I have posted before but just need someone, I would ring my Nan but she has died.

[TheOriginalFAB]

Below is what I have previously posted. New is that I am taking the kids to school, doing 1-2 hours of things around the house, then going to sleep. Another thing is I scraped my hand on a wall weeks ago and it still has a scar there. I am just so tired and fed up with always feeling like crap. I have a rash/spots on my tummy. I think I might have been bitten. It changes size and colour. Savlon and germolene don't help. If I scratch it it is agony. I just want to sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeppppp.


Me - female, age 39 years.

Problem - almost constant tiredness which I have had for years. Some nights I find it hard to drop off and don't wake up rested, sometimes due to very vivid dreams. Weight gain of 1 stone since my baby was 2 months old (almost 6 years ago) and the same few pounds coming off and going on no matter what I do.

Blood pressure - very low.

Blood glucose - okay.

Blood tests for thyroid - normal according to GP, not bothered that two tests were done in 10 days making one normal and one a problem.

I also have migraines and fibromyalgia.

I am on duloxetine and amitryptaline as well as taking some vitamins.

I don't drink or smoke.

Whenever I have had blood tests they have always come back normal.

[gingeroots]

Sorry you're feeling so rubbish . Must be horrible ,is there anyone in RL you could speak to ?
I'm really not sure what to suggest - but going back to GP springs to mind .
You shouldn't be feeling this way .
Hope tommorow you feel a little improved .

[Birdsgottafly]

Every symptom you describe is common in Fibromyalgia and some cross over into having low blood pressure. Was your original diagnosis done through a clinic and has your GP suggested refering you on?

As a separate issue, is there a support group that you could attend, this will give you people who fully understand, to talk to.

Do you have any possitives in your life that is just for you, although i know when you are exhausted it is difficult to even want to fit anything in. Are you interested in any of the usual recommendations such as meditation, CBT or gentle exercise?

When did you lose your nan?

[wahwahwah]

Rash may be a virus. I had one on my tummy and thought nothing of it until I went to the doctor with a virus and he asked if I had a rash on my belly.

Are you very stressed in particular at the moment? I know that sleeping doesnt help and vivid dreams tend to happen when your brain is racing. Do you have anyone to help with the kids? it sounds to me like you are run down and stressed out.

[debinaboat]

theorigonalfab...hugs to you,you are really having a rough time just now. i am sorry about your nan.i think you really need your doctor to sit up and listen to you, there is obviously something going wrong at the moment, i would sugest an underactive thyroid or diabeties but they should have shown up on blood tests. I think you should go back to the doc(or another one in your practice ) and say you want your symptoms to be looked again but with "fresh eyes" tell gp to review your problems starting at the begining .its hard but dont be fobbed off, you feel rotten and your gp should be listening.good luck.

[TheOriginalFAB]

No one said "you have FM" but my osteopath thought I probably did and in a hospital report it was written as his diagnosis but he didn't tell me. I found out via a letter. I was sent to see a physio who said I had FM but she couldn't help me.

I want to do exercise and quite like swimming but I am scared of water . I go on the rowing machine sometimes and walk the children to school which is 3/4 - 1 mile there and the same back.

My nana died 6 years ago so I should be over it by now but I need her more than ever at the moment.

I am very tired and stressed about stuff I have no control over.

I did the NHS direct symptom checker on Thursday and it said to request a call back. The time was 2-5 hours which was when I would be asleep. I did it yesterday and as I said yes that I was recently tired it said see GP today.

[colditz]

Re the rash on your tummy - is it one sided or is it round your whole tummy area?

[TheOriginalFAB]

It is just in one place. It is a red rash with small raised spots.

