My symptoms worry me

[driftingsoon]

Hello. I am a 21 year old male with a whole bunch of symptoms that have started up in the past couple months. I want to start off saying that I quit smoking a little over a month ago in hopes to obviously improve my health. Its been the opposite so far. I couple months ago i went to the doctor cause i was having trouble breathing and chest pain with hand tingling, and feeling like passing out. They told me I was having panic attacks. This could have been true because i had been unemployed with bills racking up. the past month however, i have had a craving for sugar....food with sugar, drinks with sugar....koolaid, soda, etc. I have recently cut those out of my diet because when i drank them my body felt out of control and felt like i was going to pass out. I drink a lot of fluids....I always need to have something to drink...and i have been like that since i was a kid. my chest pains have come back and i have spells of the chills, cold sweaty hands and feeling like i'm going to pass out. I also always have lathargy lately and my jaw has ached. Iin the past couple day I have had black dots(floaters) once in a while in my vision. I have always been skinny and can never seem to gain weight. Once in awhile i'll be able to eat a decent size meal but a lot of the time i'll get full fast and sometimes feel nauseous. I am tired lately and could always sleep it seems like. sometimes i will sleep 16 hours. I'll also have restless leg syndrome(rls) once in awhile which will prevent me to sleep. my relatives and friends have told me to get tested for diabetes. I have never had a problem feeling unhealthy my whole life and the past couple months have been worrysome for me. I would go see a doctor again but I havn't had health insurance for awhile and can't afford to. I just worry they will tell me nothing is wrong or that it's anxiety when in fact I know my body and I know something isn't right. I would love your opinions or want to know if anyone has similar problems. Any doctors out there?

[Cinnabon]

Will you be seeing a doctor soon?

[driftingsoon]

I won't be eligible for insurance for another 2 months. I have cut a lot of sugar out of my diet as it seems to provoke some symptoms. It seems like staying active helps to keep symptoms away and helps me not to think about it. It's when i'm not active most of these symptoms occur.

[Cinnabon]

Yes but is there anyway you can make it to the ER just for a check up and simply say you are not feeling well. This might not make a lot of sense to you, but not knowing can cause major damage, whatever it is you might have. Hopefully its nothing.

[sydneya]

It seems that when people need to see the doc the most, it is the hardest for them to go. From what you say in your post, I would suggest you make a way to see a doc. I'm not a doc but "my chest pains have come back and i have spells of the chills, cold sweaty hands and feeling like i'm going to pass out. I also always have lathargy lately and my jaw has ached. Iin the past couple day I have had black dots(floaters) once in a while in my vision. I have always been skinny and can never seem to gain weight. " is something a doc should investigate. I didn't notice where you live, but I know just about everywhere has a way to get at least a exam. Call a ER or clinic and talk to a nurse.
Welcome to the forum. Let us know how you are doing.

[driftingsoon]

Thanks so far for the posts. I'm looking into free clinics I can go to. All of these symptoms are off and on may I add (except the lathargy and tiredness). I'm just wondering if these symptoms are occuring because I have possibly had diabetes and it's just getting more serious now? All I know is I stay away from sugar because not only does it bring this on, but its all around terrible for anyone.

Interesting sight to read about sugar (refined) http://www.cyclingforums.com/t61570.html

[Cinnabon]

Drift...
If it is Diabetes, it doesnt just come and go, its there and its very serious. It does get worst and I really hope you dont have it. I can not stress to you how important it is for you to go to a free clinic or ER, not next week, NOW.
The not eating sugar will not help you to not make it worst. Just not eating it is really not enough. It would be great for you to go to the ER/ clinic and come back and rub it in, that you do NOT have it.

The usuals;
Diabetes Symptoms

Diabetes often goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so harmless. Recent studies indicate that the early detection of diabetes symptoms and treatment can decrease the chance of developing the complications of diabetes.
.
Lethargy
Frequent urination
Excessive thirst
Extreme hunger
Unusual weight loss
Increased fatigue
Irritability
Blurry vision

[zookeeper671]

What about going to the pharmacy to pick up a glucometer if you can't get to a doc or ER soon? If your glucose level is within normal range, then you'll at least know that diabetes just might not be the cause of your symptoms.

[driftingsoon]

how much is a glucometer?

