Wow, thank you for all of your suggestions. I wasn’t expecting anyone to respond to be honest. To answer some of your questions, I did have 2 root canals I think within about a year of the onset. I do recall around that time I also had an abscessed tooth that I had to get surgically removed. Oh & I’ve got a metal filling that I’ve had for maybe 20 years or so. I do remember watching that documentary called “Root Cause” or something like that & I was shocked to say the least. Definitely something I need to read up on.

I was tested for Lyme which came back negative but I can’t remember the last time I was outside where I could have gotten bit, so I didn’t think it’d be that anyways.

Since I work from home now, I’m here 24/7 & to be honest I have no idea if there’s mold. I’m not quite sure how I’d go about checking in to that but it’s not a bad idea. I live in an apartment complex that was built maybe…10 years ago? Idk.

I’ve seen a rheumatologist & the guy was probably one of the most unprofessional doctors I’ve come across. I had been referred there by my PCP (by my request) & there’s no intake paperwork, I get in there & he has no file or anything on me, & he asks why I’m there & if I’ve had any bloodwork done….he couldn’t even bother to look at the referral with my paperwork & labs…I tried explaining it all to him & he literally doesn’t touch me or anything, just immediately asks “have you heard of Fibromyalgia?”….. I was so mad because he didn’t even attempt to dig a little deeper or order additional tests, he just said my labs sound fine & there’s nothing he can do for me. The labs I had done were just your basic complete panel that you get done yearly. So the rheumatologist was a bust & I won’t be going back to that dude again.

Since day one I’ve really felt it has to do with either my thyroid or some sort of autoimmune disease. My father has hypothyroidism. But when the labs are normal, a lot of doctors don’t want to order more specific tests for thyroid like TPO or whatever else there might be. Like….why not just do it to humor me? It’s not going to hurt them in any way.

I truly don’t feel like what I have is anything super rare, I think we just don’t have competent doctors here & I hate to say that but I’ve had repeated bad experiences. I get it, they probably see a LOT of patients who are actually hypochondriacs. I know that has to be incredibly annoying. But being dismissive to each person who presents with a condition that isn’t your run of the mill common ailment, can be detrimental to one patient like myself with a legit health concern.

It’s just frustrating & it can be daunting trying to find help when you’re so limited on funds & living in a state with no resources. I’d LOVE to go to Mayo or Vanderbilt or UDN but it’s just not feasible. To add to my pity party, it doesn’t help that I live alone, I’m single with no kids, no family that I speak to, & no close friends anymore.

I just wish I had access to more caring doctors. It breaks my heart that the people we go to when we are at our worst, who we depend on to have our best interest at heart & to hopefully help us get better, have been the people with the least amount of compassion. I know there are still good caring doctors & nurses out there, they’re just more of a rarity now.

That’s the end of my little rant. Thank you again so much for all of your help. You’ve given me more avenues to explore which is great. 🖤