[colditz]

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/Shingles_on_the_chest.jpg&imgrefurl=wa.wikipedia.org/wiki/Im%25C3%25A5dje:Shingles_on_the_chest.jpg&usg=__RLemefcCasyKzKUSQ1RT6okZvGY=&h=1536&w=2048&sz=1129&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=4WxrRW5jZ3CCOM:&tbnh=137&tbnw=175&ei=OmcZTrz9Lsiu8QP53rwo&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dshingles%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1024%26bih%3D629%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=527&vpy=129&dur=2121&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=112&ty=144&page=1&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">does it look like this

[Birdsgottafly]

You need to go to your GP, it may be shingles, it may be another form of 'nerve/sress' rash.

You need a referal to possibly a rheumatic or muscular clinic, you need full bloods and possibly x rays. TBH, it could be a number of things including Lupus.

This is impacting on your day to day life, so insist that your GP takes this seriously, don't be fobbed off, he should be doing more.

I feel that CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) would be of great benefit, but you need to rule out medical problems first, if there is a long waiting list in your area, the regerals can go in together.

The NHS is using CBT more and more for all sorts of management for health conditions, if your GP refuses, ask him why and get further advice.

Don't ignore this, you could be feeling alot better day to day.

[Notquitegrownup]

Well done for postingTOF, and getting it into words. You must be feeling sooo low, and getting it outloud can help. I'm sorry to hear about your Nana - you were obviously close and so you are dealing with your loss as well as your illness/unsympathetic GP .

Have you googled Fibromyalgia? There is a forum which looks very positive - although beware - there are very annoyihng flashing smilies on the discussion board!! However, the opening lines on their website seem to describe what you are going through exactly. Link to Fibromyalgia Support group here

On top of all of this you are looking after your kids, which is exhausting at the best of times. Be kind to yourself, and give yourself a big treat - reading a good novel is my new treat, as I'm trying to avoid chocolate!

Your tummy rash sounds like a minor matter compared to all of the above.

Hope that others come along with more practical advice too, though there seems to be lots on that forum about exercise, medication and how-to-get-your-doctor-to-listen, too.

[TheOriginalFAB]

It isn't as red or as many spots. I would take a pic but don't know how to load.

[TheOriginalFAB]

Is there ant point going to the ooh doctors? Can they see your medical history?

[colditz]

The rash thatis agonising when you scratch it seemsvery much like shingles to me, I think you need to go to the doctor

[TheOriginalFAB]

Shall I ring the OOH doctor? I am not sure what to prioritise tbh.

[TheOriginalFAB]

Okay, phoned. Got an appointment at 11.45. She says I have to be isolated when I get there. She thinks I have shingles.

[TheOriginalFAB]

I have got shingles . Can't give me anything as too late.

[colditz]

WHy is it too late? I would suggest amixture of ibuprofen and paracetamol for the painful rash, and sleep as much as you can. Shingles wore me flat for 6 weeks. (I also got there too late and unfortunately it scarred my nerve)

[colditz]

You must rest and you must try not to get stressed. Do you have fundsfor takeaways or paper plate andiceland oven crap? You really need to conserve your energy

[TheOriginalFAB]

I can't remember what he said now, maybe something about the skin being broken? He was happy to discuss his problem with rats eating his pigeons .

DH has come home with M&S money from a £ gift from his parents for our wedding anniversary so I won't have to do any jobs at all today.

I am meant to volunteer in school tomorrow but not sure. I don't want to let the teacher down.

I am also meant to be cutting down on my meds on Tuesday but don't know what to do about them either.

[Birdsgottafly]

Shingles is dangerous to anyone pregnant or immune suppressed, so think twice about going into the school.

I would still go back to the GP.

[colditz]

DON'T go into school, you could cause a chicken pox outbreak and they won't thank you for it.

[TheOriginalFAB]

DH has already said I am not to go in. What concerns me I had this last week and went in twice to help. Obviously I didn't know what was wrong at the time .

[colditz]

You can't catch shingles fromshingles, you can only catch it fromchcken pox so don'tpanic.

[TheOriginalFAB]

But I could have given the kids chicken pox? .

I feel sorry for dh, it is our wedding anniversary today.