Posted 10/12/2010 12:47 PM (GMT -6)
I was diagnosed with CFS in 1995 when I was in college - by the campus doctor. Ever since....if I even mention the term I have been met with skepticism. My primary care physician's office has several doctor's and several PA-Cs. I saw the owner/main doctor once and brought it up, she advised me to speak to my psychiatrist. (I am also bipolar.) I really feel strongly that most doctors don't see CFS as a "real" disease.
Well they have a new PA-C, I'll call her Betty. I've seen her several times for a few different things. One, gastric issues, I started omeprazole. Then as a follow up for bronchitis that was hanging on into a second week. At that time I had spoken to her about CFS, etc and she said make an appt so we could talk in detail - they were slammed back to back the day we initially talked. So I saw her yesterday.
She does take it seriously. She at first wanted to refer me to an immunologist - but the few that were called said they only do allergy related immunology. Whut? So we decided to go with a rheumatologist - which I will see Thursday. I'm a little nervous, but at the same time hoping that they find something, anything, because I can't keep doing this.
about 5 or so years ago, I abruptly lost a portion of the vision in my right eye. There is a blank spot, and anything directly in line with that area is not visible. In light of that and my other symptoms, they sent me for a spinal tap and MRI - I found out they were looking for MS - they didn't directly bring this up, which bothered me. Well at the time they ruled that out. They told me the spot would either go away on it's own - or not. Could have been caused by a virus. It's still there. No better, no worse, just there. Annoying as all get out.
Now they want to send me to a rheumatologist, and I suspect they're looking at this again. I don't know. I'm nervous.
I hate to do it, but I want to file for disability. I have chronic asthma, chronic fatigue, immune system deficiency and am bipolar II. I'm exhausted all the time. I sleep hours and hours and don't feel rested. I'm wiped out physically, emotionally, mentally - I'm at a near total loss of functionality. My job is at risk. I have missed all but one day so far this month and have provided doctor notes for all of it, but I know that my job is at risk. Not to mention, my supervisor is a completely useless jerk. He continually denies receiving my documentation and I have to send it over and over again. I've gotten to where I BCC his supervisor when I send it...to cover my butt.
I need help. I need a doctor to help me. I can't keep doing this, I'm at my breaking point.