"Thank you for a high level of care"

I’ve been seen by so many different nurses and doctors, the majority whom are lovely, some were impatient with me and spoke to me as if I was someone who couldn’t work out the difference between anxiety and physical health.

I have autistic spectrum disorder and struggle with face to face communication a lot of the time, but I completed 3 years of a psychology degree in England so very aware of mental health issues. I worked in healthcare before my first manic episode in 2018.

7/8 months of struggling and my journey is still not finished. Current symptoms: 

Constant stomach churning and gurgling, constipation, intestines feel tight, pain in one side of the neck affecting swallowing abilities, sickness and nausea, vertigo and lightheadedness, pain in flanks, 3 stone weight loss, new floaters in left eye, leg cramping and pain.

Also, acid reflux and coughing up thick jelly phlegm and frothy sputum with spots of blood, breathlessness/irregularities in blood pressure, constant burping, rib pain, difficulty with mathematics (I struggle more than used to), clumsy, pain during sex, extremely irregular periods, lymph nodes in groin which ache on touch, crackling of back, regularly normal for my arms to dislocate had it since a child I just pop them back in place due to my joint hypermobility syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Can’t get pregnant not that I’d want a child right now anyway. Also, migraines, difficulty swallowing, spine pain, hair loss, palpitations, muscle twitching/eye twitching, general muscle aches/abdo pain, head buzzing feeling tight feeling, constantly popping abdomen.

Honestly it’s unbelievable the amount of symptoms I have but it’s what stops me from working full time, stops me from going on holidays, slows my university work, stops me from doing things I use to enjoy, or even look after myself, i feel one day my stomach will go pop. What a final destination movie that would be.

I can understand why they’re frustrated with me but at the same time there’s nowhere to go when you have multiple unexplained symptoms which have a dramatic effect on your day to day life. I have amazing writing capabilities at least, but I don’t want my Autistic spectrum disorder and mental health conditions to cloud their judgment as I know from my previous degree unconscious biases can deviate the source from the problem. Nevertheless, a high standard level of care, just more needs to be done for those with chronic debilitating illnesses.

My friend, a doctor, pointed out it could be roemheld syndrome but most doctors refuse to believe it exists. It’s got to the point when people have asked me if I want a hospital gift card and that’s just embarrassing. I wouldn’t even be going if I wasn’t in need of such desperate help to slow my symptoms.

I use to be strong at handling pain! I had sepsis at 6 years old and I was very sick in hospital for 2 weeks as my normal observations were fine so it was picked up too late and somehow doesn’t appear on my records although I remember it clearly so I can get anxious due to this but I don’t think anxiety would cause this many symptoms occurring for longer than 7 months. I’m missing food a lot. 

Thank you for a high level of care though.