Fatigue, Stomach Problems
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Fatigue, Stomach Problems
| Thu, 08-02-2007 - 7:33pm |
I am a 20 year old females. Starting 6 weeks ago I had a sudden onset of the following symptoms:
- weakness/fatigue
- lightheadedness
- dull aching pain in left shoulder/chest
- burning sensation in stomach
- irregular bowels (sometimes full diarrhea, sometimes just loose, frequency also varies)
I went to the emergency room a week and a half ago where I had the following tests done:
- blood work (all normal)
- chest x ray (normal)
- EKG (normal)
- urine analysis (slight abnormalities within the margin of error relating to liver function)
The emergency room doctor referred me to an internist after making a preliminary diagnosis of anxiety and costochondritis. I have an appointment for next Thursday. Currently my symptoms are:
- weakness/fatigue
- lightheadedness
- pain in shoulder/chest
- burning sensation in stomach that gets worse after meals
- loss of appetite
- slight lower abdominal pains
I was hoping someone could give me a possible diagnosis or things to ask the doctor about next week. I’m very concerned that this could be something serious but because of my age the doctor will write it off as nothing.
- weakness/fatigue
- lightheadedness
- dull aching pain in left shoulder/chest
- burning sensation in stomach
- irregular bowels (sometimes full diarrhea, sometimes just loose, frequency also varies)
I went to the emergency room a week and a half ago where I had the following tests done:
- blood work (all normal)
- chest x ray (normal)
- EKG (normal)
- urine analysis (slight abnormalities within the margin of error relating to liver function)
The emergency room doctor referred me to an internist after making a preliminary diagnosis of anxiety and costochondritis. I have an appointment for next Thursday. Currently my symptoms are:
- weakness/fatigue
- lightheadedness
- pain in shoulder/chest
- burning sensation in stomach that gets worse after meals
- loss of appetite
- slight lower abdominal pains
I was hoping someone could give me a possible diagnosis or things to ask the doctor about next week. I’m very concerned that this could be something serious but because of my age the doctor will write it off as nothing.

We cannot diagnose you, partly because we are not trained to do so and also because it wouldn't be right to try, based only on what you've reported. A doctor that sees you face-to-face may notice other things that will help him/her make a Dx, plus will have all of the test results to compare.
If you do have costochondritis, I am surprised that the ER doc didn't Rx anything for it. I've had it a number of times and the only thing that has helped relieve the pain is a Medrol dose pak, which is a series of steroid pills, taken for about a week. It starts with a higher amount and gradually is reduced down to none.
Here is some information about costochondritis that may put your mind at ease. It IS painful, but isn't going to cause permanent damage or end up being a chronic condition.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/costochondritis/DS00626
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