AIBU to make another Gp appointment even though tests came back normal

[havingamadmoment]

I have been feeling unwell for months.
Nothing terrible just a string of things. I vaguely recall months ago feeling off and since then it’s just been one thing after another slowly getting worse.
I am 35 and the only medication I take is ivabradine which a consultant gave me a few years ago because my heart was fast . If I’m honest I’m still not sure why I am taking these - or why my heart was fast.

The last few months I have been extremely tired, I have had really heavy periods. I had a urine infection (which went with antibiotics).
I have felt lightheaded especially after doing things.
I have been loosing quite a lot of head hair!.
Had really bad indigestion. I have been really forgetful - other people have started commenting on this which is embarrassing.
And now the last few weeks my arms are sore and weak - even picking up a can of beans hurts my arm.

It is seriously pathetic I feel like a 96 year old woman.

I have been to my gp three times since about May. The first I had the antibiotics for the UTI . The second she refered me for an ultrasound of my kidneys, liver and pelvis. All was normal.
The third I left a couple of months thinking it would get better but I went back once the muscle pain started - I had blood tests for general things and thyroid. Which came back normal according to gp receptionist. No need to make another appointment.

I feel even worse now two weeks after that and I am just going crazy. But I feel a total pain going back when everything is normal.

The last gp I saw clearly thought I was making the whole thing up - he was not interested at all and I felt really like I was just wasting their time.

AIBU to go back again I feel like a total time waster and hypochondriac!

Second opinion. Definitely. Your symptoms are all ones I have, among many others. I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. I also have endometriosis. You may very well have developed fibromyalgia in which case you would need to ask to see a neurologist.

Definitely don't settle for being fobbed off.

Did they test for B12 levels and Vit D? Strangely, these are not always tested in routine blood tests, even though they are common deficiencies that cause the symptoms you describe.

Ask for a copy of your blood test results.

Second asking for a copy of your bloods. I'd bet on your thyroid being off. If your TSH is at 4 they'll say it's normal but in my professional capacity I've worked with women with TSH of 2 who have been crippled by symptoms of hypothyroidism, very similar to yours. Unfortunately it's a sweeping lab level applied to everyone. I might be ok at a TSH of 4 whereas you might be bed bound.

It is definitely not unreasonable to go back if you are still feeling unwell. I am a GP receptionist and I do say to patients that even if the results come back normal they should still see the GP if they are still suffering with the symptoms. Not everything is revealed on a blood test and it sounds like you need some further investigations.

I have very similar symptoms (just started my own thread last night) and I have just been diagnosed B12 deficiency. Go back and ask for b12 check.

Second getting your B12 checked - I thought I had dementia with mine - and I was so tired I could barely move when I got in from work.

I am peri menopausal now and that also has a similar effect - so get it investigated

I hope you get some answers and feel better soon

Swingifthings
According to the little bit of paper the blood tests were

Hb ac 1
Lipids
Liver function test
U e creatinine
Thyroid function test
FBC

I have no idea what they are but that what I had. The receptionist said the liver function test had come back slightly off but that the doctor had added a note saying her wasn’t worried about it .
No idea what that means!

Low iron levels? I had that caused by heavy periods and I lost loads of hair, felt lightheaded and tired/weak.

Anaemia, Low B12, Low D and hypothyroid can all cause those symptoms and 'satisfactory' levels aren't good enough for many people. I would ask for the actual results of all of them (you are legally entitled to have copies of your results) and ask to be tested for any not in your results.

Post the result on here or on appropriate face book pages and you will get better advice.

As mentioned upthread an underactive thyroid can be a bigger to get diagnosed. Basically they're looking mainly at 2 results, the T4, which is the level of thyroxine in your blood, and the TSH or thyroid stimulating hormone. Basically, if your t4 is normal but your TSH is raised, you're often labelled as '-subclinical hyperthyroid'....your t4 is ok but only because your TSH is working too hard to keep it that way. However subclinical hypothyroid can often produce much the same symptoms as underactive 'proper.'

My own theory is the NHS doesn't like having too many people diagnosed with it, mainly because once you have an NHS diagnosis all your prescriptions, not just thyroxine, are free.

Many endocrinologist believe that artificial thyroxine should be prescribed as soon as TSH is raised, but within the NHS it will often be prescribed once the t4 is low as well as raised TSH.

I'm on thyroxine now, but had to wait ages for my t4 to be low before it was prescribed. Ive since been more pushy at having it increased when my t4 has been normal, but falling, and my TSH has been abnormal.

Did they test your iron/ferretin levels? When I was anemic I had bad hair loss, tired (sleeping every day and still tired tired) depressed, heavy periods - it’s one of the side affects of anemia. Heart flutters, and brain fog, breathlessness. Also would bleed badly when shaved legs

I was very anemic. Had two iron infusions and felt like a brand new person.

When my full blood counts were abnormal with extremely low platelets, haemoglobin and neutrophils, my doctor phoned me that evening to tell me that he was arranging for me to go to hospital the next morning. I guess if the doctors are worried that something is seriously wrong, they do act quickly.

However, there does seem to be something wrong in your case which they haven't been able to diagnose . I don't think you are a time waster. I think you have to go back to the doctors and be firm with them. Demand a second opinion

Ok so I spoke to the receptionist this morning - she gave me my thyroid result but then said I would have to talk to the doctor to get the rest (they seems pretty busy)

So my thyroid was 0.84?
I have an appointment to talk about the others on the phone with the dcotor on Wednesday.

Not unreasonable at all. When patients ring for blood results which have come back normal, some patients are elated, some disappointed. I say that the bloods haven't shown anything untoward but if you want to see if there are any further options to make an appointment. In other words the GP could refer you on or arrange different tests.

You're describing ivabradine side effects. You need to have that revised.