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Catelynnw3

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Everything posted by Catelynnw3

  1. I apologize that right now I am unable to read all the above posts to see what was already said, but want to offer my own experience - hopefully in a nutshell. I've been around the block with doctors and diagnoses for years including POTS. We had a car accident years ago and besides whiplash, no visible injuries at the time. My symptoms gradually appeared and worsened following. At this point they include chronic throbbing headaches, pressure in my head, "head fog", palpitations with shortness of breath, neck and upper back pain, fatigue due to overstimulation of my autonomic nervous system, sometimes tinnitus and/or a rapid-fire sound/feeling in my ears, etc... I found a book in a doctor's office one time about chronic headaches which discussed a syndrome called Barre-Lieou that can occur after a whiplash injury. The symptoms sounded very familiar. I had an x-ray done at the time and then prolotherapy injections which helped only to a certain extent (this was to strengthen the ligaments which can become overstretched and cause instability). I went to a chiropractor who adjusted me and ordered MRIs of my cervical spine. After the adjustment, I could feel a release of the pressure in my head and then I went through several days of a release and then increase of the pressure in my head with a horrible, what I thought was a migraine, headache. My MRIs showed I had herniations, bone spur complexes, and spinal stenosis. My doctor referred me to a Neurologist who told me that the spinal fluid around my spinal cord was being blocked and was the cause of many of my symptoms. He referred me to a Neurosurgeon with whom I have discussed Artificial Disc Replacement. At this point, I am considering going to Germany to have it done due to their huge amount of experience with it compared to the U.S. Anyway, here is a link to check out regarding the relationship between the cervical spine and these symptoms. It particularly discusses the correlation for some people who have been diagnosed with NMH or POTS. http://www.nfra.net/fibromyalgia_rosner_6.htm This is directly from that link: "The relationship of the upper spinal cord and brainstem to cardiovascular symptoms is clear cut, and it is no surprise that gastrointestinal symptoms should also improve: More importantly than any given ?symptom? is the concept that the upper cervical spinal cord/medulla is capable of causing dysfunction in multiple vegetative systems which lead to a plethora of somatic complaints. All too often, physicians dismiss these complaints as psychosomatic/non-organic/non-anatomic and refer the patient for psychiatric evaluation?a dead end for most. The brainstem and upper cord are the one area of the nervous system where all of these functions coincide, including pain control." I pray this somehow helps! Cathy
  2. Well, in a nutshell, I have had debilitating symptoms for about 14 years now and have been diagnosed/misdiagnosed several times trying to figure out why I feel so lousy. At one point, I was diagnosed with P.O.T.S. and tried the medications but they didn't help. I also never totally felt that it was 100% accurate although I have a lot of the symptoms. Anyway, last year I heard about a syndrome that can occur as the result of the ligaments in the neck becoming overstretched often due to a whiplash injury which can then cause symptoms due to cervical spine instability. I remembered that I was in a serious car accident 14 years ago not too long before the onset of my symptoms, so I went for x-rays and mris of my cervical spine. The tests confirmed that I had bone spur complexes, stenosis, herniations, and cord indentation. The neurologist and neurosurgeon felt that my symptoms are the result of the blockage of cerebrospinal fluid due to these issues. Okay, so now to my topic. After telling my father-in-law what they said, he told me I should read a book by a Dr. Sarno that deals with the mind-body connection in a lot of "illnesses". One of the "illnesses" the author mentions is back and neck problems, and another is P.O.T.S. What he and some other doctors have to say is quite interesting and thought provoking although I admit that I was quite angry to hear that anyone would even suggest that my symptoms are psychosomatic. Anyway, I didn't buy the book, but rather read a lot of information on the internet about these theories. One website I came across was www.yourpainisreal.com. Anyway, the basic premise is that underlying subconscious issues that we aren't even aware of can trigger the body to respond with real pain (partially due to the brain restricting oxygen to certain areas of the body) and autonomic responses. (for a better definition and more information, please look into this on the internet) I figured, "What do I have to lose by at least exploring this?" After reading about it, I am skeptical. I wonder if anyone else has any input on this subject. My thoughts on it are that real physical issues in the body (whether they are seen on x-rays or mris or seen by our eyes or something unseen in the body isn't functioning or flowing exactly right) can trigger an autonomic response by the body in reaction. The reason I feel the way I do is because although I do admit that some of my symptoms are definitely autonomic in nature, such as palpitations and shortness of breath, I have tried to analyze this for so long to figure out which came first. I have experienced times when I am lying in bed sound asleep and in a half-asleep state of mind turn my head or roll over and all of a sudden I feel increased pressure in my head and discomfort in my neck (two of my symptoms). I feel this is the result of the neck issues. Anyway, within about a minute or two THEN my heart starts pounding and I feel the autonomic response. I don't think I can believe that in this state of total relaxation being half-asleep that subconscious issues are what is triggering the autonomic reaction. I somehow feel that the body overreacts to the problem or discomfort or disruption in csf flow - something along those lines. Well, sorry this is so long, I tried to get to the point, but I guess I am wondering if anyone else has any input on this subject.
