Girlfriend is a medical mess - need guidance!

[OSUguy25]

I honestly don't even know where to start.  Since I've dating my current GF of over two years, her health has gone drastically down hill.  Some of the things she experiences on a frequent (often times daily) basis are:

-Fatigue (always exhausted and wants to sleep)
-Extreme back pains (almost daily, and often times at completely different spots on her back than before)
-Stomach problems (she'll have days where she's running to the toilet 5 or more times at night and complains of stomach pains)
-General bodily pain (will have random body pains and often can barely even be touched in certain spots)
-High blood pressure (takes medication for it)
-Headaches (often times followed by spikes in blood pressure, or so she says)
-Muscle spasms/cramps/tingling
-Thyroid issues (was told she has Hashimotos AND Graves disease and was medicated accordingly)
-Zero sex drive (also unable to achieve orgasm most of the time and vaginal dryness)
-Zero motivation to do anything
-Weight gain

She wasn't always this way.  She's only 25 years old and says she feels like an 80 year old.  She's been to numerous specialists (Gastro, Auto-Immune, Thyroid), has had dozens of blood tests done, and just recently had a CT scan done of her mid-section and nothing was found.  Nobody can give her a diagnosis, she's been tested for numerous auto-immune diseases, parasites, any a lot of other things.  She was given a Fibromyialgia diagnosis for the bodily pains which I am not content with at all.

Thinking about taking her to the Cleveland Clinic a couple hours away in hopes of finding the right diagnosis and treatment.  My suspicion is MS, but I'm not a doctor and she's been tested for numerous things already.

I just need some direction on where to go with this, it's such a drag for her and is starting to take its toll on our relationship.  I want to do everything I can to help her get back to where she was.

[OSUguy25]

I should also mentioned she takes quite a bit of various medications, from SSRI anti-depressants, to low-estrogen birth control, to blood pressure medication, to thyroid medications and likely several others.  I constantly worry about this much medication in her system and wonder if any of this could be causing the issues.  She said a couple years ago her doctor pulled her off ALL medications for 3 months and things did not improve, but it seems things have gotten worse over the last two years.

[CurfewX]

I'm so sorry that you and your girlfriend are going through this.  Unfortunately, this situation is much too complex to be evaluated by members of forums like this - none of us are doctors, and even if we were, it's just too difficult with all of the issues, diagnoses, and medications involved.  I do understand your concerns about the number of medications.  Some of those do have side effects that could be linked to her symptoms, e.g., some people report fatigue and low sex drive/pleasure on anti-depressants, some report weight gain on birth control.  Headaches can also be linked to high blood pressure, so maybe another doctor can change medications for that issue.

Your plan to go to Cleveland Clinic sounds reasonable.  Obviously, it's well-respected.  I'm sure you know this, but don't let them rush you through the appointment, and take a list of all medications, and hopefully, results of tests already performed.  I wish you the best.

[dudlebug]

I am no dr but I will tell you that my thyroid caused a lot of these issues as far as being fatigued, high blood pressure, no sex drive or energy. I was also on SSRI medications and couldn't achieve orgasms but switched them until I found one that didn't interfere with them. It took a few weeks after switching from leproxan to Zoloft but the Zoloft gave me back my orgasms after 2 weeks on them. Weight gain can come from the SSRI and thyroid issues. I also have a vit D deficiency from my thyroid. The thyroid can affect a lot of things and takes awhile to achieve optimal levels.

[jazilu]

Did anyone test for celiac disease or gluten intolerance? I had all of those symptoms, except high blood pressure, and ended up just needing to cut out stupid gluten. High blood pressure and thyroid can also cause pretty much all of that too. Medications, especially when combined, can have serious side effects, exacerbating her problems and creating more. Consider seeing a good naturopath. Doctors give you pills to treat the symptoms, often not fixing the underlying problem. I'm sorry she's going through this. I hate to tell you, but there is not a quick fix. There may be many more tests and trying out different diets until something starts working.

[Gemfly]

Another poster mentioned Vitamin D. I agree it needs to be checked.
25 OH Vitamin D blood test. Also Vitamin B12

All the medications and illnesses can deplete Vitamin and mineral levels. It's important to get an initial blood test to see levels. Vitamin D should be taken for life. We don't get enough from food or UVB rays from the sun.

Lab ranges are 30-100ng/mL
Above 50 is what you need to achieve
60-80ng/mL is optimal health range.

MS patients have been treated with high doses of Vitamin D3

Do not take Vitamin D2 (Ergocalciferol).
Do not take Vitamin B12 form Cyanocobalamin.

Supplements of Vitamin D and magnesium are beneficial. If Vitamin K2 doesn't conflict with any meds, it's also something to take with the others. The D3 uses Magnesium. Magnesium balances calcium. K2 helps regulate calcium

Staying hydrated is important to flush excess calcium out of the body.

[OSUguy25]

In response to above comments,

She has had a stomach biopsy and tested for celiacs, and was found to not have it.  She had a couple vitamin deficiencies but was prescribed those vitamins and they did little to nothing in helping any of the issues.