Over the last 13 months I have been experiencing a multitude of symptoms that have made life unbearable at times. Every test ordered has been negative and every doctor and specialist that I have seen has been unable to help. I am reaching out to the community in search of some help.
To begin, I have a persistent dull pressure in center of my very upper abdomen, kind of right after the diaphragm and sternum ends. The feeling is hard to describe but sometimes it moves up into my chest. All of this causes a lousy feeling to consume my whole body. When I palpate the spot, the pressure relieves, however it comes back when pressure is removed. Although I experience periods where the pressure subsides, I can always feel it lingering.
I also get random spasms throughout my chest that occur at random times throughout the day. More recently I have been getting whole body jerks at night. It could be my head, neck, torso, arms, legs, etc. I will just be laying there and all of a sudden boom my whole body jerks. It is very scary. I can sometimes tell when a jerk is going to happen because I will feel a sudden lump feeling in my throat.
I first saw a GI doctor as my primary physician thought acid could be causing my symptoms. I was prescribed a PPI to block acid production. After 2 or 3 months of no change, I was taken off the medicine. He then ordered an abdominal ultrasound, abdominal and chest CT, hyda scan (gallbladder test), and small bowl pass thru. All tests came back normal. The CT did show a little gastritis. I then had an endoscopy done which was also normal. It did now show any hiatal hernia, ulcers, or gastritis. I tried changing my diet thinking that it could be some sort of food allergy but nothing.
With the GI work-up negative I then went and saw a neurologist. He ordered both a C and T spine MRI to see if anything was compressed somewhere along the spine to which there was none. He then did a nerve conduction study which was also normal. He put me on gabapentin to help with the nerve pain. I am taking 900MG a day but it does not seem to be helping.
I also saw a cardiologist who did a stress test and echo. Both of which were normal. It makes me a little relieved that there is nothing wrong with my heart. I should mention that I am fairly active and exercise regularly. I have never smoked or done any drugs. I drink socially, maybe a drink per week. I’m 6’6’’ 210lbs.
Other medications that my primary has tried include anxiety meds (though I never really thought I suffered from anxiety), Amitriptyline, cyclobenzaprine (to help with the body jerks at night but it doesn’t), other stomach meds to coat the stomach and esophagus with a protective layer, and others that I can’t think of at the moment.
If anyone has any ideas of what this could be PLEASE HELP. I am tired of feeling lousy all the time. Whatever this is has consumed my life for the past year. I just keep hoping I will wake up one day and all of this will just go away.