  3. I was just trying to encourage Lindajoy to keep searching for answers even though her doctor seemed to have none for her. I was concerned that she hasn't been able to eat. My post wasn't directed at yours Nina, and I do realize that everyone here already knows they have to be their own advocate. (I wasn't trying to be a know-it-all, just trying to encourage) I admit I felt kind of hurt when I came here today. Sorry if I offended anyone. I came here looking for support and trying to offer support. I'll keep my two cents to myself from now on.
  4. Hi, just wanted to offer a possibility. Scabies are microscopic and can cause horrible itching, mostly at night. You don't see them, so don't know they are there except for the maddening itch. Several years ago I went months without knowing what was wrong, and finally went to a dermatologist or an allergist (forgot which) who quickly scraped our skin and looked at it under a microscope to diagnose it. Just a thought. (I am a very clean person, but anyone can get it by coming in contact with someone who has it)
  5. I got pregnant at 19, not intentionally, and had my daughter two days after I turned 20. Prior to that, I don't think I had POTS. I think back though and always remember being more tired and having less endurance than other kids/teens. After I had her, I struggled with a fast heartrate and other symptoms that went undiagnosed. I now debate whether I had postpartum thyroid issues or POTS that was never checked out. Anyway, I met my husband when my daughter was 1 1/2 years old and we married when she was almost 4. We decided we would try for another child immediately and had a son about 9+ months later. After I had him, I felt okay for a awhile, but then began to feel similar symptoms as after I had my daughter. The endocrinologist said I had subclinical hyperthyroidism. We decided to try for a third child about 2 years later, but I had three miscarriages. (the first was a partial molar pregnancy, the second and third were the result of genetic errors) Finally, about 4 years later I gave birth to our second son. After I had him I became hyperthyroid, but couldn't wean him so I could go on medication. Finally at 13 months, I was able to wean him but my thyroid went temporarily to normal then hypothyroid. I went on medication at that point, but from then on continued to suffer with the symptoms I have to this day. I was recently diagnosed with POTS, 8 years later, and have found motherhood to be a big challenge at times, but I definitely have no regrets. My children see and know my struggles and sometimes get angry about them, but are compassionate, caring individuals. My daughter is almost 17 now and my boys are 12 and 8. I agree that having children forces me to get up and function every day, which is a good thing. They are very forgiving though and know when I need a break. They keep themselves entertained and I think that having siblings definitely helps in that area. I also push myself past my limits to be the best mom I can be for them. I guess kids can help us do that. I don't work now, and I don't feel that I could; but I have been so thankful to be able to be home and be a mom to them. I do remember some really difficult times though when they were younger and I had to literally struggle to get through each day. God sustained me through those times though, and I wouldn't change it for the world. My prayers go out to others who struggle with the decision of whether or not to have children, and those who have young children and are finding it difficult to take care of them.
  6. Just my opinion, I think it is wise to look out for yourself. I relied solely on what my doctors said for 8+ years and suffered needlessly as a result. You are the most important factor in your own well-being, unless of course you are looking for things to be wrong. If you don't feel well and need answers, it is definitely up to you to keep searching for them. "He wants to find out why my IgE is so high, why my eosinophils go very high then normal, and why I have the digestive problems that I do, which make me unable to eat." These things definitely need to be addressed. I pray you get to the bottom of whatever is causing your problems. Sorry I don't know anything about the litmus strips.
