Discussions By Condition: I cannot get a diagnosis.

Keri, I'm sorry you are having such a hard time! You *really* need to see a doctor. Blacking out can be a life-threatening problem especially since you drive, and you take care of a little baby. If you can only afford to go to one doctor, I'd find a neurologist to help you. I hope this helps you.

You are young and you just had a baby. Are you nursing? Are you getting enough to eat or starving yourself trying to loose your baby-fat? It could be diet, exhaustion, hormones, thyroid. Sorry, hope you get insurance and get checked out with blood work. Change your diet and try to get some rest.

Look into the hospitals around where you live or work and see if any of them have a neurology clinic associated with them, if they do call and ask for their financial aid department and see what they can do for you. Most public hospitals and some private hospitals have the ability to give free or cheap healthcare for patients who need treatment but can't afford it.

I agree you need medical attention asap. IN particular, please get a thorough blood test done to rule out diabetes, other blood sugar issues such as hypoglycemia, anemia, and B12/other vitamin deficiencies. What was your pregnancy like? How was your labor? Are you breastfeeding? Are you taking any medications including birth control? At the very least you should be taking a good quality multivitamin. Eat regular meals and take snacks with you to keep your blood sugar even. Don't skip meals or go long periods without water. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. Dehydration can cause some of your symptoms...so can skipping meals and going too long without food. Do you have your periods back? If so, what are they like? Could you be pregnant again? (can happen even if you don't have your regular cycle back and are nursing) Sorry for all the questions, but if you can answer them it may be helpful towards a possible diagnosis.Best wishesDOM

dear kerry, i would see a neurologist in your situation..if you are not healthy you cant help yourself let alone your son..

I am so sorry you are having such difficulties. You definitely need to see a good doctor...I would start with an internist. The symptoms you are having are medically called syncope (fainting.) This includes the dizziness, nausea, weakness and tremors. It is caused from a lack of oxygen to the brain. Tremors could also be caused by adrenaline from the stress of your condition. This is very likely the case. However, tremors could also be caused by nerve damage, but at your age and since this has been only a month, I feel that is doubtful. You can try google or ask.com for details on syncope. There are many causes of fainting, not just neurological. The most common causes are blood or vascular related. It could be simple anemia. Are your lips, gums, conjunctiva and fingernails pale? Those are telltale signs. Fingernails can look abnormal as well with anemia. You can ask.com that too. A more serious cause of syncope could be a problem with the heart or vascular system. Neurological problems could also be a cause. There are many other causes as well. Hypoglycemia, possibly...but you probably would have had this problem in the past at times when you skipped a meal. I doubt it is that. Since it came on rapidly and isn't accompanied by any other alarming or painful symptoms, my hunch is that it's either anemia (my first choice) or a vascular or cardiovascular problem. I recommend that you start ASAP with a good internist and have a basic blood panel done. Also have a complete physical, including a basic neurological exam (performed by the internist.) He/she will then be able to recommend a specialist if necessary. I, personally, wouldn't start with a neurologist like the other very nice people recommended, simply because there are so many possible causes and CT's, MRI's and the other scans that the neurologist will want to do will cost you thousands of dollars and may not even be necessary. Start with the exam and the blood tests. This is MUCH cheaper and will help you know the next direction to go. If you don't have insurance, perhaps there is a free clinic in your area, or a facility that will charge based on ability to pay. Do a little web surfing and phone calling to find out what resources are available for you. Also, you may be eligible for Medicaid or whatever is the medical insurance for low income in your state. Hope this info is helpful and good luck...and please see a doctor this week.

okay, to answer everyones questions. yes, i have a cell phone, but no other phone in the house and i dont ever use my cell phone, my husband has it. im not breastfeeding or anything. and i lost all my baby fat when i gave birth to my son, that runs in my family. My pregnancy was fine, and labor was fast, i am on the depo-shot thing. i got the deopo-shot to stop the 4 month period i had after i had my baby i was thinking that it could be a possibility that im pregnant but i dont even have the money for a little store bought pregnancy test.

My heart goes out to you! SpineGirl is right on. Call your local hospital and ask what you have to do to get free care.

okay, to answer everyones questions. yes, i have a cell phone, but no other phone in the house and i dont ever use my cell phone, my husband has it. im not breastfeeding or anything. and i lost all my baby fat when i gave birth to my son, that runs in my family. My pregnancy was fine, and labor was fast, i am on the depo-shot thing. i got the deopo-shot to stop the 4 month period i had after i had my baby i was thinking that it could be a possibility that im pregnant but i dont even have the money for a little store bought pregnancy test. Did all of this start when you got the depo shot? If so call where ever it was you went to get the shot, or call a planned parenthood. Here is a list of the possible side effects of depo provera:The following adverse reactions were reported by more than 5% of subjects in the largest clinical trial: Menstrual irregularities, Abdominal pain or discomfort, Weight changes, Dizziness, Headache, Weakness, Fatigue, and Nervousness Adverse reactions reported by 1% to 5% of subjects were: Decreased libido, Pelvic pain, Backache, Breast Pain, Leg cramps, No hair growth, Depression, Bloating, Nausea, Rash, Insomnia, Edema, Hot Flashes, and Acne

