I am losing hope, drs have no answers for me…

Greetings @helpwanted. Wow, that’s a lot to deal with. I’m really sorry you’re feeling so blue. I have basically had almost everything you listed there… Perhaps at a lesser degree. And perhaps not all at once. In the end however I decided to re-focus on my PTSD/anxiety, because I find a lot of things settle down, if I can calm my PTSD/anxiety. Shortness of breath, Heart racing, lightness in the head, acid reflux. Have also had endometriosis, deviated septum surgery. I’m currently taking Lexapro 20 mg every day and Xanax as I need it. I was taking the Xanax every day, because I am recovering from breast cancer right now (initially very upsetting, but caught early, treated by Mayo Clinic, I’m going to be fine), but I have weaned off the Xanax and only take as needed now. I actually try to keep the medication at a minimum, because they all have side effects, and then I can’t tell “what’s what” anymore. If I need it - I take it, but am diligent about understanding dosage, how long I need to take it, and side effects. Seems you are same.

Lately, I’ve begun working with a Yoga guru going through a program called the Four Desires, as well as a therapist from our church. In both cases, we’re focusing on my PTSD/anxiety. I’ve found this really helpful. It’s not a long-term thing, just something I do during the rough patches to get a little emotional/spiritual boost. I also do have a primary care physician and gynecologist, both female, who are very holistic and have known me for years. They help me discern what is being caused by stress and anxiety, and what needs to be treated medically. They don’t dismiss anything; and they are non-judging. It took a while… but I do feel like I have formed a very good care team for myself. Could this be a place to start for you?

I think I know how you feel… It just feels like you’re drowning in it all. Consuming your life. I promise it will get better… find your Care Team. What city are you in? Perhaps people on the forum here can help you find them. Who among your current providers do you feel bring you the most relief physically and emotionally? Perhaps you can start there.

I admire that you’ve had to manage all of this. I admire how you been prudent about the medication and weaning off when needed. You sound like an intelligent, strong, independent person. I send you infinite positive energy to get through this rough patch.

Wrapping you in a warm hug,
@kk57

I was a lot like you @helpwanted several years ago. Have you had food sensitivity tests as well as allergy tests? They do measure different things. If you are in a moldy, dusty, perfumy environment, you need to address those areas. I wrote a booklet called "Food.. It's Driving me Crazy back in 1989 (33 years ago) because I was suffering from so many different issues and the doctors blamed it on being all in my head.

I saw a functional doctor wanna be a year ago and wasted money so I understand what you mean by that. However, I am going to see another that I have much respect for in the practice with Parsley Health.

I suggest you look into that practice and also check out my blog, jazzyoldbroad.com, for more info on what I've gone through and how I began to help myself.

We are all different obviously and your situation may be totally different from mine but having experienced very similar issues and having overcome most of them, it won't hurt to at least check it out.

Good luck to you and I wish you much better health.
@jazzyoldbroad

This may sound like a small thing but have you been extensively allergy tested? I don't mean just a few pin pricks. I'm talking about a full panel likely done by an immunologist. Reason I ask is when we moved to Florida, I spent three years feeling out of body, like I was going to pass out, nauseated and a whole host of other problems. For three years I was checked out for everything. Even allergy testing (from a quack). I finally went to another county to a specialist. Turns out I'm allergic to over 20 things including weeds, grasses, trees, and man made items. For five years I've taken three allergy shots a month. It changed everything.

Hi! What's a functional doctor? Thanks, Jeanne

@helpwanted-Good morning, it's nice to meet you. It sounds as if you have handled way too many things for a young woman. This must be very frustrating and scary. Since you have mentioned reflux several times if I were you I would see a GI dr. It sounds as if you might also have SOB- shortness of breath. So a pulmonologist would be the doctor to see for this.

I think that you definitely need to pursue this further with great suggestions for an allergist too. In order to do this, you have to push beyond what you think you can do and do more in order to help yourself. Also, you aren't alone in this feeling of hopelessness because there are other women who feel this way.

Take a deep breath, slow your breathing down and decide which doctor you will see next. You have to fight and fight for yourself sometimes in order to feel better, and you are worth every second it takes to do this!

So which doctor do you think you might reach out to first?

