[Mallika]

Hi there,

Thank you so much for reaching out. I'm so sorry that you've had these two very troubling conditions with little to no medical progress.

I'm not a medical professional, but as a Genetics student I am aware that there are several conditions due to which people need to avoid the sun as much as possible, such as xeroderma pigmentosum (disclaimer: I'm not diagnosing you with anything here!). You mentioned that skin issues are prevalent on your mother's side of the family, which makes me think that this might be a hereditary condition. Though no one else in your family has the same kinds of symptoms as you, this still might be a possibility because symptoms can manifest in different extents of severity.

I understand that you've been to multiple hospitals and you've not received a satisfactory diagnosis. You might want to keep trying. My mom had difficulties with swallowing food for many, many years but no doctor seemed to be able to diagnose what was going on, until we finally found one who could. You might have to keep trying. Specifically, you might want to visit a dermatological specialty, either a clinic or in a multi-speciality hospital. If they suspect that it might be genetic, they will refer you to a genetic counsellor.

Likewise, you might want to look for a gastroenterologist for your stomach aches. It is definitely something you need to look into; at your age, it is worrisome that you are getting severe stomachaches so many times in a day.

Sometimes we just have to keep looking till we find the right doctor. I'm not based in the USA so I can't advise too well about which hospitals are good and which aren't, but I have heard very positively about Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Stanford Lucile Packard Children's Hosptial. In fact I think Stanford Lucile Packard is known as among the best hospitals for children in the USA. Assuming you're based in Seattle, it would mean you'd need to travel out of your state. But if it means you can get diagnosed properly and treated, why not? I'm attaching the links to the websites of these hospitals. You might want to have a look at their specialists and email them if you prefer.

https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org
https://www.stanfordchildrens.org

P.S. These "children's" hospitals have some the best doctors in my opinion, because they see such a large variety of conditions that manifest from childhood. At 14, you're not really a "child" but you're still a young person and it would be a good idea to check them out.

Take care!! Hope you get better soon!