I'm feeling really unwell and I don't know what's wrong

[Whatad]

I should probably have name-changed for this as no doubt anything I say hereafter is going to be read in the context of this post.

However, I feel really sick. That is primarily physical, but a little bit psychologically too, as in - stress manifesting physically.

I have a horrendous phobia of hospitals but I feel I need to go in somewhere (whether that be a psychiatric hospital or a general hospital).

I've been unwell for months but think gynae problems, nausea, vomiting, lethargy etc. What is stopping me getting help for the physical symptoms is the psychological symptoms.

I've just vomited twice for no reason apart from pure bile being in my stomach.

I can't really go on like this. I have in the past ten days gone to A&E 3 times and waiting for 4 hours and just left.

I feel like I need someone to look after me or something. I'm not managing terribly well at all. Like someone to handcuff me to a trolley in A&E or something.

Any advice for someone as mental as myself?
My head physically feels like it's about to explode - like it's trying to burst out of my skull - not pain, though I do have pain - just a sensation that's difficult to describe.

I called 111 yesterday evening and they called me back this morning at 4am saying the ambulance was on the way so I told them I didn't need it anymore.

I don't know what the hell is wrong with me, whether it's mental or physical but I do know that something is wrong and I'm not sure how to get helped?

Any advice for a lost soul?

[Poddingtonp]

I didn’t want to read and run. Sorry for feeling so rubbish OP. Sounds utterly miserable.
Are you registered with a GP? Is there someone you could take with you to an apt at a GP surgery ? You may need some blood tests.
If you’re stressed then that could be making you vomit. I assume your appetite and diet isn’t so good ? You could have vitamin deficiencies etc too.
What’s the next step - can you talk to anyone- friend / relative in real life ?
If you can tell us a bit more about your home life it might be easier to advise you x

[Whatad]

I'm living away from home at the moment. Yes, I have a GP, but as I don't leave the house, I can't get there. I have a quite severe underlying condition which I'd rather not mention, but I'm not sure whether it is causing all this crap or not. It's basically a chicken and an egg question - is it physical problems that are making me down, or is it psychological problems that are producing physical symptoms.
I just literally don't know what to do now. I feel like I need to be admitted to some sort of spa hotel for a week where I'm looked after, to try to perk myself up. I have enough money to go home and seek treatment there, but that would require a massive amount of effort on my part in terms of getting to the airport and getting on a flight etc.
I'm just at a loss as to what to do.
I'm not saying this flippantly, but I feel like I'm dying slowly. I didn't go to my last 2 appointments for the underlying condition, so I don't know whether that has progressed or not.

[Ledkr]

Don't take this as patronising but can you do a bit of mindfulness meditation just to calm your mind do that you can think straight.
I say this as someone who is not at all Into alternative stuff but have been doing ten minutes a day, which has really helped me to claim down and think straight, whilst suffering lots of weird symptoms caused by low b12.

[PoppyD93x]

Try the app headspace. Its a meditation app that helps clear your mind. Without knowing your condition its hard to say if something else is causing this. But if you're leaning more to mental health my anxiety was so bad i had all sorts of physical symptoms chest pains, high blood pressure, fast pulse, headaches, dizziness ect i now take 1 or 2 propranolol a day when i feel like i need it and it really helps with the physical symptoms of anxiety.

[Nogodsnomasters]

Without knowing your actual physical conditions and the type of symptoms that would involve no one could really guess whether it's caused by that or psychological reasons however that is neither here nor there. You said you've went to A&E 3 times in the last 10 days, that must mean you are able to make it outside to the GP or do you mean you don't have a local GP? Ask someone to go with you if you can, someone you trust.

As a pp has said, anxiety and depression can cause many many physical symptoms - lethargy, insomnia, chest pain, breathing issues, hives, lightheaded, diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, headaches, muscle tension the list is endless.

You need to be kind to yourself if there is no one to look after you, a nice warm bubble bath with salts in it, fresh clean fluffy pyjamas, a warm cup of tea, a good book to read, or a crossword puzzle book or a film on TV or some adult colouring in books. Distraction and comfort are good for anxiety.

[Whatad]

I can go to A&E, and then I panic or get bored, not sure which and I just go back home after about 4 hours.

Mindfulness sounds like my personal idea of hell.

I hate my local hospital which isn't helping, as they take 6 fucking hours to see you (which I personally think is abominable).

So I'm stuck with my GP sending me to the hospital, me waiting for hours, not getting seen and going home and then the same shit a month later.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I'm getting weaker and sicker physically.

[Whatad]

On the physical side I have one diagnosis (kind of terminal sort of thing) and another issue that I have no diagnosis on yet.
On the psychological side, I've been through a lot in the past 9 months. I'm struggling to leave the house, I last showered maybe 10 days ago. I know!
So I don't know which end of me is up, and which end of my health to approach! And I literally can't sit for 6 hours in A&E to wait to be seen anymore.