Hi Jeanne. I'm not selling anything but I do have a blog and will have an article out this Saturday on my journey with functional medicine where I'll discuss what functional doctors do and how they may differ from traditional doctors. My blog is:
jazzyoldbroad.com jj

Hello,

Please dont lose hope! I had some similar symptoms you describe. You need to find the right doctors. You sound like me a few years sgo, I had lost hope snd reduced quslity of life until I was visiting relatives in Michigan and got very sick while there and was sent to a Beaumont Allergy Clínic in R.O. who referred me on to went the not for Profit University of Michigan. I was then sent on to 3 More specialists and got a diagnosis very quickly. After seeing múltiple for profit doctors
the not for profit university bases medical care changes my life for better. I was put on a simple over the counter régimen that changes my quality of life immedistely.
Is inexpebsive and liftwd an eleohant off me the chronic fatigue ais much better.. Noww i can function and not stay in isolated at home Low quality of life condition because of múltiple chemical sensitivities. I Aldo had 2 doctor's show me am allergy mapa and told me yo move south which changes my entire life from being hedridden October to May from E.B.V. as they figures iutbmy trigger was the cold, damp winters. I thrivr in the heat instead. So I took my life back! After being so well treated there in Michigan, I was sent yoban allergist immunologist. He recignized what I had and instead of extensiva testing he said lets try a treatment plan and see how you do. It's changed my quality of life. I returned home I saught out another
local university for follow up care at Not for Profit Center to help figure out the other problems I was having like enlarged and fistended gut. I then was went to the liver and hepabillusry specislust , was actually viven another diagnosis as am enlarged liver which is reversible through dieta .mediterránean planta bases not vegan diet.. I was golf it was from tylenol used yo control my R.B.V. in winter months severe fevers, now instead i use ice instead of tylenol. They gradually got me off all the asthma and allergy steroids docs put me on. I found for Profit docs put me on meds which causes horrible side effects Made me sicker then the symptoms for taking them. Steroids also gave me cushings syndrome, which add unusual weight to your upper body. i got off all steroids except docs say I may need for emergencies and took my life back and my body slowly returning. Energy returning, and can exercise now and gone down 3 sizes just by rating half my plate Cooked Green mixed veggies snd other half cut in half lean protein & starchy Veggie. Use smaller plate for portion control...which helps tremendously. The noderste exercise helps w fatigue snd brain fog. Hubby got me an auto Matic peddler u plug in can sit and peddle. It really helps a Lot with Braun fog and fatigue . Fighting the inactivity all these health issues causes really make a diference, ser small goals a few times a week then add More days put on some upbeat música to peddle to and you will feel better....

I just got the the fodmap the app really helps me make better choices to feel better too. Which helpee me choise the better veggies for med. diet, the good Is do good..my hubby found a Cuisinart griddler Is a gane chsnger grillimg veggies tastes way better and do Easy..I found i had to cut out dairy & corn and sugart drinks swapped out for water and lemon.. Aldo gut doc told me low fat Activia yogurt kills the accumulation of bad bacteria in gut along w certain fermented foods
& stromg probiótics suplementos try Swanson.com had Hugh quslity but inexpensive choices which has eased my stomachs distensión.
which i realized by talking to pharmcist and reading insert Pagés of side effects of meds I was prescribed. Pharmacist helped me Sort out symotoms and side effects too.
Because if these positive diagnosis at not for Profit university teaching hospital medical centres I foundca way better quality if care. Maybe it would help you too. They so Easy to real with, and very caring take More Time as they patient driven not Profit driven. As long as I stay in warm climate my E.B.V stsys in remissión. When cold weather I avoid travel back tisee relatives up North the cole or E.B.V. triggers on on w a vengeance. Docs say my En.B.V. Is could mediantes.. also found done supplements help during cooler remos to keep e.b.v. at Bay one works for me Is lysine. (There are others, you can resesrch, might help.) We went for Vk to try out first which southern ststes Warmer climate was better for me before moving. We got an RV and traveled diferentes Places in winter to see where I felt best then relicated. Was a game chsngercand I took my life back. So dont give up, answered areboug there but it really matters whose advice you week. Not for Profit instead of for Profit deriven carecwas another game changer for me also. The diference
Is correct diagnosis and a team of
Qualified health profesionals willing to work together to help me Sort out my various problems one by one I Also ended up w gall stones which was why i had constant pain you describe in back and gut etc. Now I have a manageable health condition, and they follow up by telehealth which is do convenient saving gas & hassle all my specislists work together and are on Speed dial
or email ready to talk & help me with my questions without waiting forever for appts.etc.

hope this helps you are too young to give up ...you just need find right place to get answers. Hope you feel better soon.

