OK, I have resisted writing about this here, because generally, I don't like to share this stuff on line. But, I have been having issues all summer and now it is October. It started with what I thought was a sinus infection, got treated and then my stomach was acting up. Started getting tingling in my feet and my bp was up. After several unfruitful visits to my primary care dr. where I saw the PA, I went to a neurologist. I had the full work up, the exam, tons of blood work, an MRI of the head and neck and an EMG. Everything was negative. At first everyone thought I had MS, but that didn't show up. Over the years I have had many weird medical things, all of which seem to come and go. I also had a time in my twenties when i had panic attacks and generally, i do not react well to thoughts that there might be something wrong with me. Since I started cycling (7 years) I have noticed that sometimes, in the beginning of a ride, I get a weird burning feeling from my left groin, up my back and I just don't feel that great. It usually goes away after I have warmed up. This started getting really bad, too. And, my whole adult life I have had weird muscle pains and aches on my left side, around the shoulder, neck, arm on that side too. It usually gets noticeable when i am sick. So after I came back from my trip to the Berkshires, where I did some very challenging riding, this all got worse. I have weird pains in my head, almost headache like, but not a headache. I have pain in my teeth, my left foot, buttock, and my calf. At times I feel like I am sick with a sinus infection, but now I don't have that. I also have a ringing in my left ear that comes and goes, but is very annoying. So in the course of trying to figure this out, I went to an ENT, who discovered I had 2 nodules on my thyroid. I got an ultra sound, which confirmed them. So now I go to an endocrinologist on the 18th. My thyroid levels are normal, but I am extremely freaked out. The endo will determine if I need an ultra sound biopsy. From what i read and what the ENT told me, only 5% of these nodules are cancer. OK, now the other part is that my primary care doc also sent me to a rheumotologist. I am being evaluated for Lupus, which might explain some of the weird things I've had over the years, but the Lupus tests the neuro gave me were negative. I also had a bone scan and an MRI of the lumbar region. I know the bone scan was fine. BTW, both the ENT and the rheumo. are cyclists and are very understanding. At this point, I can barely eat and my bp is up. My husbnd is ready to pack me in; I am very emotional and I can't stop thinking of all of the bad possibilities. Oh yes, when I was in the ER last week, they saw a "spot" on my ovary, so I had an ultra sound. That turned out to be nothing worrisome.
Retirement isn't supposed to be like this. I have not ridden very much lately. Sunday we did lead a ride, which had a lot of climbing, but we were going slowly, so it didn't aggravate anything, but I still had a lot of the symptoms. I guess I am just looking for support; the 2 above doctors told me to keep riding, that it will help, but I am so upset and feeling bad that I am scared to go out alone most of the time.
Any thoughts?