Desperately Trying to Get Diagnosed

Hi. All I can do is offer advice. First, create a diary of all your doctor visits including contact information, and obtain copies of all your tests, you are entitled to them. Keep them all together, in order, and bring them to next doctor's appointments...the reason is some doctors are lazy and don't contact the last doctor or review last tests unless it's put infront of them. They get too busy, not that they don't care. This will avoid being re-tested for some stuff you don't need. One tidbit I learned was if you are low on potassium, please look at test results for that, you will get muscle twitches and nausia. And, if you take potassium you must take a magnesium with it or else the body won't absorb it. It took many doctors and scoping and damage to my esaphagas until one doctor finally said..you are low on potassium. Then another, after about a year to say...take magnesium with potassium to digest it. Wow. That took years to figure out. I finally learned to keep a diary of my doctor visits and tests after I was tested for Lyme's disease five times. Now, doctors need to benchmark ANA levels, and space them a couple months apart, that's standard. Now, holistically, you can help with brain fog by going gluten-free, and avoid processed food with chemicals. Try whole foods for a while, see if it makes a difference. Read every label. Two diets come to mind to try, the Keto diet and the LAC diet. Benchmark any improvements or failures with that in your medical diary. Some autoimmune diseases are drug-induced, or environmentally triggered with a heredity of a minor immune predisposition. So with that, taking daily multi-vitamin, extra vitamin C, D can help your body help itself. Immune disorders tend to suck vitamins out if your system faster than you can eat the foods that contain them. I buy the gummy versions of vitamins and call it 'my desert', lol. But please read tests about vitamin and electolite levels, if you don't see them, have next doctor get that done for you, and you can ask lab to send you a copy to your house, again, you are entitled to it. I will sit on-line and find out what every test means, again...I learned the hard way...sometimes waiting for doctor to do the job, it won't get done. You are lucky, you are young and your body can bounce back faster than someone who's older with the same issue. Have faith, you are not alone. Write down your concerns and questions and have them ready for your next doctor appointment, don't give up..and being your own advocate is the best thing you can do. Good luck!

Sorry I am late, I have and had many issues with different cyber systems, in fact , in Michigan I lost my LPN license due to upgrades MiPlus. A story in itself. Sorry for your neurological issues. I understand. I retired from nursing in 2006, for a few years neuropathy. Luckily I love research(in fact, I believe research has more positive therapeutic affects than half the medical service. ) Yes, I always learn much in the research. Computers, texts, files, magazines, people, etc. For my neuropathy,(plus I have a substantial medical library at home), yes to use standard medical institutional services. It is difficult to sort out the more science based professional medical staff , at times medical university complex, other times that special physician is found at a middle sized city or small city. In fact, in my latest bout of neurological problem(dizziness), I assessed over 200 different neurologist in Michigan(looking for a radiological-neurologist), failed but did my best in finding that professional to validate an earlier MRI to brain. Health is an integrated affair. The best choices of a medical professional one can trust. I was fortunate, in my second bout(dizziness), young physicians did an excellent job(in ER) to give me the best possible start in understanding the new symptoms. Later I was not so fortunate, a lesser quality base in the physician. Plus I rely on my educational habits and instincts. (Worked in medicine for 20 years). For starters, it is critical one find the best word to describe ones illness. Dizziness is too vague and usually much of the information on inter-net is lay bulk with little substance. I rely on my medical library and ICD codes and NIH for start. Also impressed with medical stories in Medscape. Yes, in early phase of 3 years of dizziness, some spasm. I started my Adult Male MVI. Also based on the medical information, I add Fish Oil, Tumeric(science based medical herbal), and glucosamine/chondraitin effective for muscular aches . All are based on genetic sensitivity. There is regular progress in biotech. regarding biomarkers and biotargets...hope for vague neurological problems. I was ready to opt for a nursing home at initial of my dizziness symptoms. But the dizziness did not tax my driving ability. Plus I do regular research regarding BPPV and dizziness, a noted paper was from Dr. Martin A. Samuels, M.D. Chairman of Neurology Harvard Medical School.....it is a constant search, never to lose hope, so long the symptoms do not tax ADL's. Plus to keep my spirit, spirituality(what seems effective), I have a support family in the Philippines, a big plus in my over 3 year bout of dizziness. Plus Mayo Chat ....a professional connection, digital communication, one is in constant battle to sort out the waste. Hang in there, plus we all know, there is always genetic mutations constantly going on....possibly at times for better. JIM retired nurse...lately based on research changed my blood pressure medicine(Norvas), a high degree of sa dizziness for folks over 60, based on research, no medical service person flagged this dynamic. JIM>>>>>>

I agree with others, holistic/integrative approaches best. Along with an over 3 year bout of dizziness, initially had some issues with leg and lower back pain. Luckily, the issues of pain for the most part resolved; first conventional/traditional assessments, (I never had much luck with NSAIDs, probably not sensitive to the chemistry there), but found turmeric quite effective and a balance day(some movements/30 minutes around the house and farm) and of course initially get imaging and labs. And somewhere in there, a supportive interaction with others that are worthy of positive support in ones life. JIM>

What I find interesting ... is one of the BIG reasons people do not want socialized medicine is the terribly long waits for treatment or surgery. But it seems like we are heading in the exact same direction ... can't get in to see a dr.,our medical treatments are guided by the insurance co's ... or big pharma, Treatment and drugs have astronomical costs, hospitalization and medical treatment are the cause of MOST bankruptcies in the US, but WE DO NOT WANT SOCIALIZED MEDICINE!!!!!!!