Cinnabon....I always have the symptoms in bold

Lethargy
Frequent urination
Excessive thirst
Extreme hunger
Unusual weight loss
Increased fatigue
Irritability
Blurry vision(spots or eyesight will shake)

Another thing I considered it my be is periodontal disease. I had it once in the back of my mouth around my molar of which I had treated and was put on a antibiotic. I was suppose to have my wisdom teeth pulled....but again, no insurance yet. Perhaps it's this and with some reading I found that the infection can spread in your blood stream. (god for bid it's not that). I still know I want to go and find a free clinic and get a blood test done.

[zookeeper671]

You can get a glucometer including test strips for about $30 at Walgreens. For example, the "Sidekick" is $29.99. (It has test-strips included within the device.) There are monitors that are under $20, but the strips aren't included (need to be purchased separately).

[Cinnabon]

Drift....
I really hope you can get to an ER or any medical facility asap. Can you tell us a llil more about yourself like age, location (we r not stalkers, lol). Just to help you , maybe we can help with the search thru goverment health services or something.

[Simon]

At 21 you may be the right age for type 1 but I would expect it to progress faster than you are experiencing. Your age and build would make you an unlikely candidate for any other slower onset type. I notice you don't list Frequent urination as a symptom which may also suggest this is not diabetes. This may be simply because you are keeping your bg down by diet so isn't an acurate diagnosis. If you found that eating a pizza had you visiting the bathroom every hour for the next 8 hours then I'd say that was classic diabetes.

[am1977]

I wouldn't wait. Diabetes can be very serious if not treated and controlled. What' s more important, your health or saving a little bit of money?

Please see your doctor or ER asap!

[sydneya]

None of us are doctors. In my area we have clinic that the cost is on a sliding scale. We know it could be something serious and most things just get worse with time. Get in there to the ER or clinic and let us know how you are doing. Please, please, please don't take chances with your health.

[duck]

Hey drift,

Let me first say that diabetes still KILLS more people in the USA than AIDS does--so it is lethal if untreated, so if you are at all unsure, go to the ER.

Now having said that, if all you had said in your initial post was that you just quit smoking, I would have thought all your symptoms/problems since are withdrawal symptoms, personally. Addiction is tough, and it sounds to me like you are steal dealing with quitting. Have you stuck to staying away from cigarettes?

[driftingsoon]

Thank you guys for your concern. I am a 21 year old male (as you know) and live in wisconsin. 5'7" with a sad weight of 125 and have always had a problem gaining weight. I quit smoking cigarettes on January 2nd and havn't touched one since. As far as I know withdrawl symptoms should be gone in a week or two and believe me, i had them...but chewing the gum helped....which i only did for a week. I honestly can say I won't pick up a cigarette again. It just upsets me sometimes that I will eat a meal and sometimes won't want to eat anymore half way through it. I'll be starving...eat some and be please with the feeling of nausuea. I love going to bed at night because when I wake up I feel fine for the first hour and then symptoms will begin again. I have located a free clinic pretty close to me that also offers dental assistance. This all just sucks because I have so many little problems and don't know what it could be.

[sydneya]

Thank you guys for your concern. I am a 21 year old male (as you know) and live in wisconsin. 5'7" with a sad weight of 125 and have always had a problem gaining weight. I quit smoking cigarettes on January 2nd and havn't touched one since. As far as I know withdrawl symptoms should be gone in a week or two and believe me, i had them...but chewing the gum helped....which i only did for a week. I honestly can say I won't pick up a cigarette again. It just upsets me sometimes that I will eat a meal and sometimes won't want to eat anymore half way through it. I'll be starving...eat some and be please with the feeling of nausuea. I love going to bed at night because when I wake up I feel fine for the first hour and then symptoms will begin again. I have located a free clinic pretty close to me that also offers dental assistance. This all just sucks because I have so many little problems and don't know what it could be.

Wonderful!! Even though all those little problems need to be worked on you found that free clinic. That's half the battle. Let us know when your visit to the Doc is and what the outcome is. You are on the way!!!!

[mrwall]

First of all here is a link that might help with your panic attacks! http://www.paniccenter.net/
my son has a panic disorder and it is very real and he is convinced he has many different diseases.. i didn't think about it then.. but when he was young he use to worry about spontanious combustion! But the good thing is he has had everything in the world checked out.. and knows that his health is good, except for some acid reflux.. so when his anxiety flares up he knows that it is just anxiety!

Yes i agree with everyone here go see a dr. go to a county hospital or state run hospital they have lots of programs to help people get seen! until then, try not to eat anything white! Rice, potatoes, white bread, pop corn etc.. and try to keep your carbs under 40 per meal.. stay away from soda pop, (you can drink diet) and fruit juices are high in carbs also..
let us know what you find out
mike