Dear WIminen,
Just wanted to let you know I am going through similar experience. Here is my story so I hope you can relate.
In early august, I noticed some spots in my vision (not floaters), that appeared as what I would call afterburns, like when I stare at a bright light. I had it checked out and nothing wrong. In early september, I had pain in my chest like I had broken a rib. I had a chest x-ray, negative. At this point, I think I have become a Hypochondriac. Over the next few weeks I began to get tired in the afternoon, have a mild headache all day long, neck stiffeness, etc... I was having trouble sleeping even though I was tired. I was also developing a feeling of urination all the time and I began to get tingling in my feet and legs. I was also having racing thoughts. I went back to the doctor and they did blood work. Everything was negative. At this point, I don't have one quantitative measurable symptom so I am really beginning to think it is in my mind. In the first week of Nov. I had what could be described as a panic attack, ended up in the emergency room. Blood, urine, and head cat scan all negative. Now I really think I am losing my mind. I went back to my doctor and he tells me he thinks it is mono (again, I had it in 97 as well).
I finally decide to take 3 weeks off work and rest and just try and relax. I have been back to work since and I am definitely feeling much better now and I am now certain that I was sick, it was not in my mind. I am still having symptoms and it has been at least 6 months if not longer. So the fact your symptoms are lasting a year, does not surprise me, especially if you did not rest. I feel very confident that I was having meningitis symptoms (which is inflammation of the nervous system). It was also interfering with my thought processes; racing thoughts, depression. I would also wake up early in the morning shaking on a few occasions.
Here are my recommendations. Take a deep breath and relax a bit. I believe you have had some sort of infection and you are not having panic attacks (I am not a doctor however). As great as medicine is it still is in its infacy and there is a ton they don't know. So the fact they have not found anything is not surprising.
I recommend these things for you: First off, relax, and don't let your mind try to explain the feelings. Just understand the feelings you are having don't assume they are anxiety or panic disorder.
Second, take a fish oil supplement. This has helped me. It aids the nervous system and it is also anti-inflammatory properties.
I also take magnesium as it is very safe and effective and has a relaxing effect.
Also, watch your blood sugar. I believe very strongly in this and I recommend reading potatoes not prozac to get an understanding of how blood sugars can effect how you feel. I would also read The Edge Effect. This book has been a huge help (I thought it was quackery at first but I have read more and more and believe the guy is onto something) and I have been using it to calm me down. I obviously believe very strongly in diet these days. I think it is hugely overlooked by the medical community (except in the case of diabetics) and balancing blood sugars is critical for emotional stability as well as overall health.Try to avoid process food as much as possible. Please note that blood sugar can have huge effects and these are exascerbated by illness.
Finally, set up medical goals. For instance, create definitive plans so the future is not just vague. For example, "if in 3 months I am still having symptoms, I will go back to the doctor". Or "if that doctor does not help me, i will find another doctor". Just make sure you have a date for action and then relax until that date. Otherwise, you will just wake up and worry and that is no good.
If you feel your health is getting better, day by day, but just very slowly, I would take this as a positive sign, even though it has been a long time. I sure hope this helps. Relax and smile, let your immune system take care of this.