Linda- Examples of functional medicine include acupuncture, naturopathy, massage, chiropractic medicine, osteopathic medicine, body movement therapies, tai chi, and yoga.

I am not sure if this is science-based because the concept was developed by a group of "thinkers" and not scientists. That's not to say that it doesn't work
https://www.bridgeshealingcenters.com/integrative-medicine-vs-functional-medicine/

Thank you!

Allergy testing has been suggested. Lioness mentioned enviromental testing for allergerns like mold, dust, pollen, cats and more. That is a simple 30 minute prick test on the back and for those types of allergies shots can help treat it.
I've had hayfever all my life and this test can even diagnose what type of grasses one is allergic to.
Your lungs may be inflamed because of allegens.
My biggest misery was inside my skin. Turns out I had 2 issues going on- chemical/natural element allergies and also diet- processed sugar feeding my internal yeast. Mind you I had no visible yeast issues.
My internal inflamation was raised by exposurer to all the hidden chemicals and elements we contact: preseratives in topicals like lotions, dish soap, grooming products and metals and acrylics, and blended fabrics like elastic, poly/cotton and elements in rubber and so many more. The test for this is the 5 Day Extended Patch Test, Google what this is about. Many, not all, dermatologists are licensed for this test, most allergists are. You may not even have external skin issues, your inflamation was be inside you body. Look up True Test Kit for this 5 Day Extended Patch Test. It is a common brand and the one I had. I was tested for about 80 elements.
Like you I've always known fragrance, good smeling or bad smelling affected me. I get a headache 1/2 a mile away from a diesel vehicle ahead of me in traffic, I know it's up ahead, before I see it and make sure my car airconditioning outside air entrance is closed off. I can't go into a store that sells tires because I get a spliting headache within a 30 seconds. Just the odor from the rubber, I get a rash from rubber contact. Rubber and elements of rubber are hidden in many of our contacts from floor mats, protective gloves, blended fibers like elastic and hundreds more. Most perfumes give me the same reaction, they make me sick, headache is the most immediate issue. I can't go into a home burning scented candles or a Christmas store full of cinnnamon fragrance. My 5 Day Test verified my allergy to cinnamon and to rubber. I had to give away my glorious lavender plants in my gardern because I got tired of holding my breath just walking by them, my reaction to their fragrance was that fast. Testing gave me the ability to avoid my allergens and learn where they are often hidden.
My second suggestion others have also mentioned. Diet. Give up processed sugar and limit natural sugar. Read The Yeast Connection Handbook by William Crooke, MD. The detox period is brutal, giving up carbs and sugars, after that the maintanence plan is doable. I learned I can eat gluten once or twice a day. It's the processed sugar which is yeasts favorite food. An overload of the yeast, which lives in our intestines, poisons us with their waste products by raising our histamine levels. Histamines raise inflamation. All is explained in the book, it's available on the internet. I've been off processed sugar now for at least 5 years, it's the best sacrifice I've ever made. It's not easy to give up sugar, it will take about 6 months of abstinance to begin to not crave it. Tell yourself when you want to grab for a sweet, "When will you learn, it's going to make you burn" then walk away. My desire to live pain free motivated me to make this sacrifice when my body was screaming at me for sugar.
Another testimonial from my sister who was in a brain fog for years, for example she'd find she walked blocks from her house and couldn't remember how that happened. For a 45 year old it wasn't dementia. Turns out she was allergic to MSG, which was more common in food years ago. She also did a detox diet and then maintance plan similar to the one I did and stuck to it for a year but now eats normally,though still off MSG and has had no issues for years. Personally I will never trust sugar again and know what chemical allergens to avoid for life.
You are desparate and will loose your mind if you don't figure out what is causing your health issues. I was at the point of suicide because I couldn't tolerate my internal pain any longer. I couldn't get more than a few hours sleep at night because of the burning and stinging inside my body. I'd get up every morning knowing the hell I would be facing again and again and again. I couldn't go on this way.
I became obsessed with the internet and spent hours every day on sites like this searching for answers. Be a warrior and fight for your health. I was. None of my recommendations will make your health worse, if you are as miserable as many of us have been you will give these suggestions a try. Please keep us posted on what you will try next.