I will make a really long story as short as possible. I am 34 female. I have ms and ra. I had pulse steroid (1500mg) first week in may over 5 day period. I felt great, after 6 days had a very heavy feeling in my chest and couldn't catch my breath. Er dx severe pneumonia left and right, upper and lower. Started meds. 1 week later hives started followed by diarrhea 2 days after that (4-6x daily). Developed angioedema in my lips and chin. Back to er. More steroids (100mg) and epinephrine injection, rx for allegra 180mg. I needed 1 allegra every 14 hrs to keep the hives under control. My gp says "no big deal". I went to allergist, no allergy detected. Went to a dermatologist had a punch biopsy. Dx plain ole hives. I change gp's. By this time the biopsy site is very infected. Derm rx antibiotic. I see new gp. He says don't take this new rx because he suspects c-dificile. So I used polysporin. By this time I still have hives, horrible diarrhea and now awful pains in ruq. He suspects gallbladder. Ultrasound confirms some sludge, no stones. Hipa looks fine. I explain this pain is awful but not only on right side sometimes it is centered between my ribs, and others it left side. Majority of the time its right sided. Stool sample...All looks normal. Now we enter september. I am having yeast infection every 3 weeks. Never had them before. My entire tongue turns a whitish color but not patchy and I have small blisters inside my mouth on my tongue and roof. At the same time as the mouth thing, I get an awful rash on my chin. Covers almost my whole chin and it is blistery and itchy most of the time. I was prescribed a topical anti fungal cream for my chin and told to discontinue nysatin cause it doesn't look at all like thrush (the cream has not helped nor has 3 day dose of diflucan). I am told to gargle with hydrogen peroxide. I have a stiff neck, sore mouth, diarrhea and horrible bloating in my stomach. And headache, hives seem to be slowing significantly. I have my first appoint with a gastro next week. I also am 5'3" and usually weigh about 140. But I have put on about 40 lbs in the last 4 months. (i'm hoping its leveled and will start to fall) I have been researching to try to figure out what kind of a doctor to see. Should I see an infectious disease specialist? An endocrinologist? I have gone through 3 internal medicine doctors. None which have referred me anywhere. My latest doc wants to treat me for c-dif even though stool sample was negative. I hesitate because I see all the side effects ( most of which I already have) and I don't want any future dr or specialist to blame flagyl(sp?) for my symptoms which have now been around and escalating for 5 months.

I am concerned I may have a staph infection or a fungal infection (maybe from pneumonia in may?)

i would owe my life to anyone who could provide me with direction on what type of doctor I need.

Thanks and sorry so long

mary