Kathleen,

I am sorry you experiencing difficulty. Happy 20th Anniversary!
Being together for 20 years and parenting an autistic child shows
you have the ability to face anything together.

If you are crazy, I am your twin. I have been dealing with similar
symptoms for eleven years. Going with your gut feeling led to
finding two rib fractures. You know your body best. So don't doubt
yourself. Obtain more consults if necessary, but do not allow
others to determine your faith. Your autistic son qualifies you for
in home services. How about accepting their help instead of feeling
guilty over what you are unable to do for your child.

You mentioned you were active, stress, etc. Have you been tested for
a thyroid condition? Thyroid conditions can cause symtpoms you
mentioned. I have Hashimoto Thyroditis and went from being well,
active, productive and in good health, etc. to ill, extremely
fatigued with paralysis, gastro, sinus, ear, throat infections and
rashes.

What medications do you take? Some medications cause adverse
reactions.

If your symptoms are due to a secondary condition tests will be
negative. My sister has Hashimoto too. Her Sjogren's blood test
was negative, but a lip biopsy proved positive for Sjogren. Having
a primary condition like Hashimoto makes determining a secondary
condition very difficult.

Medicine is not an exact science. It is a matter of elimination.
Tests are meant to eliminate what is not the problem so the doctor
can determine the cause.

Good luck in your quest for a diagnoses.



> Hi, my name is Kathleen. I am 41. I have been ill for 7 months now
> with no relief. I got bronchitis in May. And broke 2 ribs
coughing. I
> was told they didn't break. I kept telling them they did because
they
> hurt something awful & I could tell but x-rays said they were ok.
I
> went to ER & they gave me shots which didn't even touch the pain
(I
> am a lightweight with meds which told me for sure they were
broken) &
> they said no torn muscles maybe no broken bones. Go to your Family
> Practice doctor if no better by next week, which I did & she was
> booked so another doc there just gave me meds & made me a follow
up
> in 2 weeks. By then I felt like I was dying. My doctor is great
she
> redid x-rays & gave me better meds & sent me for ct scan (which
> showed what x-rays didn't that yes there was not one but 2
fractures!
> They were under the breast so difficult for x-rays to see). I
still
> haven't healed from them. She got me a bone scan, which turned out
> normal. An MRI, sent me to a GI doctor, an endocronogist, and I go
to
> a rheumotologist this week. And she has done every imaginable test
> she can on my blood that she is able to from her office. I also
get
> an intermittent rash at night that is awful & keeps me awake &
> terrible stomach pain. And I am so tired I have had to give up my
> business that had just begun to get off the ground. And my joints
> hurt badly after doing hardly anything. Everything comes back
normal
> & it is frustrating because something is wrong. My husband is
> irritated with me because I don't even have the strength to make
him
> dinner most nights & since I have no diagnosis I don't think he
> believes there is anything really wrong with me. I was so
exhausted
> after making Christmas dinner I was so tired I ended up with a
cold
> that I think has turned into another bout of bronchitis on me.
This
> is crazy! I used to ride horses & be really pretty healthy. I was
> always an anxious person. I had tons of stress even as a kid (even
> more as an adult), but I wasn't unhealthy otherwise. I got sick,
but
> I would get over it. I had horses fall on me & break ribs, but
they
> would heal. I would move all the furniture in the house all by
> myself. I am not used to depending on anyone for much of anything.
> ANd I HATE this! I don't know what to do right now. I feel better
> when I rest & my doctor insists that I do & even made me get a
> temporary handicap pass for my car while we figure this out but
this
> is taking forever to figure out & I have an autistic son with an
> immune disorder who is having to take care of ME right now & who
> needs me to take care of him instead. I want to know what I should
do
> to try to get some answers! Does anyone have any advice?? Sorry! I
> feel like I am losing my husband & my mind here. He was so
supportive
> for a few weeks, but now he is just sick of it just like I am. 20
> years together this week & this is what it took to mess us up.
> Because it seems like I am making it all up after so many normal
> tests. I know I am not. But I can see how it must look to him. And
I
> love him so much. I don't want him to think this of me. I am even
> beginning to think I am crazy myself sometimes. Now I am rambling.
> See why I need advice???!
>