Alrighty folks! It's time for a brand new round of NAME! THAT! ILLNESS!!! Here's how to play, a player give a list of symptoms and previous feedback and then any number of players can give a response. Those players deemed most correct get a special prize! That's right, they get to feel better about themselves. Anyway on to our first round of symptoms:
This individual is frequently tired, with less frequent headaches, and even less frequent disorientation. They have experienced an increase in misspellings of words, and slower word recall. They routinely sleep eleven hours a night and need a nap during the day. They have mild diarrhea most days. They seem to be eating less, due to an increasing disinterest in food generally, although this may be unrelated. They are nearly underweight and their diet is decent, but they hardly exercise! They are neither sad nor happy, but very indifferent!
Wait a moment. The blood work has come in! Thyroid, B12, folate, EBV anti-bodies all coming in normal with low inflammation and normal whiteblood cell count! The doctors expert opinion comes to the conclusion that this individual is suffering from allergies, so make sure to factor that into your opinion. We now turn over to the contestants: NAME! THAT! ILLNESS!!!
Depression.
>>2
I've read that depression without sadness is possible, but it doesn't seem likely does it?
Chronic fatigue syndrome? What's his kidney function like?
GFR (non-african) is at 122 which is normal, and albumin creatinine ratio is 14 which is also normal; so I think my kidneys are working correctly. I've read about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome before, and it does seem to meet most of my symptoms. Unfortunately it seems like there isn't much settled science around it.
Wikipedia says it can be differentiated from depression by a lack of anhedonia and post-exertion exasperation of symptoms. I'm typically not very happy but this predates the fatigue, I'll try to do some decent aerobic exercise tomorrow morning and a lot of school work (necessarily) to see if I feel worse. If I don't feel worse tomorrow I'll assume I can rule this out.
Have you looked into stimulants? Caffeine? Ginseng? Coca tea?
Does it dsm-v with depression?
I'll try to do some decent aerobic exercise tomorrow morning
I rowed three kilometres, I felt about the same, potentially slightly better.
Have you looked into stimulants?
I've had several cups of white tea on a few occasions since my symptoms started. It didn't seem to help much. Although this isn't the most caffeinated of teas. I've been having ginseng tea today and yesterday. It also hasn't had a noticeable effect.
Does it dsm-v with depression?
It does. I'll assume this is at issue and continue from here.
Try coca tea. Not much stronger than green, but may put a little pep in your step. Or perhaps strong yerba mate is an option, but I'd try coca because of its long history of safe use and my own positive experience with it.
>>8
I used to have a few bags of this stuff, I'm not sure where it went. I'll consider this as part of treatment. I don't plan on seeing a counselor or whatnot since this is fairly mild depression if I had to guess. Mostly just going to try to wake up earlier by leaving my blind open, and exercise early in the morning. I read that you should try to actively do the things you used to enjoy, a little bit at a time, so I may also try that.
I suspect I should focus on the origin of the issue as well. But this is easier said than done.
Food sensitivity could do it; try simplifying your diet to healthy meats and vegetables only for a while, and see if your symptoms improve.
A sleep disorder is something to consider as well. You sound a bit skinny for sleep apnea, but you may not be getting quality sleep for some reason. Sleep issues can actually lead to depression, rather than the other way around.
try to wake up earlier by leaving my blind open
This was a bad idea, I woke up tired and at the same time as usual. I also didn't exercise in the morning, so I'll try to exercise sometime later in the day. I'm going to be focusing on school work for the next little bit so I might not have time to do things I used to enjoy. I'll try to come up with a better plan soon.
Food sensitivity could do it
It's possible, my diet is relatively simple in terms of the most processed foods I eat being dairy, and bread. That means I eat gluten and dairy however so it's worth a shot. My diet didn't really change before the onset of symptoms though.
Is it possible that it is actually allergies? I did move to a brand-new house just before symptoms started, so I do wonder if there is something from the construction that could be causing this. I fairly consistently have a lot of phlegm in my throat, but this also predates the symptoms.
A sleep disorder is something to consider as well.
My family says I don't snore. I do sleep on a mat on the floor instead of a proper bed. I've been doing that for years before the onset of symptoms though.
>>11 I spent years sleeping on the floor too. A friend saw and was shocked, but my back felt so much better in the morning.
I did move to a brand-new house just before symptoms started, so I do wonder if there is something from the construction that could be causing this
Sick building syndrome is a thing, but it's a bit of a rabbit hole. If you try too hard to match vague physical symptoms to vague environmental causes, you could end up like the housewife in that Todd Haynes movie Safe.
Try sleeping in the best ventilated room in the house, maybe. See if that makes a difference.
>>12
I can't say I've ever met anyone else who does this. Nice to meet you.
>>13
I've not seen this film, but it's unfortunate how little we understand ourselves. Anyway I think I have a plan now I'll try to implement it, and I'll report back if things go one way or another.
Could be the bed bugs or something similar drinking your blood and transfering babeosis or such into your blood when you sleep.
>>15
I'll keep this in mind as a possibility, although it doesn't seem likely to me. I'm going to log off for a while, really intended to stop visiting here a long time ago, but my illness has seemingly reduced my executive functioning slightly (as exhaustion etc. tends to do). I do appreciate the help, but I suppose I more or less need to try things currently and see what works before I look to alternatives. If anyone else is struggling to diagnosis themselves I encourage them to post here. Anyway, ciao for now.
>>16
You didn't actually log on, though. Anyway, we'll just talk amongst ourselves. Good luck with curing what ails you.
>>15
There's a pretty good short story along those lines. It's called The Feather Pillow by Horacio Quiroga.
http://www.gutenberg.net.au/ebooks06/0606301h.html
>>17
I've read it, it's sick.
I changed many things all at once so it's hard for me to tell what exactly was the cause but I have been feeling better. The things I changed were: getting vaccinated (helps with long-COVID in some people apparently), trying to eat more, sleeping outside, and leaving my window open. Probably still not quite 100%, but much better.
>>15
I read this story at your suggestion, but I don't have anything to say about it.