Physical health suddenly deteriorating...possible causes?

[MySqueeHasBeenSeverelyHarshed]

I will be seeing my GP on Friday, I'm just looking for some possibles to bring up with her in case I've missed something.

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia a good few years back, had issues with pain and exhaustion but I was able to manage my symptoms reasonably well and lived a very busy, active life. However, two incidents that happened just before and after Christmas have sent me rapidly downhill. The first was having to be rushed to hospital with chest and head pains (turned out to be an ear infection) and the second was having spasms that usually only ran across my back and down my left leg run down both legs and my back. I couldn't walk and had to rent a wheelchair for two weeks just to get around.

Since then, I've quit my job and went into a sort of 'recovery' period where I did some gentle exercise and physiotherapy while having tests done to rule out Osteoarthritis, Lyme disease and Lupus. When I see my doctor I'm going to ask for a referral for an MRI to rule out Multiple Sclerosis or other nerve disorders.

My biggest issue right now is that I have almost no energy. Everything is a struggle, even the most basic things like cooking or doing my hair. It's like wading through mud. I'm having lots of faint and dizzy spells too, and I can't really enjoy the things I usually like because I'm so wiped out afterwards. I mopped the floors one evening and could barely walk for the next two days. I am on the same medication I was prescribed for fibromyalgia but it's not doing anything for me.

Any ideas? I'm willing to listen to any opinions at this point.

What you are describing as ‘right now’ sounds a lot like how I am feeling right now too. I have been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (or ME)
I feel dizzy all the time, not quite with it, faint etc
Doing the smallest thing makes my body feel like I have run a marathon - like you have described being wiped for the next few days.
I would check out more details online to see if it sounds like what you are experiencing

Something similar happened to me and I think it was the stress and anxiety making things worse. I highly recommend acupuncture and vit D plus fish oils.

I was going to say did they check your vit d

Has your b12 level been checked and if so, do you know the actual result (rather than being told it's 'in range' for example)?
B12 deficiency affects your whole nervous system and has a huge range of sometimes very severe symptoms.

Make sure that any blood tests include a full blood count

It does sound a lot like CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome). Get your B12 checked as well, it can cause fatigue like you're describing.

Whoops, cross post.

I was going to suggest MS, it sounds very similar,but I see you’ve mentioned that already. Definitely worth having it ruled out.

Sounds like ME to me but obviously you have to have everything else ruled out. Fibromyalgia and ME seem to be linked conditions. Post exertional malaise ( so being extra exhausted, extra or worsening symptoms after any kind of additional energy expenditure including emotional energy) is a key diagnostic for ME. It's not well understood in the UK. Good luck

My DD has very severe ME and hasn't been able to walk for 5 years. A host of other very difficult symptoms. She's entirely bed bound

Unfortunately, Fibro can do this. They say it isnt progressive but every support group that I'm part of and myself included, have the opposite opinion. Be kind to yourself and if crossing out other potential illnesses helps, absolutely do it. Xxx

Check out the symptoms for Coeliac disease. It's not always digestive ( in fact the majority of cases diagnosed now have mostly other symptoms) it's a multi system disorder and is often misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia and CFS. Many doctors will be dismissive without d and v or bloating etc but have a look for yourself and see if it fits
www.coeliac.org.uk/coeliac-disease/about-coeliac-disease-and-dermatitis-herpetiformis/symptoms/
The only symptom I had was fatigue. My son only had brain fog none of us had any digestive issues, ever. Hope you find a solution

Sorry and joint pain was the other main symptom I had. Tiredness and joint pain.

for you op, that sounds utterly shit

Hi OP. I have a lot of similar symptoms to you. I am seeing a neurologist next week. In my case, I am also thinking along the lines of ME and MS although I'm sure there are a lot of less well-known conditions that are possible. You sound like you are having a worse time than me, though. Although I stumble frequently, I've always been able to walk for miles.

Good luck.

I would ask for a full thyroid blood test too.

I’ve no idea but wanted to give you these

Hope you feel better soon.

I feel like that when I am anaemic, or when my b12 dips just before my injection. Agree with the others that a thorough blood screen should be their first step.

Thanks for all the replies.

I'm currently on a very strict nutrient-rich diet so I can rule out iron and B12 deficiencies, I take supplements for anything the diet doesn't provide. My blood tests and bone density scans have shown no abnormalities.

What I think might be pointing to MS is two symptoms I've always had that I dismissed as not too serious. I have sudden 'jerks' where my leg or arm will move on its own, mostly at night, and that's gotten much worse recently. Last night it happened again and it was a body-wide spasm. I also have what I call 'weak moments' were a body part, usually my hand or arm, will just go floppy and I'll drop whatever I'm carrying.

The other symptom is in my eyes. I've been wearing strong prescription glasses since I was a child, and my eyes are always dry and sore. It's gone so bad I can't wear contact lenses or eye make-up because I have to touch my eyes so much, various medicated eye drops have done nothing to help with this. I didn't realize that was a possible sign of MS until I started researching, but I also don't want to give myself 'Google syndrome' by thinking all these symptoms mean I definitely have this thing.

B12 deficiency can't be ruled out by having a good diet, it's extremely rare for it to be dietary linked in the first place. The problems usually arise with a problem absorbing the ingested b12. Coeliac disease is one cause, long term use of proton pump inhibitors (like omeprazole) is another, pernicious anaemia is the one I have. It's an autoimmune disorder where your body destroys the cells that link to b12 to absorb them. Treatment is by injection because you can no longer absorb b12, so please don't rule it out because you have a good diet.

I cannot absorb b12 through food, I have pernicious anaemia. I have an injection every 8 wks to keep my levels topped up. Shortly before it is due, and before I was diagnosed I was absolutely walking through treacle. Look up the symptoms of b12 deficiency, it can be quite debilitating.

I think the illness get worse over time, My DM was diagnosed 15 years or so with fibromyalgia. Her help has gone down hill rapidly these past 5 years, she is in constant pain with severe mobility issues, she has tried everything.

Came on to say b12 and anaemia. Agree with pp about your diet not being necessarily relevant. I couldn't believe how ill I felt and how quickly I recovered when my b12 was very low and I had injections.

B12 isn't covered in a standard blood test, so you may well not gave been tested for it before.

That's very interesting about the b12, I hadn't heard of that before. I thought taking supplements that included b12 would be enough to rule out deficiencies. Thanks so much, I'll look into that and discuss with my doctor.

I came to say b12 too!
Most people with a b12 deficiency can’t absorb it from food.
Having a b12 deficiency makes you feel like death!