  7. Hi, I'm not sure if any of this will help you, but I have questioned if there is any connection between my thyroid problems and the POTS for a long time. After my youngest son was born, he's now 8, I became hyperthyroid but couldn't take any medication because he was breastfeeding. I didn't want to wean him, but had to try so I could function - I felt awful! It took me 13 months to wean him - he only wanted mom. Anyway, when I finally weaned him, my thyroid levels were rechecked and they had gone to normal. Shortly thereafter I became hypothyroid. The endocrinologist called it postpartum thyroiditis. When I became hypothyroid I was put on thyroid hormone, but kept telling my doctor that I still felt like I was hyperthyroid, not hypo. My heart would race and pound most of the time, I was short of breath, etc... Ever since then, I have had these awful symptoms. I personally think that my thyroid problem somehow caused the POTS, or that in my case, there is some kind of a relationship between the two. I can't be sure, but I have repeatedly had an enlarged thyroid gland since then. I was told I have a nodule, but that isn't uncommon. My bloodwork suggests that my levels are normal on medication. I have had a radioactive iodine scan and ultrasounds done with no indication that my thyroid is causing any of my problems, but I haven't been to an endocrinologist in a long time, so I made an appointment to see a new one to see if there could be any link at all. I want the nodule biopsied regardless of what the blood tests show. I guess I just want to cover all of my bases. I don't know if this helps at all, but I just wanted to throw my two cents in.
  8. Below is something I found on the internet while doing a search, hopefully it can help somebody. This sounds similar to something I have read here, so hopefully it isn't a repeat: Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome: Purple Feet and a Pounding Heart ImmuneSupport.com 06-19-2002 By Alice Teisan It was a warm April afternoon in 1996 and I was working as a nurse at the local hospital. While standing still, talking with one of my patients, I began feeling faint and quickly excused myself. Another nurse on the hospital unit instructed me to sit down as she performed a glucose test, blood pressure and electrocardiogram (EKG). However, I knew from my body?s horrendous response that I was experiencing a relapse with Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS). Based on the recommendation from a journal article that correlated CFIDS with fainting, I quickly scheduled a tilt table test, with the approval of my internist, Dr.Vesna Skul, MD. The test, performed by a cardiologist, involves being strapped to an X-ray table. The straps keep the patient from shifting weight, thus altering the test results. Then an EKG is hooked up to monitor the patient's heart rate throughout the test. Next an IV is started as a precaution in case emergency medications are needed. The test begins while the patient is in a supine position (lying on the back), so the doctor can establish a baseline heart rate and blood pressure. Afterwards, the doctor moves the X-ray table to a standing position. Throughout the test the blood pressure along with the heart rate are monitored at regular intervals. Also, physical changes and my subjective symptoms are documented. Within two minutes of the test, when I was placed in a standing position, my heart rate went from 94 to 168. Other symptoms included a beet-red face and neck, the feeling of my heart pounding, a throbbing head, uncontrollable sweating, nausea, exacerbated fatigue, severe trembling, and feet that were turning purple. I felt even worse with the passing of the next 21 minutes while left in the standing position. Within five minutes of being returned to the lying position my heart rate dropped under 100. The symptoms caused by the test remained for days. My body?s unique response to the test mystified the cardiologist as my heart rate rose while my blood pressure remained normal - when it should have dropped. He recommended treating the high heart rate with Inderal, a beta-blocker medication that slows the heart rate. Within a month, I knew this straightforward treatment for common heart problems was the wrong treatment for my disorder. I could not get out of bed without feeling faint. A nursing colleague discussed my medical history with an endocrinologist. She explained that I had struggled with CFIDS since 1992, had seen over 25 specialists and tried several treatments in an attempt to find answers to my problem. Also she gave him the recent Tilt table test results. The endocrinologist was doing a research study on a condition called Neurally Mediated Orthostatic Tachycardia (NMOT). This is a rare autonomic nervous system problem where orthostatic refers to a change in position (in my case, standing) and tachycardia is a heart rate over 100. Therefore, when receiving the endocrinologist?s initial call in July I listened eagerly. He began by saying, ?Your feet turn purple, your heart pounds, and you always fidget when standing.? During this first contact, by phone, I was to learn how well he knew my symptoms that were revealed by the Tilt table test in May. After seeing me, gratis, he began a one-year medication therapy, including up to 11 pills a day for nine months. The treatment helped regulate my heart rate; however, Dr. Skul was concerned about the difficulty my body experienced from the side affects of the medications. During this 18-month relapse I went through a period of deep depression. I had lost the ability to work, live alone, or stand without feeling faint, which profoundly affected all areas of my life. The depression therapy was part of the above treatment. Once my heart rate was under control and my health was improving I began