Question: Hello, I have been ill for 8 months with an undiagnosed illness. It started with a month long dose of steroids. After withdrawing I became very ill with nausea, vomiting, fatigue, loss of appetite and major stomach pain and upset. I lost 20 lbs and my appetite has never been the same. I'm sick in some fashion everyday and am very distraught.

I have been going over everything that has happened and can only come up with a couple of answers. I believe the steroids stirred something up that is now not under control any longer. I feel that it may be a mast cell disorder. I have always had rashes on my face and have never been able to wash it or put my face in the shower because of the heat. The rashes are on my t zone and my face flushes easily as well as my nose and tends to swell up at times.

I have also had a very strange thing happen to me since 5. At least once per week ill wake up out of bed with my throat closed. I know that when I take calcium before bed it happens but I think there are other triggers I don't know about. When I drink wine my face gets red but I will have a rash for a week. I have had to go to the dermatologist to get a shot because it won't calm down.

My stomach is only happy when I take zantac at 3-400 mgs per day. If I discontinue, I become very ill with the symptoms above. I am seeing an immunologist soon and I hope I can get some relief as I'm now feeling like I have ptsd over this. I know my current drs think this is gerd, but I don't think it would be this severe. I also do not taste any acid. Thank you!!

I am also allergic to sulpha which gives me hives. Thank you!

Yes, I was started on Florinef for low blood pressure but did not like the side effects. The dose was 20 mcgs a generic. A week after stopping I became very ill but all of my endocrine tests show normal. So adrenal insufficiency is not suspected. I am now on zantac twice per day and take aciphex every other day. I am having another endoscopy done in two weeks as I am still in a lot of pain in the upper epigastric area after 8 months. This does not seem normal.