Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Support Group
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) describes a sense of exhaustion and post-exertion malaise, even when you have gotten enough rest and sleep. The disease is characterized by six months of incapacitating fatigue experienced as profound exhaustion and extremely poor stamina, and problems with concentration and short-term memory. The cause is unknown, but it is a...
I am feeling pretty lost right now. I started having swallowing issues, plus ball in throat feeling in Feb and it got worse two weeks ago, a lot worse to the point that I am only getting down one smoothie per day.
Anyway have lost just over 15kgs so far and counting. Had gastroscopy, barium swallow, ultrascan, anti-anxiety pills (to prove to the Dr that it wasnt anxiety) and anti-reflux pills. Funny as 5 days after starting Xanax, was when it got really bad, now I HAVE anxiety because it sorta feels like my throat is getting squeezed constantly.
Anyway to get to my point, I have now been referred to an ENT specialist and a neurologist. My Dr said that if nothing comes up then it must be psychological. Really? And exactly how can they prove that? Does it not show that since I have been on Zanax and its gotten worse that that would suggest it is not caused by anxiety? And what would happen then? Is that diagnoses going to help me to eat?
Now I have actually started to think it could be anxiety? That is what makes me mad, so many times Drs have suggested that something is from anxiety and later its been proven that it wasnt. I have told them so many times that I dont have anxiety. I hate when I end up questioning myself and what I know is right, but here I go again doing it.
I think that once a Dr knows that you have CFS/ME, they attribute EVERYTHING to anxiety! AHHHH Makes me so frustrated!
Anyway have lost just over 15kgs so far and counting. Had gastroscopy, barium swallow, ultrascan, anti-anxiety pills (to prove to the Dr that it wasnt anxiety) and anti-reflux pills. Funny as 5 days after starting Xanax, was when it got really bad, now I HAVE anxiety because it sorta feels like my throat is getting squeezed constantly.
Anyway to get to my point, I have now been referred to an ENT specialist and a neurologist. My Dr said that if nothing comes up then it must be psychological. Really? And exactly how can they prove that? Does it not show that since I have been on Zanax and its gotten worse that that would suggest it is not caused by anxiety? And what would happen then? Is that diagnoses going to help me to eat?
Now I have actually started to think it could be anxiety? That is what makes me mad, so many times Drs have suggested that something is from anxiety and later its been proven that it wasnt. I have told them so many times that I dont have anxiety. I hate when I end up questioning myself and what I know is right, but here I go again doing it.
I think that once a Dr knows that you have CFS/ME, they attribute EVERYTHING to anxiety! AHHHH Makes me so frustrated!
I would say that with the barrage of tests you have had, it would rule out any stomach abnormality for sure! So then we have the esophagus. I had mine tested! It's called esophageal manometry!! It's the exact test you need to see if swallowing is physically a problem in your body! Although I do occasionally have trouble swallowing when my lymph nodes are swollen, it is not such a bad thing that I continued to hunt down answers after this test came back normal!
I totally feel your frustration, Ruby!
I get ridiculous pains, in ridiculous places...I've even had one full year of cardiac arrhythmias, been monitored for weeks, and EVERYTHING came back normal....yet you could look at my EKG and see the arrhythmia plain as day. The problem was, they could NOT FIND the cause!! So we did nothing. And guess what? It went away. On it's own, and never came back. That was three years ago.
My Cardiologist, who is only slightly CFIDS savvy, said, Darla, "This HAS to be related to your CFS. There is no physical problem with your heart. It's fine."
Talk about frustrating!!
I think the field required here for a firm diagnosis is Neurology. You already have an appointment. That would be my next move.
I truly hope you get some resolution. I do!! xoxo