doing menial tasks. As my stamina increased, I was able to work in a part-time clerical position for a dental office. However, I continued to get many of the same limiting CFIDS and NMOT symptoms within three hours of starting work. Along with the NMOT symptoms earlier mentioned, my CFIDS symptoms included low-grade temperatures, arthritic type pain, severe headaches, blurred vision, inability to concentrate, slowed reaction time, and increased environmental sensitivities to noises, air quality, temperature, and odors. In October 1999 when I was still experiencing CFIDS symptoms, a friend recommended I see Dr. Marshall Dickholtz, Sr. He is a National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA) specialist. In Chiropractics, NUCCA is a specific form of chiropractic adjusting, focusing on an atlas vertebra relationship to the head and the rest of the cervical spine at the brain stem level. Having just completed a year of unsuccessful yet intensive Chiropractic treatment, I listened apprehensively, and prayed that my hopes wouldn?t be dashed again by yet another ineffective, all-consuming treatment option. After researching the treatment and discussing the findings with my internist, she then prescribed the treatment. I realized it met all my criteria - including being affordable, non-invasive, having a high success rate, and being respected within the western medical framework. Prior to the appointment with Dr. Dickholtz, Sr., I completed an extensive health history profile. One of the first questions on the health history was, had I ever had a head injury? I thought, "Who hasn?t hit their head?" Then I remembered four memorable head injuries throughout my life. The most serious one took place a year prior to CFIDS and the most recent one occurred six months before seeing Dr. Dickholtz, Sr. My initial appointment with Dr. Dickholtz, Sr. was extensive. After looking at the completed health history, he did six different kinds of tests to determine the problem. He asked me to sit in a chair, while he used a neurocalometer that measured the temperature difference of each side of my cervical spine (from the shoulders to the base of the skull). He also performed a supine leg check, which measured leg length differences in relationship to muscle spasms that occurs on each side of my body. Another test involved standing on an anatometer, which looked at a posture scan in relationship to my hip level and pelvic rotation position. There was a horizontal line chart that showed the level of the ears in the standing position relative to the talking of three X-rays, when seated, of the cervical spine and skull that were taken lastly. After all the tests were performed, Dr. Dickholtz, Sr. examined and measured the X-rays and determined the proper adjustment needed to return my spine and head to a balanced position. Through the X-ray measurements, he was able to return the C1 (atlas) and the rest of the vertebrae to within a quarter degree of their proper positions. Once the specific chiropractic adjustment was performed, it took my body time to acclimate before standing without feeling faint. When able, I walked the length of the exam room a couple times allowing my body to rebalance itself from the adjustment (correction). Before the four-hour appointment was completed, all six of the above tests were performed again and post X-rays taken to make sure that the adjustment was correct. Dr. Dickholtz, Sr. describes the adjustment as equivalent to major surgery done on the body. Recovery time of a month is necessary before experiencing benefits. In my case my heart palpitations, tachycardia and irregular beats subsided immediately. Follow-up visits include periodic checks to make sure the adjustment is holding. Within a month of being adjusted I began to feel my neck, shoulder and back muscles loosen. Many aching, arthritic type pains, severe CFIDS-type headaches and the beet-red color in my face and neck subsided. The ideal is to have the first adjustment be the only one needed, which many of his patients have experienced. My adjustment?s average holding time is three to four months. The initial adjustment held four months before I hit my head, knocking my alignment out of place. Not totally believing the chiropractic treatment was helping I waited until my next scheduled appointment, two months later. At the time I didn?t realize that my NMOT symptoms along with exacerbated CFIDS symptoms begin almost immediately after my alignment was no longer holding. Also during the two months that my adjustment was out from December 2000 to February 2001, after having worked three and a half years part time, I began to experience exacerbated CFIDS symptoms. The increased fatigue, inability to concentrate, increased tremors, and a heart rate over 140 when standing, along with fevers and the inability to perform simple daily tasks, resulted in my third total disability. However, within a week of having my neck readjusted, my heart rate dropped under 100 when standing. When my adjustment is holding, I experience great relief even though I am still disabled. Dealing with CFIDS requires patience, persistence, stamina and a hope in Heaven to complete the journey well. How glad I am that I found a NUCCA Doctor, even though it has not provided the ultimate cure. It has provided restoration of new life to my body and a lessening of many CFIDS related symptoms, along with a continued hope for further healing. When my chiropractic adjustment is holding, the day-to-day pain and difficulties with CFIDS are much more manageable and less painful, allowing me to have a focus on something more enjoyable than my severe suffering. For more information, contact the author, Alice Teisan, at alicemt2@juno.com. Dr. Marshall Dickholtz, Sr., can be contacted at dmarshallsr@worldnet.att.net.
