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Suggest Remedy For Weakness, Body Ache And Excessive Sleepiness
Question: I am 27 yrs old lady. Feeling weakness and having body ache and headache since yesterday. And the major concern is I am feeling sleepy all the time. Wanted to know if any serious issue?
I am not under any medication etc. Non - alcoholic
I am not under any medication etc. Non - alcoholic
Brief Answer:
Will need a bit more information
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX, Thanks for coming to HealthCareMagic. I see that you have the following symptoms:
1) Weakness - Since 1 day
2) Body Ache - Since 1 day
3) Fatigue / Sleepiness - How long has this symptom been affecting you? 1 day as well?
At first blush, this combination of symptoms makes me think that you may be coming down with a Viral or Bacterial infection. The important symptom to confirm that would be a Fever? Have you developed a fever or Chills (sudden feeling of extreme cold and shakiness) over the last day as well?
If the sleepiness that you are suffering from is also of 1 day duration, it would support the idea of an infection. If it is of longer duration, then we need to look into other issues: for example
1) How much sleep do you get on a daily basis? At your age, you need at least 7-8 hours of sleep a day
2) Do you suffer from Anemia? Have you had your Hb / Iron levels checked recently?
3) Do you suffer from any thyroid issues?
4) Do you have any known medical issues?
Let me know what you can tell me about the possibility of fever and the past medical history and your sleep and work habits if possible. We can delve deeper into the problem after that.
I look forward to your reply,
Vinay
Will need a bit more information
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX, Thanks for coming to HealthCareMagic. I see that you have the following symptoms:
1) Weakness - Since 1 day
2) Body Ache - Since 1 day
3) Fatigue / Sleepiness - How long has this symptom been affecting you? 1 day as well?
At first blush, this combination of symptoms makes me think that you may be coming down with a Viral or Bacterial infection. The important symptom to confirm that would be a Fever? Have you developed a fever or Chills (sudden feeling of extreme cold and shakiness) over the last day as well?
If the sleepiness that you are suffering from is also of 1 day duration, it would support the idea of an infection. If it is of longer duration, then we need to look into other issues: for example
1) How much sleep do you get on a daily basis? At your age, you need at least 7-8 hours of sleep a day
2) Do you suffer from Anemia? Have you had your Hb / Iron levels checked recently?
3) Do you suffer from any thyroid issues?
4) Do you have any known medical issues?
Let me know what you can tell me about the possibility of fever and the past medical history and your sleep and work habits if possible. We can delve deeper into the problem after that.
I look forward to your reply,
Vinay
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Doctor..
I don't suffer from any major medical issues. I mean not done thyroid/ hb/ iron level tests. But I do get fever frequently, can say every month. Its not high fever but get feverish and cold (cold is almost everyday). And I have allergy of few drug elements like cipro etc. Don't know the exact medical terms but my family doctor does know about it. so he gives me low power tablets like Sinus 77, Nuclar 250 and recently started immunomod to gain immunity.
Further to add, I get sleep of 6 hrs a day. And due to busy n hectic schedule not possible to get more sleep though.
I don't suffer from any major medical issues. I mean not done thyroid/ hb/ iron level tests. But I do get fever frequently, can say every month. Its not high fever but get feverish and cold (cold is almost everyday). And I have allergy of few drug elements like cipro etc. Don't know the exact medical terms but my family doctor does know about it. so he gives me low power tablets like Sinus 77, Nuclar 250 and recently started immunomod to gain immunity.
Further to add, I get sleep of 6 hrs a day. And due to busy n hectic schedule not possible to get more sleep though.
Brief Answer:
I strongly suspect allergies and chronic sinusitis
Detailed Answer:
Hi Mural, thanks for following-up. I had a chance to go through some of your other medical queries from the past and when I couple those with the history that you have given me here, I strongly suspect that you have chronic allergies.
An allergy is not weakness of the immune system per-say, it is actually a situation where the immune system makes a mistake and starts attacking a harmless substance that you may come in contact with. Some people are allergic to the pollen present in Parthenium plants, some are allergic to certain kinds of synthetics, etc. If you are allergic to dust or pollen or even some of the pollution that is in the air, your symptoms could be constant and ongoing.
