I feel like I'm dying

Hi dear,
I’m so sorry for your suffering. What you explain is exactly what I been having for two years. I tried to manage it the first year, but the second year it was unbearable. I was hospitalized 4 times but not for this problem but because my heart rate was very low.
After trying everything, my gastroenterologist told me that there is only so much medicine can do for me. He referred me to a psychiatrist. When I’m in crisis not even an anxiolytic helps.
In April 2023, the doctor who discharged me from the hospital suggested to see an acupuncturist. I did. In a month I was feeling better, I continued seeing her until probably November 2023. The in December I had another crisis. I was hospitalized for 4 days. I apparently had a virus. So far for me, each time I’d heard “is a virus” meant the doctors don’t know what they’re talking about. Anyway, after my release from the hospital I went to the acupuncturist. She has helped me a lot. Then I had a personal problem and bang! all over again. My sister who is a nurse told me repeatedly that it was the anxiety because of my symptoms. I didn’t pay attention to her thinking she was minimizing my symptoms.
Anyway, to make the story short, I’m receiving psychological therapy. It’s helping. But what helped me more was to reconnect with my son after 17 years. I feel as a veil has been lifted from my head.
Now talking during my psychotherapy, I realize that I was sumerges in a severe depression, and I finally snapped.
I know my situation may not be applicable to you, but I realize now that my sister, my husband and the doctors have been trying to help me but I didn’t listen.
First of all, I’ve learned that when I feel I’m dying I am not going to die. Exercises given to me by the psychologist are helping me. When I’m in the bathroom feeling I’m going to die, I practice the exercises and these distract my attention, and after I feel better, I realize I didn’t die and the pain is gone.
Please ask me questions, one at a time may be better so we focus on just one issue.
Meanwhile, please allow me to send you a very close hug. Everything is going to be okay. I promise.

What do you mean that your neck feels like its going to explode? My neck for the last year or more hurts everywhere. muscles hurt, feels like glands are sore but not swollen, sharp pains, muscle spasms, twitches... Its driving me crazy. As this person also said I feel like I am dying and or losing my mind. I suffer from anxiety, and although not diagnosed with GERD because my doctors are morons, I am sure I have it. I suffer from pain literally everywhere in my body and feel sick and weak every day, but I have not gone to the doctor because every time I do, nothing comes from it because they either say they find nothing wrong or they are incompetent.

Did the dr tell you to take 400iu of vit D? Your lab result is very very low. Even 30, which you say is in the normal range is very low. When my vit D went low like that, I was put on prescription Vitamin D. 400 is a very very old amount that is rarely taken as a stand alone.

Not at all giving medical advice, but I take 10,000 (as opposed to 400?) daily to stay in range. Range is up to 100 now and at 10,000 I'm never toxic. If you are depressed, one of the reasons can very well be your extremely low Vit D. If you dr told you to basically take a multivitamin for a D level of 11, you might want to do some research, question your dr or find someone new. A D level of 11 is a severe vitamin deficiency and can cause lots if issues. Please don't take this lightly. Also increase you time with sun on your face, eyes closed and no spray to block the sun.

Have you been tested for H pylori. Google it

Get tested for H pylori

So sorry to hear you’re going through this. My mother is 90 and has the exact same symptoms, she’s lightheaded and sick to her stomach 24/7, seems to get worse over night, mornings are worse. She feels like she’s dying, but after several trips to the ER, her vitals are always good. She’s always been a fit, energetic woman, now she can hardly get off the couch. Her cardiologist said it’s not her heart, she had an endoscopy and they found nothing. Her doctors recently put her on Lexapro thinking it may be anxiety, it’s been over a month and the symptoms seem to be getting worse. Some are saying she could have long Covid, someone please give us some good advice, need it quickly

Hello @gjp1 and welcome to Mayo Connect. I appreciate your interest in helping your mom with this uncomfortable set of symptoms. On Connect we are not medical professionals, so we can't really give medical advice, but we can share our experiences.

From your post, it sounds as if she is really struggling with nausea and lightheadedness as her main symptoms. Is my understanding correct? While you have mentioned her seeing a lot of different specialists, I'm wondering if she has been seen by an ENT? Often inner ear problems can result in dizziness and nausea and make it difficult to function. Has she been to an ENT?

There are wonderful therapies for vertigo problems including Vestibular Therapy which can be most helpful in combatting these symptoms. While this type of therapy does not cure vertigo, it can certainly lessen the symptoms and make life a bit easier. Has your mom been referred for vestibular therapy?

I look forward to hearing from you again as you seek answers for your mom. Will you post with any other questions or updates?

Digestive issues have many causes. Sounds like you're being treated for your symptoms. Digestive issues can be caused by bacterial infections (SIBO), fungal infections, yeast infections, parasites, being exposed to mold. Some doctors know how to test for these causes. Ask you doctor.
I had digestive issues, GERD, bloating, gas and treated for my symptoms with Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI) over the course of 6 years, once off this med my symptoms returned. Within that time frame I had 3 endoscopies. At my last endoscopy, the GI doctor came in and told me to never take the PPI again as my digestive tract cells were hypertrophic. I found a functional medicine doctor who knew how to test and treat. You can find a functional medicine doctor by city and state at ifm.org. Check it out, look for one who specializes in digestive disorders and anything else you may be dealing with. Functional Medicine doctors look for the cause of your symptoms - major difference in treating the cause vs. symptoms.
There is also a great book you can find on Amazon - Super Gut by Dr. William Davis. It is an excellent book to use to start with. In fact, what he recommends is good for everyone whether you have digestive issues or not. Our gut biome needs to be healthy to keep us healthy.
Best to you in finding an answer. I know personally it is not easy but please believe there is an answer. Put yourself in charge if your doctors' recommendations are not helping.

Thank you for the kind words and valuable information. We took her to an ENT about 8 months ago and he said everything looked normal. Unfortunately, I was not at the appointment so I wasn't able to ask questions. I'm going to set up another appointment and have them look for any type of vertigo and talk about vestibular therapy. Will keep you posted.

Thank you very much for your insight. I like the idea of working with a functional medicine doctor, we need to find the root cause vs just trying to treat symptoms. I'm going to search for one in Austin and just ordered the book. One thing I've found out through this process, doctors are humans too, and don't always have the answers, it's up to us to keep digging, asking questions and doing our research, I feel so bad for my mom, feeling this way 24/7 is taking a toll..