  9. Hi, Thank you for the info. I have limited access to the computer since we've moved and ours isn't set up yet. I appreciate everyone here! Cathy
  10. I have read a lot of info. by Dr. John Lee regarding estrogen and HRT. You can find more about this by doing an internet search using his name or possibly Arbonne progesterone cream. (I am in no way affiliated with this company, it is just one I know of) Anyway, there has been a lot of research showing that often times there becomes estrogen dominance in the body and the progesterone is what needs to be balanced. I know the common thinking is that estrogen is what is lacking, but the problem is more in needing to balance the progesterone. It is better explained by Dr. Lee, so if you get the chance it is worth looking into. Also, he talks about synthetic estrogen replacement not being the best option. Good luck and God bless, Cathy
  11. Hi, I am sure that this info. is on here somewhere, but I don't feel like trying to find it right now - sorry. Anyway, where is Dr. Grubb located? Also, does anyone know anything about how insurance like Univera works with out-of-state doctors? I have a plan that allows me to go to specialists without a referral, but I don't know about out-of-state. I guess I could call Univera. Also, if I make an appointment with Dr. Grubb I would appreciate any advice on where to stay, are there any close airports, etc... I have decided that I NEED to get all the answers now because I have had it with scheduling appointment after appointment and test after test with NO answers. (I am sure many people feel that way as well, but I know that God has been showing me that I am worth the extra effort and I need to stop focusing on everyone else only - and do something I need to do for myself and my family - just a little side note) I appreciate any info. anyone can share. Thank you for being here. Cathy
  12. THANK YOU so much. I cannot express how much your kindness means to me right now, and just knowing I am not alone. I appreciate you all!!!! I continue to pray for answers. Cathy
  13. I FINALLY convinced my doctor to order a TTT, and it was scheduled for September 2. In the meantime, I had decided to go off Effexor XR and back to Celexa. I finished my last weaning dose on August 31. On top of that, we began moving out of our house because we closed on the 30th and continued moving through until the 1st. What a huge mistake!!!! I went for the TTT and after being administered the medication, my body went nuts. I was not prepared for this, and burst into tears while all my muscles basically started to twitch, etc... My heartrate was around 180 and they decided to stop the test because I guess I had reacted very strongly to the IV medication. WHAT WAS I THINKING?! That night was one of the worst I probably have ever had. I am still not right since that happened, and am struggling. It is scary to think of how awful I felt off the Effexor also. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if I didn't have access to the medicine. I literally thought I was going crazy, as if I had no calming hormones of my own. I don't know if this is normal or not, but I guess I would feel better if someone else experiences this also. (Weaning on and off these meds. is scary since I know how I feel off them) Of course, this whole move is difficult enough - I will never do so many major things at once again. I pray for better days ahead. Glad to know there are people here who understand. My family just can't understand how much I have gone through in the past several days. God bless you all, Cathy
  14. Hi, Just thought I'd put my two cents in before I head to bed. My husband tells me I do this also, actually it happens as I am falling asleep sometimes too. I kinda feel like there is too much energy and it has to be released. Very strange feeling. I sleep like a rock sometimes and wake up feeling like I spent the whole night doing whatever I dreamt about. It's frustrating to think that I already did all my errands only to wake up and find out I am exhausted and haven't done anything yet. Oh well, good night and God bless you. Cathy
  15. Just wanted to ad that there is a website called wrongdiagnosis.com that has a lot of information. You can look up symptoms, then rashes, etc... I like this one because it lists a lot of misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed conditions. Cathy
  16. 1. Name: Cathy 2. Age: 33 3. Diagnosis: No "official" diagnosis - although, I will finally get a TTT on Sept. 2. I pray that I will be properly diagnosed. Partially because I want my family/friends to be able to understand why I feel the way I do, and partially because I believe the next step is to find the cause and work toward the solution. 