A history of allergies which are complicated by frequent sinus infections would explain all of the symptoms you have expressed (the chronic fatigue, the frequent infections, the fatigue, etc).
There are two ways of going about confirming this issue:
1) Testing and Imaging
2) Assumption and Treatment
In Option 1: I would suggest that you get the following tests done
A) Blood Tests: CBC (Comprehensive Blood Count),
Vitamin D Levels,
Thyroid Function Tests
Serum CRP ('C' Reactive Protein) levels
Serum IgE (Immunoglobulin 'E') levels
B) Imaging tests: CT scan of the Paranasal Sinuses without contrast.
Using these tests we should be able to accurately determine if you have a history of allergies and if your sinuses are being affected by them. These tests would need to be done at a time when you are free of symptoms and you are not taking any medications (like Sinus 77 and antibiotics like Cipro or Nuclar 250).
Option 2: Here we use inductive reasoning, ie We ASSUME that YOU HAVE allergies and we begin high level treatment for the same. If your symptoms get better within an agreed upon amount of time (lets say 2 weeks, or 1 month).. then great, our assumption is correct and we have confirmed the problem. At that point we would tweak your medications and have you keep a regular low dose antihistamine or nasal spray (which also contains antihistamines). If on the other hand YOU DON"T get better, then we have to go back to option 1.
Given the fact that the antihistamine treatments that are available nowadays are quite safe and free of side effects, I tend to recommend option 2 for my patients. It's faster and cheaper and always leaves us with the option of testing later.
Keep in mind that BOTH of these options have to be carried out when you are fever free and not on any antibiotics (Nuclar, Cipro, etc).
Let me know if you have understood me this far and tell me which way you want to go. If you have any questions, I will do my utmost to make sure you understand what is going on before we proceed.
I look forward to your thoughts,
Vinay
I strongly suspect allergies and chronic sinusitis
Detailed Answer:
Hi Mural, thanks for following-up. I had a chance to go through some of your other medical queries from the past and when I couple those with the history that you have given me here, I strongly suspect that you have chronic allergies.
An allergy is not weakness of the immune system per-say, it is actually a situation where the immune system makes a mistake and starts attacking a harmless substance that you may come in contact with. Some people are allergic to the pollen present in Parthenium plants, some are allergic to certain kinds of synthetics, etc. If you are allergic to dust or pollen or even some of the pollution that is in the air, your symptoms could be constant and ongoing.
A history of allergies which are complicated by frequent sinus infections would explain all of the symptoms you have expressed (the chronic fatigue, the frequent infections, the fatigue, etc).
There are two ways of going about confirming this issue:
1) Testing and Imaging
2) Assumption and Treatment
In Option 1: I would suggest that you get the following tests done
A) Blood Tests: CBC (Comprehensive Blood Count),
Vitamin D Levels,
Thyroid Function Tests
Serum CRP ('C' Reactive Protein) levels
Serum IgE (Immunoglobulin 'E') levels
B) Imaging tests: CT scan of the Paranasal Sinuses without contrast.
Using these tests we should be able to accurately determine if you have a history of allergies and if your sinuses are being affected by them. These tests would need to be done at a time when you are free of symptoms and you are not taking any medications (like Sinus 77 and antibiotics like Cipro or Nuclar 250).
Option 2: Here we use inductive reasoning, ie We ASSUME that YOU HAVE allergies and we begin high level treatment for the same. If your symptoms get better within an agreed upon amount of time (lets say 2 weeks, or 1 month).. then great, our assumption is correct and we have confirmed the problem. At that point we would tweak your medications and have you keep a regular low dose antihistamine or nasal spray (which also contains antihistamines). If on the other hand YOU DON"T get better, then we have to go back to option 1.
Given the fact that the antihistamine treatments that are available nowadays are quite safe and free of side effects, I tend to recommend option 2 for my patients. It's faster and cheaper and always leaves us with the option of testing later.
Keep in mind that BOTH of these options have to be carried out when you are fever free and not on any antibiotics (Nuclar, Cipro, etc).
Let me know if you have understood me this far and tell me which way you want to go. If you have any questions, I will do my utmost to make sure you understand what is going on before we proceed.
I look forward to your thoughts,
Vinay
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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