[Fresia]

I am tired, really fatigued with some other symptoms but it is the pain is what is keeping me awake at night and distracting me at work. These are new symptoms. I have other health issues that they follow me for but this was new and different. I could not get into my PCP, someone in the practice rechecked me for some basic labs to try to explain it. These labs were normal and so that was that.

I called and they told me,"There is nothing else to do. You are normal; it must depression causing the fatigue " I am NOT normal, just because I have BP does not explain everything; I can still get sick. Did they ever ask me if perhaps I might be sad or depressed, no, because it only occurred to them as an excuse later because if they actually thought that, why would they not offer help and why would you not responsibly follow-up on that? That's not what they thought, I was being dismissed.

What about the other symptoms besides the fatigue? What I am now, besides scared, is angry. Something is not right, the pain is affecting my sleep, my work, and my life and in addition to annoying, the pain and the fatigue are distracting too. I am tired of my mental health being used as an excuse and even after all these years you would think I would be used to it but it still digs. Perhaps since it is all mental, I should just wish it away.

[Moreta]

I had to figure out my own problem that I was having for 8 months. Was having a lot of pain, fatigue, allergies. It was from taking Vitamin D. My body is still healing but I'm feeling a whole lot better. Keep on your drs. Hopefully you'll find out what's wrong.

[Travelinglady]

I've had my physical symptoms blamed on mental illness, too. True that depression can cause pain and tiredness but other things can, too. Can you go to a different doctor?

[Shazerac]

It makes me so mad that our pain and other symptoms are ignored because of mental illness and it happens all to often !

I agree with getting another doctor if you can. You can interview a doctor and tell them up front "I have depression and I want to know if you will listen to me when I have pain and not automatically dismiss it as "only depression" the look on their face will tell you what they think.

[CepheidVariable]

I knew someone who had chronic pain of unknown origin for years. It can be maddeningly difficult to track down. And it was so frustrating when all the health providers had no idea what to do about it -- and some didn't seem particularly interested in trying. She didn't have a mental health issue either. They just gave up when their shortlist bag of tricks was exhausted.

All I can say is keep hunting around for a solution. You just have to find one specialist or practitioner who recognizes it or can figure it out. There are specialists who investigate and help with pain issues, if you haven't already been down that route.

I'm sorry, I know how pain can really wear you down when it just doesn't relent.

[Fresia]

I am trying to get up the courage to start with a new doctor. I have started asking around meanwhile. I didn't realize how tired I am of dealing with the emotional side of this when it comes up. However, I need to find a doc that doesn't jump to conclusions based on my diagnoses already and ignores current symptoms. I will start looking.

Ironically enough I had a dentist appt today, he found blisters in the back of my throat. He said it looks like strept, told me I needed to call my doc.... the doc I told that my throat hurt and was running a fever, that never looked at it, but it is just depression.

Thanks for listening. It means a lot.

[*Laurie*]

Wow, thanks to your dentist! If you have strep that could be causing all kinds of pain, fatigue, and other problems.

I am appalled at how dismissive most doctors are.

[Fresia]

So I could not wait to go to a new doctor, my fever in the last 48 hours has gone up to over 103. The chills have been racking the last couple of days. I practially passed out at work today I was so tired. I went into to urgent care this afternoon. I tested positive for strept. He said my glands were swollen and it has moved into my sinus' for an infection there too, that's where the vertigo is coming from, my ears are full of fluid. He was nice enough to order an updated CRP which was super high, so it indicates I have more inflammation than just infection. I probably have an arthritis flare too, which explains the other pains. He called my rheumatalogist. I have an appointment tomorrow. It turns out too my labs were not normal the other week, my white blood cell count was high, showing infection. This doc was confused. I told him what happened.

I told him about my visit to the other doctor that have been struggling with this for some time, no physicial exam done, just the CBC done, told I was normal (which wasn't true), but a bout of depression caused this. His response is something that I cannot repeat here.He said he would look into it. Meanwhile I got an antibiotic and other meds filled tonight to get started ASAP.

[Fresia]

Thank you for your support. It means more than I can say.

[Fresia]

So my other tests came back that the urgent care doctor ordered. I am a mess. I have tick borne relapsing fever. This explains the other symptoms. The doc called personally to let me know, which was really nice, says because my immune system was compromised due to it, that is probably why I was susceptible to getting strept too and whatever else came along. Normally this drops the WBC count but because my platelets were so very low, other things should have been considered. No He is adding another antibiotic specific for tick borne bugs.

He is going to report this. He suggests I write a letter too. Meanwhile I would just like to feel better soon no matter what comes of it. Depression my tuckus!

[CepheidVariable]

I'm glad to hear you got some resolution to this, and hopefully some effective treatment.