#1 ·
Here’s the deal: I don't have the luxury of wandering from specialist to specialist like a tourist. My symptoms could be linked to basically anything—spine issues, thyroid, lungs, sinuses, asthma... You know, the whole nine yards. Obviously, if it comes down to it, I’ll eventually go see an endocrinologist, a pulmonologist, an orthopedist, and an ENT, but I figured I’d lay out my symptoms here first. Maybe someone has a solid clue on who I should hit up first to save some time.
So, looking at my chronic stuff, I've always dealt with PCOS (it’s been a lifelong thing, and it’s bad enough that I deal with amenorrhea—I only get between three and six periods a year. That said, I did manage to get pregnant twice without any drama; one kid is a year old and the other is four) along with constant sinus and upper respiratory issues. It's always the same story: a nose that won't stay clear, being chronically congested at night, and every single cold turns into mucus draining down my throat and a long, drawn-out coughing fit. On top of that, I've been struggling with pretty heavy anxiety for years, which I don't think we can just brush off because a lot of this could be psychosomatic.
Then, over the last year (ever since my second baby was born), a bunch of new stuff started cropping up. I’ve got pain in my lower spine, and my neck muscles often seize up so badly I can barely move my head. There’s this weird weakness in my upper arms—more like a heavy sensation, really—and tingling in my fingers, especially in the mornings. Then there's the constant fatigue, terrible lack of focus, forgetfulness, and this bizarre sense of derealization during daily activities. I feel unmotivated, listless, and my appetite has gone through the roof (after birth, I only gained two pounds, but since summer, I’ve put on almost 10!). To top it all off, in the last month, my breathing has been trashed. Just carrying the little one for a few steps leaves me gasping like I ran a marathon, and lately, even when I'm just sitting still, I’m "gasping" for air like a fish out of water. It feels like I just can't take a deep, satisfying breath to fill my lungs.
In layman's terms—since I actually know how to use Google 😁—I’d pin most of this on my thyroid, especially considering the PCOS. But honestly, the breathing thing could point toward asthma or some kind of obstruction (I even get wheezing after heavy exertion), or maybe the root cause is my spine, which is definitely a problem area for me. But hey, let's not ignore the nose 😁 that’s constantly acting up too... So, here’s my dilemma: given the cost of everything, what tests should I prioritize doing first? I can't afford to take a ton of time off work, so I need to be targeted with these appointments. Thanks! 🙂
So, looking at my chronic stuff, I've always dealt with PCOS (it’s been a lifelong thing, and it’s bad enough that I deal with amenorrhea—I only get between three and six periods a year. That said, I did manage to get pregnant twice without any drama; one kid is a year old and the other is four) along with constant sinus and upper respiratory issues. It's always the same story: a nose that won't stay clear, being chronically congested at night, and every single cold turns into mucus draining down my throat and a long, drawn-out coughing fit. On top of that, I've been struggling with pretty heavy anxiety for years, which I don't think we can just brush off because a lot of this could be psychosomatic.
Then, over the last year (ever since my second baby was born), a bunch of new stuff started cropping up. I’ve got pain in my lower spine, and my neck muscles often seize up so badly I can barely move my head. There’s this weird weakness in my upper arms—more like a heavy sensation, really—and tingling in my fingers, especially in the mornings. Then there's the constant fatigue, terrible lack of focus, forgetfulness, and this bizarre sense of derealization during daily activities. I feel unmotivated, listless, and my appetite has gone through the roof (after birth, I only gained two pounds, but since summer, I’ve put on almost 10!). To top it all off, in the last month, my breathing has been trashed. Just carrying the little one for a few steps leaves me gasping like I ran a marathon, and lately, even when I'm just sitting still, I’m "gasping" for air like a fish out of water. It feels like I just can't take a deep, satisfying breath to fill my lungs.
In layman's terms—since I actually know how to use Google 😁—I’d pin most of this on my thyroid, especially considering the PCOS. But honestly, the breathing thing could point toward asthma or some kind of obstruction (I even get wheezing after heavy exertion), or maybe the root cause is my spine, which is definitely a problem area for me. But hey, let's not ignore the nose 😁 that’s constantly acting up too... So, here’s my dilemma: given the cost of everything, what tests should I prioritize doing first? I can't afford to take a ton of time off work, so I need to be targeted with these appointments. Thanks! 🙂