[Bagpuss5]

Go to a/e at a good time.i would guess v early morning- 7am or before. Or maybe 2am , after lunch butbefore school out.

[Bagpuss5]

Sorry, meant 2pm - but 2am would prob work too!

[colehawlins]

It's basically a chicken and an egg question - is it physical problems that are making me down, or is it psychological problems that are producing physical symptoms.

Untreated chronic ill health will result in low mood.

Is there anything else that's making you think this might be partly an MH condition? Past history?

[Whatad]

Well it's the weekend now so it's going to be full with people who can't get to a GP and I'm not quite sure what the emergency is anymore! Where do I start? Lol. A Tuesday morning might be a good time.

[Whatad]

I have a history of PND. I just know something is wrong, but I'm not sure what the hell it is!

[Jenniferyellowcat]

It is unclear from your OP what is causing what but psychological symptoms can cause physical symptoms. Could you talk to a counsellor? If you have an underlying condition, you should talk to someone about how it affects you. It’s probably causing you a lot of anxiety (eg the a&e trips). Anxiety can be all-consuming and feel like an illness. It can also be linked with depression.

[Whatad]

I think there are so many things wrong at once, that overall I just feel like I'm dying. Yet to pinpoint what is actually wrong, might require 4 teams of specialists if you get me?
I suppose in isolation, none of them are fatal, but when they're all hitting you at once it can feel like you've been hit by a bus.

[colehawlins]

Okay, so be logical.

What could - theoretically - account for all or most of the symptoms?

And which of those possibilities can be easily ruled in or out by a GP?

When did you last have bloods tested? What was included?

What could you ask the GP to check that would narrow the possibilities or give pointers?

[colehawlins]

Anything with digestive symptoms could be causing malabsorption that might cause deficiencies, which in turn could be causing all manner of other symptoms.

So maybe start there.

Full blood count, Vit D, folate, iron, thyroid, B12.

Maybe liver function, and c reactive protein too.

Any other hunches you have?

Be assertive and business like with your GP.

Leave the anxiety to one side for now. If that's relevant you'll get there by a process of elimination.

[Whatad]

What could - theoretically - account for all or most of the symptoms?
Either of 4 conditions (I suspect they are all interlinked)


And which of those possibilities can be easily ruled in or out by a GP?

None

When did you last have bloods tested? What was included?

Months ago - standard screening at A&E. The two appointments I've avoided in the past year would have screened for a lot more (hence me not having them done)

What could you ask the GP to check that would narrow the possibilities or give pointers?

I'm currently under 4 specialities lol. I don't think there is much the gp can do really. They are in no particular order: Drug & Alcohol Addiction, psychiatry, gynaecology and hepatology.

So which end of me do you approach lol. Well, I suppose I haven't lost my sense of humour.

[Whatad]

Btw I'm not being flippant at all. It's my life at stake here. I realise how many resources are being put into keeping me alive, which is partly why I try not to bother them (and do anyway).
I think I just need a spa day lol.

[BananaFace5]

Have you explained to the gp what happens when they send you to the hospital? Is there anybody that could go with you at all? Or if the gp explajned via letter to A&E maybe they could either triage you quickly so that even if you sit ina bed for a good while, you are not just in a waiting room. Or could someone from the mental health unit come and sit with you.

[BananaFace5]

Do you have a counsellor or buddy or anything like that from the addiction centres/groups that could step in and help you stay until resolved?

[colehawlins]

Were the missed appointments with Hepatology?

Do you have a key worker of any kind?

[Whatad]

My GP, while thorough is a bit pushy and I don't think quite understands the psychological end of things nor the addiction end of things. I think she views me as some sort of talking hamster that speaks about what symptoms it is feeling.
I can't think of any other way to describe it other than I get the impression that she's surprised that I'm still alive in the first place and secondly that I can speak lol.
I frequently get the impression that doctors don't know what to do with me. Frankly, I don't know what to do with myself either.

[Whatad]

Have you explained to the gp what happens when they send you to the hospital? Is there anybody that could go with you at all? Or if the gp explajned via letter to A&E maybe they could either triage you quickly so that even if you sit ina bed for a good while, you are not just in a waiting room. Or could someone from the mental health unit come and sit with you.

Hadn't thought of that, but I don't think it's something they do. I'd quite happily stay in A&E if they gave me a shot of ketamine or something, but as it's probably the only time I've left the house in weeks, it's quite stressful for me.

[Whatad]

Do you have a counsellor or buddy or anything like that from the addiction centres/groups that could step in and help you stay until resolved?

No

[Jenniferyellowcat]

A&E are not always the best at understanding mental health issues, I guess just because they are busy. I second trying to get some sort of support from mental health or addiction support services. It sounds like you are dealing with a lot at the moment.