adrenal and male hormones—tumor markers for the pancreas were negative, stool tests for parasites were negative, a gastroscopy, and testing for H. pylori (which came back borderline positive, so I treated that in the meantime). Also had an echocardiogram, a celiac test, and a urine culture. Honestly, I’m at a total loss. For the most part, everything looks fine except for high cholesterol (around 240 mg/dL), that borderline H. pylori, potassium being right at the bottom edge of normal, and slightly low hematocrit. What should be my next move? Should I look into food allergies, see an ENT, a pulmonologist, or maybe test for Giardia? What could this actually be pointing toward? Could it just be anxiety, or is the muscle weakness too specific for that? Maybe EBV? I’m out of ideas. I’m seeing private doctors because I simply can't function like this anymore waiting for an appointment through my insurance provider a year from now. It’s somewhat manageable, but this muscle weakness and the weight loss are really starting to freak me out. Thanks so much for any help.

Just so you know, I took an effervescent iron tablet yesterday, if that matters for the lab results.

So, I'm finally over this virus, but since I had such a nasty, lingering cough, I decided to get some blood work done
. Everything looks totally fine, except my red blood cell count came back at 5.21 (the lab range is > 10e12/L 3.86 - 5.08). I’m honestly confused about how I could be dehydrated because I’ve been drinking water like it's my job, basically chugging it like a marathon runner 😕. Plus, about two weeks ago, when I was dealing with what turned out to be a sinus infection and they put me on some antibiotics, my count was 5.12. 🤷 Is this actually something I should be worried about? 🤷