4. Age when diagnosed: I have struggled with this for too many years. I don't know exactly when my symptoms were thyroid related, and when they were POTS related. After my daughter was born, she's now 13, I lost a lot of weight and was very jittery, fast heartrate, etc..., but never was tested for anything. Then, several months after my first son was born, he's now 9, I experienced many similar symptoms and was diagnosed with postpartum thyroiditis. After he was born, I had three miscarriages, one of which was a partial molar pregnancy with high HCG levels, after that I had extreme symptoms as well. Then, I became pregnant with my youngest son, he's 5, and after he was born I became hyperthyroid. I breastfed him, and he would NOT take a cup or a bottle until he was 13 months old, so my endocrinologist wouldn't give me any medication for it. That time period was probably one of the most difficult in my life. As soon as I was able to wean him, I was retested and my thyroid was normal. I was shocked because I still felt like my heart was racing and I was anxious non-stop and I could barely function! My thyroid eventually went to hypo, but I still felt hyper. (GO FIGURE) Anyway, I have been taking medication for an underactive thyroid for almost four years, and I decided to try SSRIs about three years ago because I was told I had an anxiety disorder. Through much research, I have since decided that it is not just some anxiety disorder. Anyway, I recently discontinued the thyroid medication because of the hyper effects it added. I need to be tested again. (SORRY THIS IS SO LONG - sometimes I guess we just need to vent) 5. Live: Lancaster(Alden), NY (a suburb of Buffalo,NY) 6. Symptoms at worst: Can't think straight, heart racing and pounding, right side of neck throbs and head, sometimes all day long, definitely no stairs, must sleep all day - especially after a day I overdo it, weakness, nausea, difficulty even talking, shortness of breath, low BP, jerking in sleep or near sleep, like I'm going to "jump out of my skin", feel "wired", exhausted, etc... 7. Symptoms at best: Some days I feel like I can take on the world. Feel kinda "normal" but a lot of energy - generally follows by a major down time, oh well. I take those days when they come because it means I can do things with my kids until it hits me. So, I sleep the next day. 8. Meds. that didn't work: I tried Zoloft and Paxil but I didn't like the way they made me feel. I also tried Xanax, but I felt even more tired. I am currently weaning off Effexor XR to go back to Celexa. 9. Meds. that do help: Celexa seems best for me. Temporarily I'm off Levothroid as stated before. I did try Beta blockers for thyroid when it was overactive at some point.(Sorry, sometimes it all seems like a big blur) It seemed to help at times, although my heart rate isn't always fast. Made me more tired sometimes. 10. Just a final note, I will not give up believing that there are answers to be found and that with perseverence, we will find them. This group has INCREDIBLE presistence and determination which will lead to a cure! I thank God to have found everyone here.
  17. Hi Corina, I definitely think the SSRIs would be something to try. They help in so many ways, including your mood. Just keep in mind, that initially you have to increase the dose until you reach an optimal level, and sometimes you may feel worse before you feel better. Don't give up though, it is worth it. Also, you may have to try more than one to find which works best for you. (Least or no side effects, etc...) Everyone reacts differently. I know right now this probably seems overwhelming. Just try to take it one day at a time though. Maybe if people can let you know what SSRI works best for them, we can see if there is one that seems to work for most people. I really liked Celexa. Please let me know how you are doing. Also, right now, you NEED to focus on getting better, not worrying about what you can't do for others. You may not be able to physically help others, but your heart is in the right place and I hope they see that. One more thing, please don't ever feel like you are bothering anyone here with your problems. We need to reach out to others when we are in need, not suffer in silence. God bless you, Cathy
  18. I was deeply touched by your outlook on life. I have finally decided to give myself a break. I cannot do certain things right now, but I do believe I will be able to again. I will not give up on that, but like you, I feel that I have learned a lot during this time in my life. I too am more understanding and compassionate, more appreciative, and definitely less self-centered. Like many others here, I force myself to do good unto others regardless of how I "feel". I thank God to have found this forum, and I will continue to pray for answers. God bless, Cathy
  19. Hi Corina, I am truly sorry to hear that you are not doing very well. I don't blame you one bit for feeling the way you do! You have every right. I have read your posts before, and I can tell that you are a very genuine, sweet, caring person. Your previous posts were so uplifting, and I am sorry that you are so down right now. I think we all go through times where we feel like we just can't take it anymore. It is extremely difficult when there are no definite answers or cures, and not many people who understand this. I believe in my heart, and pray to God everyday, that someday we will not have to post here anymore about what medications to try because they "sort of" help, but that we will be able to say, "there is a cure, and here it is." I pray that in the mean time, you will not give up hope. It must be very frustrating not having a network of doctors in your country who understand this disorder. I have not yet found one near me to go to, and that frustrates me a lot. I feel at times like doctors don't take me serious because they don't understand my problems. I will keep you in my prayers, and I hope you don't give up hope. I pray you have a better day tomorrow. God bless you, Cathy
