I can relate to the problem you have with not having a recognised diagnosis. I struggled on for many years and it all had adverse effects on my education and life until I could not cope any longer. Even then I found ways to manipulate my diet to lessen symptoms which made it far more difficult for doctors to take things seriously. If I had not put in the effort I did then it might of been easier from a conventional medicine perspective but I am sure that my health would of been far worse as a consequence. I have a lot of risk factors from other health conditions and family history which cannot be ignored.

I am almost certain that I became infected when I was 13! It was when ET was on at the cinema and friends and I had arranged to go to see it. I had the worst headache that day, like my head was being split apart, eyes sensitive to light and I spent the whole day with a cold wet cloth over my eyes in a dark room and could not go to the cinema. This was very unusual for me because I extremely rarely get headaches and nothing remotely close to what I had that day.

I got increasingly worse as the years went by, until I was 21 when I was totally exhausted and reacting to all foods, dust, grass and tree pollen etc.

It will only get worse the more it spreads and the more permeable that your digestive system becomes!

I have not yet solved it, I am still trying to find everything that I "might" need in order to beat it. Bacterial biofilms are very difficult to beat and I am holding fire until I have everything that could come in useful, because bacteria adapt so quickly that there is no time to order products or opportunities to beat them disappear. Not knowing the name of the bacteria makes it far more difficult because specific quorum sensing inhibitors known to affect the bacteria cannot be used which makes it far more difficult. It's like playing Whac-A-Mole and I want far better odds until I make another attempt. I beat the biofilm once but held fire on the persister cells because my plans were different at the time. I regret that now because the bacteria have adapted which makes it far more difficult to defeat them.

I read that d- forms of amino acids such as d-arginine might be helpful but they are difficult to purchase. I need to do more research on that to work out whether it will be helpful because d- form aminos are very uncommon so bacteria will not usually be exposed to them and they might therefore affect bacteria in a negative way.

I have an idea from liposomal delivery system ideas using ultra sonic cleaners. I am looking for an ultra sonic cleaner to create "tiny" sphere emulsified essential oils in order to more widely disperse the essential oils and hopefully make them more effective. Having oil clump together could mean it does not get to where it is needed. I want to get some new, stronger essential oils such as cinnamon and thyme to use against them. I have quite a few essential oils already but I want to stock my arsenal against them. I also want to get some enzymes to help break up the biofilm such as Interfase/plus. I have EDTA already. I am planning on buying larger quantities of bulk enzymes to use because I have some other plans and uses to put them to.

I recommend that you persuade your parents that solving your health problems will enable you to do far better at college than you could ATM. Ensure that they are fully aware of how it affects you, including any concentration, memory and sleep problems that you have. Your energy levels, attention and concentration will be far better when you solve it which would help your studies enormously. Struggling on will not turn out well, believe me on that. Your problems are a big disadvantage that you do not need. Life will show you the way and bring you opportunities because of what you are going through, if you keep your eyes open for them.

I never really knew what I wanted to do at your age. I followed the direction I was led in by illness and what my parents assumed I wanted, which was never right for me. My illness influenced it all and it was all totally wrong for me! My body clock was all out of sync from my mid teens and shifted forward, awake half the night and asleep until as late as possible. Family thought it was the way I was but it was all a symptom of a gradually worsening illness. It is only now that I know MY path. When you beat this, you will know that nothing can ever stop you getting were you want to go in life.

Family can be very difficult and unsupportive but you need to convince them that you can only do your best in life if you are well and that you should not be disadvantaged by illness. Your family probably see you as lazy, especially if your illness slowly progresses. You are not lazy, you are ill and you might have fibromyalgia or CFS.

Make a list of symptoms and how they will adversely affect you if you go to college and how much better you would perform without them.

It's not going to be easy but it should benefit you in the long run. However do not ignore it or try and go along with what others want because it is not YOUR path. Find your own path and what is right for you!