CPTSD and Dorsal Vagus Nerve Shutdown

Hi, I'm new to the group and was wondering if anyone else with CPTSD has been through what my therapist is referring to as a Dorsal Vagus Nerve Shutdown?

After subconsciously dealing with my CPTSD for 40 years by overachieving and keeping the proverbial pedal to the medal when it came to my life, I started getting physical symptoms that no Doctor in the state I resided then was able to diagnose for the last 5 years.

One day I was fine, the next day during the COVID shutdown in 2021, I was laid off. A couple of days later I couldn't get out of bed.

ZERO Energy, Fatigue, dull headaches that wouldn't respond with OTC meds, dry "flushing" where my face and neck would suddenly flush beet red. It feels like I'm radiating heat from the inside out but my thermometer wouldn't register a temperature and wouldn't prespire. Body aches, Muscles in the right side of my body (neck, shoulders, arm and hand) would spasm, lock in place and my hand would go numb). Acid reflux that nothing responded to and an overall sense of malaise that I couldn't pinpoint. Irritability, outbursts, lack of patience, etc.

At first, I thought I was in the middle of a major depressive episode - but I had nothing to be depressed about. I expected the layoffs and was already interviewing at other facilities and receiving positive feedback.

The myriad of doctors I went to told me I had everything from Hypothyroidism, Crushing's, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome to needing HRT. None of the physicians I dealt with would give me a referral for an Endocrinologist or Internal Specialist.

My husband and I returned to the east coast and within a couple of months, I received the first concrete diagnosis: Stage 3 GERD and a 3CM Hiatal Hernia.

My new therapist quickly realized that I wasn't chronically depressed. He explained that years of overachieving due to my CPTSD (and the "clenching" my stomach had done for 40 years) had resulted in a Dorsal Vagus Nerve Shutdown - my Hiatal Hernia is pinching my Vagus Nerve, my Nervous System is completely dysregulated and my brain blew a fuse, communicating to my body that it could no longer continue running on fumes.

So, from what I understand, my body is frozen and in survival mode only. It will not enable me to do anything - not even self care. I'm practically bedridden. My body will only do what it needs to survive and little else.

I'm in the process of scheduling surgery for the "mechanics" or "receipts" that my body is cashing in after years of absorbing incredible levels of maternal neglect (I still manifest self-soothing behavior) abuse and stress.

However, in my research I've been dismayed to discover many mental health specialists and MDs dismiss the connections between CPTSD and Dorsal Vagus Nerve Shutdown right off the bat. Yet, it's the only diagnosis that matches every single one of my symptoms.

Has anyone else experienced "Dorsal Vagus Nerve Shutdown"? Or, can provide more information on the subject? I'm beginning to view it as an "in vogue" diagnosis which isn't rooted in medical research.

Many thanks!