  20. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I developed a strange rash which itched worse at night. After she was born, she too broke out with it. Since she couldn't scratch herself, she would kick her feet against her legs and that would cause the rash to turn into scabs. Her pediatrician asked me how I didn't know that she had chicken pox. Then, we took her to a hospital emergency room one night because she was beside herself, and they said it was flea bites! We "bombed" the entire house the next day with a flea "bomb", but she and I continued to have this rash. Finally, we went to an allergist (at this point, I was too embarrassed to say it itched worse at night), and he immediately knew what it was. I was so relieved because all he had to do was a tiny skin scrape, and then he looked at it under the microscope. We had scabies. They are microscopic and burrow under the skin. I know this sounds disgusting, it is not something that "dirty" people get, it is simply something that anyone can catch by coming in contact with someone who has it. We had to wash everything in the house, i.e. stuffed animals, clothing, bedding, etc..., and everyone had to put a special lotion on for a few days in a row. It went away immediately. THANK GOD! I can't tell you how many months it went on before we knew what it was. I don't know if this could be what you have, but regardless, the moral of the story is - don't give up on finding an answer! There is one out there, and like many of us know, it will take perseverence to find it. I pray that you find out quickly since this is obviously one more thing on your plate, so to speak. God bless, Cathy
  21. I have previously tried several SSRIs and did really well with Celexa until I hit a point that it seemed to not be working as well. (Could have been my thyroid issues though) Then I decided to try Effexor XR (SSNRI) since my dad swears by it. I feel worse, but have been afraid to wean off and restart the Celexa because I know how awful I feel without anything. Anyway, one reason I strongly believe it bothers me is because a side effect is dry mouth. I wake up extremely parched with my heart pounding. I am constantly drinking liquids, but still always feel dry. Other side effects include, dizziness, weakness, nausea, increased sweating and nervousness. This is not to say that these happen to everyone, but I have experienced night sweats (again, loss of fluids), chronic nausea and nervousness. (I also recently found something on the internet that talked about the effects of norepinephrine on tachycardia. I believe it was one of the topics discussed at a forum presented in our area, in which Dr. Grubb participated. I will have to re-look it up since I am not positive about this) I hope you find something that works well for you, soon! Let me know if you are still taking it, and if so, how are you feeling. Cathy
  22. Hi, This is my first time posting, although I found this site recently while doing endless searches of my symptoms. I don't know if I can mentally or emotionally explain my history right now, since I had a long-awaited appointment with another cardiologist today and left feeling like that was my last hope. I am basically at that point where I feel like I am too exhausted and frustrated to do this anymore.(Of course, I have been here before, but always seem to bounce back to go one more round) I knew as soon as I got there that it was not going to go well. The more I answered questions, and then took my blood pressure, etc..., the more the nurse and practitioner looked at me with that all-too-familiar look. Then, the doctor came in and looked at the nurse's notes and began by asking me how many children I have. His next questions revolved around whether or not I work, am I a perfectionist, what does a "normal" day consist of, etc... I totally lost it and cried! I vowed I wouldn't do this in front of another doctor (especially a man). I sobbed while I told him that I was so tired of being scrutinized by doctors and being told that my symptoms are basically stress or CFS or whatever. He told me that there is a mind/body connection and sometimes people just don't even realize what might be underlying and he strongly recommends a psychologist. Of course, I cried all the more, not because I am unstable, but because I couldn't take hearing that crap again and was so frustrated. Of course, my bawling probably made him think that he was all the more right. I basically refused the tests he said he was going to do (I had them all before anyway) because he said he was only doing them to be complete. Anyway, the main reason I am here right now is because I am convinced that after all these years of struggling to function, that I am hopefully in the right place. I need to find a doctor near me that can let me know for sure though. I looked at your links, but didn't see any for upstate New York. Does anyone know of any near the Buffalo area? I can't put myself through another doctor making me feel crazy again, the next one I go to has to be the right one. Please help if you can. Thank you. Cathy
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