Feel like I'm falling apart - don't even know what to say to GP

[ella47]

For a long time I've been feeling like I'm just 'not right' and racking up little health problems here and there but kept going anyway, but now I'm feeling shit about it all and want to go to the GP. But all the things that are wrong sound so 'ragtag' and ridiculous even to me that I don't know where to start.

1. I've had mild/moderate anxiety for years but have never got it sorted, just kept letting it slow me down, trying to ignore it. I once paid for some counselling but found it too overwhelming so stopped after 4 sessions. Now it seems to be getting worse, I feel nervy all the time, find it hard to keep my patience, often feel on the verge of tears and/or very jumpy and don't really seem to enjoy life any more (don't feel suicidal or anything, just feel like it's all one big chore).
   
   
2. I've always slept like a log but lately have had real trouble getting a restful night's sleep - I sleep but toss and turn all night then get up at 5 or 6 and am knackered by about 7pm.
   
   
3. This is the most ridiculous one for me - I don't feel like I can see right. When I look around it feels like I'm watching a film from 15 years ago - I can see clearly but everything feels slightly distant and not quite right, like when you watch a film from 15 years ago and it's ever so slightly blurry and not as crisp as a film now would be but you can still 'see' it the same. The only other way I can describe it is like when you've had your eyes crossed and the first moment you uncross them you can see fine but it takes a moment for everything to look 100% real, except I feel stuck in that 'uncrossing' moment.
   
   
4. I've never been particularly sickly but in the last few weeks I've got mystery aches and pains popping up everywhere. It's not one particular place but I get stitches, cramps, repetitive headaches, deep shoulder pain, pains in my sides, a 'vacuum' feeling in my lungs. Except none last very long and then go but then another mystery pain comes along. Feels like my body's falling to bits.
   
   
5. I don't feel like I can think as well as I used to - sometimes I lose track of what I'm saying halfway through or can't think of a way to phrase something without stopping and thinking about it for a while, or occassionally say the wrong word/thing altogether.
   
   I know the last three sound stupid but they're really getting to me. I'm not looking for a diagnosis here but maybe some way of summing these all up, or an idea of what could be wrong (like is it all down to the anxiety or not) or reassurance I'm not going to be written off as a raving hypocondriac would be good!

[Telesales650]

It might be a good idea to visit the GP and have your Blood Pressure checked out, only I have felt like this with my sight and that`s actually what it turned out to be. With high BP you cannot function properly but its hard to lay a finger on what is actually wrong.!

[amillionyears]

Print out your list above,and show it to your GP
Also,book yourself an eyetest as soon as possible.If you mention your sight to the GP,he will almost certainly ask whether you have been to the opticians recently.

[TeamGBsometimes]

Anxiety and early waking are sometimes associated with depression, so certainly see your GP because if it's this, it is treatable. The vision thing could well be bp, as Telesales has suggested. I would also book in for an eye test, so you can rule out any physical problems with your eyes, preferably before you see your GP so you can go in with full information.

[TeamGBsometimes]

Cross post!

[ella47]

Thanks telesales - I'm not going to go 'oh that's what I've got' and self-diagnose but just knowing there's at least one thing that could explain it, rather than me just being a basketcase is a massive relief, burst into tears reading that just because I've convinced myself up till now it's just me.

amillionyears - definitely need to do that too, I had an eye test about a year ago which gave me a new prescription (am very slightly short sighted but wearing my glasses makes it no better) but I failed the 'I'll turn the light off and you press the button when you see the dots out of the corner of your eye' test (no idea what it's called) and they asked me to go back to re-do it but I never got round to it so will book another asap.

Thankyou both for your help and not laughing

[ella47]

Thankyou too teamgb

[axure]

Ella47 your name says that you may be middle aged? I say this because it sounds like onset of menopause, especially the anxiety and muddled thinking "mind fog". Speak to your GP, they can test your hormone levels etc.

[ella47]

Sorry for the confusion, axure, the number was just random because I couldn't think of a decent name when I registered. I'm in my early 30's so hopefully not but would early menopause do the same thing?

[axure]

Ella well not the menopause then! something to look forward to in 15 years time :) I'm really struggling with brain fog, can't remember what everyday items are called, everything is a "thingymajig". You may have depression, which could be treated with medication, please see your GP don't keep on struggling. Good luck!

