Frustrated and unsure of next steps

I'm definitely feeling a bit down after my ENT appointment today and more than a little frustrated with my body.

I've been dealing with respiratory infections/issues without a break since January, starting in the sinuses and now moving into my chest. On top of everything else, this has slowed me down to about 25% of normal productivity, if that. I've had a constant sore throat, hacking up phlegm, sinus headaches, extreme fatigue, muscle weakness, aches and pains, etc. Now I've developed a nasty chest cough that makes my ribs hurt.

My most recent bloodwork show low white blood count, low red blood count (and width) and high lymphocytes, suggesting something viral. To confirm this, my ENT today looked at my CT scan of my sinuses and said there's no real evidence of bacterial issues, so this is no longer an ENT problem. His advice was to see a pulmonologist about the cough and then perhaps and infectious disease doctor.

I've also been walking around with this darn chronic chest pain for the last year that not one of my doctors can diagnose, so my rheumy just gave me pain creams and patches to put on it (which don't really help). The cough is making things worse.

I tried to call and make an appointment with my pulmonologist but the earliest they said she can see me is nearly three weeks out. I told them I'd have to find someone else, hung up and just started crying and cried my whole drive home. I just don't know what to do anymore. I feel like I've been so darn sick for so long and no one knows what to do with me. I'm that "special case" whose symptoms don't seem to match up with anything. I almost never have traditional inflammatory markers. I'd start to question my Crohn's diagnosis if I didn't see the inflammation every time they checked inside me!

Anyway, just needed to get out this rant. Tomorrow, I guess I'll try and figure out what to do. I also need to finally talk with my dean about my illness because I've begun to fall behind at work.

Hi Ides,

The last time I did the blot test for allergies (where they test you for 30-some specific allergies) in 2011, I was allergic to a bunch of different types of weeds and dust. I started doing the shots but couldn't keep it up. I take Zyrtec daily, although I ran out maybe two weeks ago, so I haven't been taking it in the immediate past (although I had symptoms long before I ran out). I definitely need to pick more up at the store and hopefully that will help some.

Thanks pmedic. I've been having doubts about the Remicade since nearly Day 1. It didn't help that three days after my first infusion, I got this strange rash on my arms and neck, but my GI wasn't sure if was linked to Remi because of the delay. I also tend to feel sick the day after infusions and my joint pain has been worse since starting it. I was never constipated before starting to take it but have been since my first infusion. And while it has helped with some Crohn's symptoms, I have developed inflammation in a new location (rectum) since starting.

I talked to my GI, but she wanted me to keep on it because it was lowering my inflammation numbers.

I just had my antibodies retested yesterday because they were elevated at my last bloodwork. My next infusion has been pushed to next Friday, but I'm definitely wondering if my doc and I need to have a little heart to heart and try something new.