Where do I begin this journey of figuring out what’s wrong with me?

(27 F)

TL;DR: I’ve had symptoms for over 15 years and finally feel like I have the courage to pursue a diagnosis. Where do I start? How do I find a trustworthy physician? What if we do a bunch of tests and it’s all in my head?

I have struggled with chronic fatigue since I was in middle school. It got worse in high school to the point where I’d come home early from school because I HAD to sleep. I could barely function. My parents would get mad at me because I wanted to sleep every day after school.

This fatigue has continued and gotten worse.

I have always gotten sick very easily. Rhinovirus, sinus infection, ear infection, etc. at least 6 times a year. I had tubes in my ears at 10 and tonsils out at 11 to see if that would help any. I had to go to PT because I was so uncoordinated and would get dizzy easily.

I have had flu every year without fail, sometimes twice in one year. I have had Covid 3 times since March of 2021. I have had pneumonia 3 times, once at age 20. I had it December of 2023, and November of 2024. I’m still dealing with the aftermath of this round of pneumonia. It feels like I’ll never feel better. Whenever I get sick, I get REALLY sick.

I also have “episodes” of being sick but not actually having any virus or infection. I’ll feel like I have the flu- body aches, severe fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, headaches- but test negative for any infections or virus.

My last doctor said these are symptoms of depression and put me on an SSRI. It did not helped these symptoms at all. I was then told it must be a hormonal issue and was prescribed birth control. Didn’t help. I even got an IUD thinking maybe it would help, if it truly was an issue with my cycle. No help.

I do know that I have homozygous methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase which can cause some of these symptoms. Unfortunately there isn’t a treatment available for this besides taking a special supplement (which I do). It helps a little, but I suspect I may have other underlying issues going on.

I had a coworker approach me last year concerned that my thyroid was enlarged. He survived thyroid cancer and said my neck looked like how his did before his diagnosis. I had lab work and an ultrasound done and it was unremarkable. The swelling comes and goes. It doesn’t seem normal but what do I know?

Maybe it’s all in my head, but I do feel like something isn’t right. I’m a healthy 27 year old who was eating well, exercising regularly, and taking vitamins and supplements to try and keep up my immune system. Yet still get sick and feel sick all the time.

ANYWAY long story short, where do I begin on tackling this? I believe my first step is finding a new PCP. I’m not sure how to find one that will take me seriously. I’m nervous about even having this conversation with someone, because what if we do a bunch of tests and it IS all in my head? I’ll feel like such a lunatic cry baby.

Any advice?