[Lizcat]

Please go to your GP with this list I had the majority of these plus things like pins and needles in a leg when I woke and it has turned out to be a complex mix of autoimmune disease that even 5 years after we started discovery we are still finding more.

[Margerykemp]

hyperthyroidism?

[fridakahlo]

I think the dot test is called a Field test and it is to test for Glaucoma which is something that really does need to be treated, back to the opticians?

[mercibucket]

All that sounds like it is worth going to the GP over and getting a few blood tests done. It could be something really easy to fix like iron or b12 deficiency or a thyroid problem. So don't feel like it's not worth mentioning any symptom, just write them all down and get a few blood tests done
I would avoid a 'depression' route until the blood tests are done tbh - sometimes it's the 'easy' diagnosis that means the blood tests never get done
Do you have any other symptoms you might not think of as symptoms eg constipation, feeling cold, hair loss or nails growing slowly or bumpy? Have a think about anything that has changed in the last few years and jot it down
Wrt eyes, can you go to opticians before seeing GP so you have a good idea if there's anything wrong there? I did this when it turned out my eyes were always itchy as they were, it turned out, really dry as tear ducts not working

[narmada]

I really don't think the GP will dismiss you. Hope you have a nice sympathetic one - that always helps.

Many of the symptoms you're describing could be indicators of something fairly simple to treat like anaemia. It would be a shame if you were suffering in silence when there was something simple that could be done to fix things :)

Hope you get some answers.

[brighthair]

The vision thing could be related to the anxiety. I have general anxiety disorder and panic attacks, and my eyes go really odd at times but it's so hard to describe! Definitely have an eye test though
With the anxiety - I take a low level of anti depressant and a beta blocker which really helps

[CakeInMyFace]

Hi I have had anxiety for years and when it was really bad I literally had every symptom you have said above. I took citalopram in a low dose and it all went. I used to get tunnel vision and at one point all the aches and pains caused numbness. Its amazing what your body can do when its on edge. Definitely get checked out for the other things to rule anything else out.

[countryrose]

The symptoms are similar to hyperthyroidism, hope you get it sorted soon.

[DoingItForMyself]

I would say make sure you get your thyroid checked too.

[DoingItForMyself]

Does anyone in your family have thyroid problems or other auto-immune conditions as this is a good way into it without having to self-diagnose (say "my mum/aunt etc says it sounds similar to how she felt before she was diagnosed with a thyroid problem") or if you had glandular fever as a youngster you can be more susceptible to it.

Sadly I pointed out both of these but was ignored and told I had depression on 4 separate occasions before they tested me! Surprise surprise it was a thyroid problem, so I always advise to get it checked and insist that they don't brush you off because each individual symptom is quite minor - when they all add up it can be awful.

[racingheart]

merci, I know what you mean about depression being used as a catch all, but as the OP mentioned moderate anxiety for years, it is a genuine part of the constellation of symptoms. And anxiety disorders have many physical symptoms. A close friend suffered and thought she was having heart attacks, as her breathing became so difficult. Untreated depression can slip into lots of vaguely defined 'not feeling right' physical ailments. It's definitely worth trying a low dose AD to see if the symptoms disappear. (Not suggesting this instead of blood and eye tests, just I'm a bit of a campaigner for MH issues not being pushed under the carpet.)

[DoingItForMyself]

Perhaps though, the AD trial should be mentioned after the blood tests come back negative. I tried the ADs they kept pushing at me, had an allergic reaction to them and although they helped a bit with the emotional side, I was still in physical pain (joints/muscles/headaches) - "well of course you are, you've just had a baby!" - with lots of other vague symptoms just like the OP including visual disturbance and a general fog in my brain, lack of motivation, fatigue etc. Sounds like HYPOthyroidism (underactive) to me.

[madmomma]

what racingheart said. Good luck OP. Don't just put up and shut up. This is you're quality of life and it's important to investigate.

[Katattack27]

Hi Ella47

I am going through the same thing at the moment... a few years later and i was just wondering if you were able to find out what was happening?

I hope you're feeling better,

Kate

[Helcat]

Oh I wish this thread had been updated. I’m 48. I have something called CVs (google it if u fancy) but I’m suffering migraines, headaches, my vision has gone weird and blurry. My hip hurts (just woke up like that). My lower back hurts. I don’t feel quite ‘here’ anymore. Is this the menapause? I’m a complete mess. I’ve a blood test booked in on Thursday. I just wish I had some idea what’s going on?!