Did all of this start when you got the depo shot? If so call where ever it was you went to get the shot, or call a planned parenthood. Here is a list of the possible side effects of depo provera:The following adverse reactions were reported by more than 5% of subjects in the largest clinical trial: Menstrual irregularities, Abdominal pain or discomfort, Weight changes, Dizziness, Headache, Weakness, Fatigue, and Nervousness Adverse reactions reported by 1% to 5% of subjects were: Decreased libido, Pelvic pain, Backache, Breast Pain, Leg cramps, No hair growth, Depression, Bloating, Nausea, Rash, Insomnia, Edema, Hot Flashes, and Acne Yes!Yes!Yes! This is very possibly the cause of all of your symptoms. Depo is nasty. Google for more info on its side effects. Consider a holistic approach to getting yourself back on track...a good nutritional supplement plan may really help you. Also consider trying acupuncture - very effective! www.acufinder.com for a qualified practitioner near you. Best wishesDOM

i suggest not to go rushing off to a neurologist which would be very expensive as there is a lot of other things this could be which arent neurological. i got the deopo-shot to stop the 4 month period i had after i had my baby i was thinking that it could be a possibility that im pregnant but i dont even have the money for a little store bought pregnancy test. ohhhh... there may be the answer. You bleed for 4 mths :eek: (had your son 5 mths ago). You probably have anemia, this could cause your symptoms. I suggest to ask your chemist what you could take if you are anemic some (and what would also be safe IF..umm it sounds doubtful, if you are pregnant). If it's not that... it could well be your depo shot. They often cause nasty symptoms in some. Sounds like you really do go and see a general doctor to find out if you are anemic, are pregnant or whatever. You could end up killing both yourself and your baby by driving like this.....

okay yesterday i took 2 pregnancy tests and they both said "not pregnant" and i know im not anemic because i went to the ER the day before the bleeding for 4 months finally ended... and they tested me for that. :(

Yes!Yes!Yes! This is very possibly the cause of all of your symptoms. Depo is nasty. Google for more info on its side effects. Consider a holistic approach to getting yourself back on track...a good nutritional supplement plan may really help you. Also consider trying acupuncture - very effective! www.acufinder.com for a qualified practitioner near you. Best wishesDOM If she is having all of this from depo she needs to see a doctor, she could have a blood clot or something else going on. Acupuncture and a good diet may help but will not necessarily fix the problem.

okay yesterday i took 2 pregnancy tests and they both said "not pregnant" and i know im not anemic because i went to the ER the day before the bleeding for 4 months finally ended... and they tested me for that. :( Where did you go to get the depo shot? When you get into a doctor take get any records from your trip to the ER and show them to the doctor, this may save you from paying for tests you have already had done.

first off Hun if you have a dollar tree near by you can get an accurate test for a buck if not do a search either online or in your phone book for pregnancy clinics because they will be able to do a freebie testSecond... I STRONGLY recommend you doing a search for a free/low income health clinic they can assist you in applying for your states medic-aid program and they are more likely to get you a yes the first time around vs you applying on your own. This will cover EVERYONE within your home and if your in-eligible for the entire family it could cover you and the baby.IF you are pregnant then you are automatically approved if your under a certain threshold of income which I am venturing to say you probably will be approved for b/c of the lack of cash you seem to currently have...Once your approved you SERIOUSLY need to get a good CBC & Chem Panel done to check all of the vital systems first then if the blood work gives any indications you can go for them if not then see a neuroligistAlso ask for the blood test that checks your last 3 month average for your blood sugars and ask them to run an allergy test to see if your allergic to the depo shotI myself am SO severly allergic to the shot that I began having psydo seziures and black outs after being put on it...This may be the most likely cause of your symptoms my dear so get that done as soon as you find out if you are or are not pregnant.gl and if you want to chat more you can reach me on YIM at giftsgalore60534

I suggest seeing your OB could possibly be post-partum cardiomyopathy and also after having a baby alot about your health becomes revealed . Besh wishes

If she is having all of this from depo she needs to see a doctor, she could have a blood clot or something else going on. Acupuncture and a good diet may help but will not necessarily fix the problem. I never said acupuncture would fix the problem...but it is very helpful in getting her back on track and nutritional therapy can be so very helpful. Having a baby so young it is even more likely that she is nutritionally deficient. B12 deficiency, in particular, is very common and underdiagnosed in western medicine. Whenever I suggest trying acupuncture or a holistic treatment, I never mean these treatments should replace the advice of an MD. I believe in complimentary medicine... However, after reading that she did not have enough money to buy a pregnancy test I doubt a holistic approach is an option.:( I agree with you that an ultrasound to rule out blood clots may be a good idea. Best wishesDOM

well now for everyone that does not mind me sharing information like this and can tell me if this is a bad thing... i took 2 pregnancy tests they read "not pregnant" and now two days ago i have started my period again. may i remind you that a month ago my 4 month long period stopped and now another one has started up, but this time its REALLY REALLY heavy i almost cannot go anywhere unless i have a whole unopened box of supplies with me. someone please tell me if this is something that is normal or something that i should be very concerned about?! help!

I am actually experiencing dizziness/lightheadedness and the feeling that something is just not right. I kind of feel like i'm constantly buzzing, like I had a few drinks. I went to the doctor, they did basic blood tests to check my liver, pancreas, thyroid and checked for diabetes,shich runs in my family and I was gestational. All came back fine. The doctor gave me Meclazine which is like dramimine. I was told to take 1 tablet ever 6 - 8 hours. I can't it is knocking me out. I am so tired and still lightheaded. The doctor told me it was a benign vertigo, I guess it is like a virus. I am not a doctor and by all means, don't take what I am saying as what you have but, what would a little dramimine hurt? I have been taking only one pill before bed and I am tired all day after. I actually called the doc today and they advised me to take 1/2 a pill before bed and see if it works. They said it should take about 1 full week to see a difference.

It sure sounds like you need to be seen. You may be anemic from the blood loss.