Yay! Its not a chronic lifelong condition! I am glad that you will have answers soon, stay healthy until then positive thoughts and my prayers out to you Erin.

Hope they figure out what's causing it and can treat it so you feel better soon.

wow.. I hope they figure it all out soon!

- and that the fix is easy

Since everyone's posting boobs to cheer you up, here's some Sheila E. boobage!

Efan said:

Since everyone's posting boobs to cheer you up, here's some Sheila E. boobage!

Being no DR this sounds to me like ME myalgic encephalomyelitis

Сhronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is the most common name^[1] given to a variably debilitating disorder or disorders generally defined by persistent fatigue unrelated to exertion, not substantially relieved by rest and accompanied by the presence of other specific symptoms for a minimum of six months.^[2] The disorder may also be referred to as post-viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS, when the condition arises following a flu-like illness), myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), or several other terms. The disease process in CFS displays a range of neurological, immunological, and endocrine system abnormalities. Although classified by the World Health Organization under Diseases of the nervous system,^[3] the etiology (cause or origin) of CFS is currently unknown and there is no diagnostic laboratory test or biomarker.

Fatigue is a common symptom in many illnesses, but CFS is a multi-systemic disease and is relatively rare by comparison.^[4] Symptoms of CFS include widespread muscle and joint pain; cognitive difficulties; chronic, often severe, mental and physical exhaustion; and other characteristic symptoms in a previously healthy and active person. CFS patients may report additional symptoms including muscle weakness, hypersensitivity, orthostatic intolerance, digestive disturbances, depression, poor immune response, and cardiac and respiratory problems.^[5] It is unclear if these symptoms represent co-morbid conditions or are produced by an underlying etiology of CFS.^[6] All diagnostic criteria require that the symptoms must not be caused by other medical conditions.

Studies have reported numbers on the prevalence of CFS that vary widely,^[4] from 7 to 3,000 cases of CFS for every 100,000 adults,^[6] but national health organizations have estimated more than 1 million Americans and approximately a quarter of a million people in the UK have CFS.^[7][8] For unknown reasons CFS occurs most often in people in their 40s and 50s, more often in women than men,^[9][10] and is less prevalent among children and adolescents.^[7] The quality of life is "particularly and uniquely disrupted" in CFS.^[11] A prognosis study review calculated a median untreated patient full recovery rate of 5%, and the median improvement rate at approximately 40% compared to pre morbid status

There is agreement on the genuine threat to health, happiness and productivity posed by CFS, but various physicians' groups, researchers and patient advocates promote different nomenclature, diagnostic criteria, etiologic hypotheses and treatments, resulting in controversy about many aspects of the disorder. The name CFS itself is controversial as many patients and advocacy groups, as well as some experts, want the name changed as they believe that it stigmatizes by not conveying the seriousness of the illness

awww...

I hope things get better, and I hope they find out what it is!

I'm no stranger to strange unhealthy things happening out of the blue.

johnart said:

JerseyKRS said:

a swallowing test

[Edited 9/15/10 14:25pm]

I'm sorry I'll just my own damn self

we can't take yo ass anywhere

bboy87 said:

johnart said:

I'm sorry I'll just my own damn self

we can't take yo ass anywhere

you should see him in action in person...

Well you had me concerned until the end when you said "Go Yankees"!!! Erin, how could someone from Cambridge MA allow this to happen? Is there a thumbs down emoticon?

But seriously - Wow. I didn't realize all this was still going on for you guys. I'm so sorry to hear it. I've been where you've been on the doctor's not listening front and sincerely hope this will be the difference maker for you. Get well soon.

it's florida! get the fuck outta there! I hope you feel better soon Erin!

[Edited 9/16/10 7:42am]

You guys are the best.

Well, complicating all of this is my underlying genetic disorder, which causes all of my connective tissues to be structurally abnormal. That's what causes my daily pain, and I'm sure contributes to some of my fatigue. It could also be contributing to, or even causing, whatever is blocking my breathing.

But at the other hospital I was at, the doctors were so quick to say, "Oh, you have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome? Okay, then it's your Ehlers Danlos Syndrome; live with it!" Fuck that. Here, they're trying to rule everything out.

I'm waiting for them to take me for a bronchoscopy now (going down my throat with a camera). This, of course, is the worst torture of all, because I haven't been allowed to eat since midnight last night! THE HORROR!

Hear, hear! This is an order that the doctors find out what is bothering this pretty, funny, delightful young lady! Stop fuggin around and get to it, docs!

Hope you feel better, sweetie.

look at the way doctors and insurance treat you, and then they wonder why people don't want to go to the doctor! (not that I haven't dealt with people that get all persnickety when you do try to help them)

starts singing "you can't win, chile"

I know you are glad to have found a place that wants to help you, believe me they are probably just as glad to find someone who wants to be helped

Fenwick said:

Well you had me concerned until the end when you said "Go Yankees"!!! Erin, how could someone from Cambridge MA allow this to happen? Is there a thumbs down emoticon?

When news first broke on the org years ago that they were a couple, that was the very first thing I asked.

Any excuse to repost the link to that thread: http://prince.org/msg/100/217949

I don't know PunkMistress or Jersey personally...but I'm touched by your story. I hope everything comes out ok. Best wishes!

You had me right up until the "go Yankees" part then you lost me

I actually think that is the problem....Yankee fandom. It sucks all the life and energy out of people. My solution....have her start rooting for the Athletics! It would cleanse her completley of this vile disease called "Yankee Fandom".

In all honestly hopefully you will finally get some answers, treatment, relief and a cure.

[Edited 9/16/10 9:23am]

PunkMistress/Erin i hope you are well soon. hospitals can really suck.

we've just received confirmation that she is suffering from Vocal Cord Dysfunction.

[Edited 9/16/10 10:06am]

you son of a bitch!!!!!!

JerseyKRS said:

we've just received confirmation that she is suffering from Vocal Cord Dysfunction.

[Edited 9/16/10 10:06am]

Your vocal cords could cause all those symptoms??

this is how normal vocal cords look during inhaling

this is a tell tale sign of how they look with vocal cord dysfunction

JerseyKRS said:

this is how normal vocal cords look during inhaling

this is a tell tale sign of how they look with vocal cord dysfunction

that looks fixable! That's great news. Does she have a raspy voice?

jaimestarr79 said:

JerseyKRS said:

this is how normal vocal cords look during inhaling

this is a tell tale sign of how they look with vocal cord dysfunction

that looks fixable! That's great news. Does she have a raspy voice?

yes, during episodes it gets very hoarse, like she gargled with gravel and whiskey!

JerseyKRS said:

this is how normal vocal cords look during inhaling

this is a tell tale sign of how they look with vocal cord dysfunction