So this is a new day????

I have seen more doctors in the last month than I have my husband and children.  I literally feel like a medical guinnea pig.  It all started back in March 2008 when I woke up with my left pinky finger and ring finger completely numb and tingling.  I passed it off as having slept on my arm wrong and went casually about my business.  I have four children under the age of seven, an 18 year old daughter and a brand new grand-daughter.  My days are pretty much jammed packed with tending to the kids, cleaning the house, trying to keep up on laundry, and most importantly.... working on my Master's Thesis.  Several days went by and I ventured out to the grocery store.  I noticed that I kept dropping things when attempting to grab them with my left hand.  That's when I realized that my fingers were STILL numb, but also, that my grip was gone.  I called my family doctor the following morning and scheduled an appointment.  Essentially I was sent out for a barrage of tests (MRI, CT scan, bloodwork and tons of it, and a vision exam).  I explained to my doctor that I had just had a vision exam less than 4 months ago and was put into glasses.  I further elaborated that the amount of required reading and research while in pursuit of my Master's Degree had taken its toll on my eyes.  Nonetheless, he still insisted that I get the medical exam; and he prescribed Prednisone 4mg with 2 refills.  All tests were inconclusive!  Then I was sent to Maryland to get nerve testing on my hand.  The doctor there concluded that he "felt" that there was severe median and ulnar nerve damage.  The extent of the damage and its origin were still a mystery.  
     Two weeks later, I returned to my doctor to be praised for having a fabulous A1C test result, good blood pressure, and excellent cholesterol counts.  At this juncture, he wrote another RX for Prednisone and refilled my albuterol inhaler RX.  I've been an asthmatic for years.  Another RX was written for Torodol to treat my hemiplegic migraines.  These migraines are come and go so one RX could last for its entire shelf life before ever being used.  Several days later I found myself back in my doctor's office with a strange rash extending down the backs of my arms, over my elbows, and down to my mid forearm.  I was referred to a dermatoligist, but by the time my appointment came around, the rash had gone away.  It took over 3 weeks to get worked in there for an appointment.  Hindsight being 20/20; I now wish that I had asked my husband to take pictures of it with our digital camera.  
     I haven't been able to sleep for days on end now.  I'm sleeping in spurts, or so it would seem, because I have developed this unending neck and upper back pain.  It hurts to turn my head in either direction... and if I do, I get these "electric current-like" sensations down both arms.  It hurts to sit for long periods of time, stand for long periods of time, and lying down in any position helps only temporarily.  I've tried Tylenol, Aleve,, and even taken one of my Torodol's to help alleviate the pain that I'm in....but nothing works.  I called the doctor's office and went in... again.  My doctor wasn't there but the had me see the PA instead.  She sent me over to the hospital for x-rays of my neck and spine.  She said that in lieu of my symptoms, it sounded like a herniated disc problem.  Forty-one x-rays later....and back in the office today, I found out that the x-rays looked "ok".  She said that she couldn't help me with anything for pain b/c she wasn't able to write any RX's for pain medications and that my regular doctor won't be back for another 2 weeks citing that he was on vacation.  I inquired about a certified MD being "on-call" to cover for his absence to which she replied, "I don't think he does that since I'm here to cover for him".  Then I lost it.  I literally broke down on the exam table.  I'm only 37 years old and can barely walk without feeling like I'm going to throw up or pass out from the pain in my back that shoots into my neck.  I can't use my left hand for much of anything except to wear my wedding band.  My husband has to help me button my bra and unfasten it because I can't do that anymore.  I can't even button my pants by myself anymore.  Using the bathroom now makes me envious of anyone who is ambindextrious (sp ??).  My 86 year old grandmother moves around better than I do and she has a heart condition from birth known as pulmanary stenosis.  According to her doctors way back when, she should have been dead by age 10.  She astounds medical students who pass through her cardiologist's office and she is often asked if it would be alright to allow the students to listen to her heart.  Uuuuuuugggghhhhhh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So why can't anyone figure out what's wrong with me.  After my "meltdown", the PA suggested doing more blood work.  This time, it's to rule out Lupus.  Why???? Well, as she completely ignored me having my self-centered moment...she was reading through my chart.  Apparently, the edema in my left leg that has come and gone for over a year was a "red flag" to her.  Well, that in combination with my occassional bladder incontinence to which I have blamed on pregnancy and childbirth.  So here I sit..... waiting..... again.  I am soooooooooo exhausted from all the tests and "what ifs".  I've decided to take off next semester in order to get my health problems sorted out.  This has all really gotten in the way of me doing my level best.  I mean, let's be honest here.... these medical questions have been a constant subconscious distraction.  My mother used to tell me every morning when I was in elementary school, "Wake up.  It's a brand new day".    I keep asking my self now, "So this is a new day?"  Oh well, such is life.