To just want to know what’s wrong with me... not really an AIBU but I’m so fed up!

[40somethingJBJ]

My dad died in November 20 and everything is being attributed to stress - my symptoms have got worse since then, but started way before that.

I’m diagnosed with fibromyalgia and degenerative discs, plus I had a brain injury 7 years ago, which seems to be when the fibro started. I’m also asthmatic, although not severely.

For a couple of years, I’ve been getting heart palpitations. They’re completely random in when they occur, but definitely worse after eating (not exclusively after eating though). March 20 I got referred for a 24hr heart monitor. Had the appointment finally a couple of weeks ago. Results showed nothing concerning, although my heart rate does goes over 100 quite often. I’ve also had an ECG within the last 6 months which was also fine. Woke up last night and my heart was pounding. Checked it with my oximeter and it was 136bpm. That’s not normal whilst I’m asleep I’m sure!

I’ve constantly got a tight/heavy feeling in my chest. Not a pain, just a feeling like I can’t quite manage a deep breath, and I have periods where I have to really think about breathing or I feel like I’ll forget if that makes sense. It’s not that I’m struggling to breath as such, just that it seems harder work than it should be. This then does make me anxious, but the symptom comes before the anxiety.

I also have constant indigestion/heartburn. I eat rennie like they’re sweets. The gp has prescribed me a once a day tablet, but not seen much improvement yet. It feels like my chest is burning and fizzy all the damn time.

I’ve had regular spells of dizziness since October 20. Really whooshie awful feeling in my head when I move quickly. Some days are worse than others and it’s really affecting me being able to drive, which is a total pain in the arse as I can’t walk very far at the best of times! I took a Covid test back in October to rule this out as a casual on the advice of my gp. This has been put down to stress/anxiety.

I’ve had full bloods done and not anaemic/diabetic etc. Blood pressure is fine. Everything is fine on paper; I just feel like absolute shit and I’m really fed up.

Gp says there’s nothing physically wrong and it’s all stress related. I’m definitely stressed at the minute, but a lot of my stress is around my health feeling shit, so it’s difficult to work out which came first! I’m not sleeping properly either, but this has been more since my dad died - the other things all started before then.

Anyone have any ideas of anything that might have been missed? Can all this be put down to stress? I definitely have had a few panic attacks, but surely I haven’t been in one big panic attack for months now! Is that even possible?

I’m really, really at my wits end :(

@Boopear

Op i had similar type of issues a year or so ago and ended up being referred to a fantastic cardiologist. To summarise - it was anxiety. Basically concern about one 'symptom' causes anxiety which then perpetuates other symptoms and so on so on, until you are convinced you are going to keep over on the spot. After I was throughly checked over (inc endless treadmill runs with wires hanging off me!) and told I was physically fine, the "symptoms' magically disappeared - basically I wasn't anxious anymore.

Not saying this is the case with yourself (and I would push for a referral) but one thing he said really stuck with me, which was that heart issues tend to cause one really strong symptom rather than lots of lesser ones.

Hope you get sorted..

Thank you. I suspect it probably is a case of worrying about everything that could be is making he feel worse. Possibly not helped that my dad passed away in his sleep from heart failure, so I do have that in the back of my mind.

Sounds like you might be borderline with your thyroid then, which could explain a lot.
My thyroid is within "normal range" but I still get these antibody flare ups, which just floor me. Basically the Drs won't give you anything for it, but I've since gone gluten free on recommendation from a thyroid charity and that has made a huge difference to the amount of flare ups I was getting.

Orthostatic tachycardia. It can be triggered by grief/trauma, mine began when my child died. Google POTS and see if you think the descriptions fit.

for you OP. I suffered from anxiety in a previous job and it did not present at all like I thought it would... I didn’t feel anxious in myself, but had most of the symptoms you describe, often at night/on days off, so I didn’t associate it with work. I even took out life insurance for my family in case I had a brain tumour or something. It completely resolved when I left that job. I am so sorry for your losses and your health challenges and there is no quick fix to your situation.

I think if it was me I would maybe tackle the two issues side by side. There could be a medical/physical element to this so it’s definitely worth following up with the doctor - it may give you peace of mind to rule things out, but meanwhile try to get some help for your stress, anxiety and grief (?cbt/counselling). You have been through such a lot you’re bound to be suffering from chronic stress.

It’s also worth noting that stress can exacerbate physical illness and vice versus. If you’re in to it, could you also look at holistic/complementary therapies (as long as it’s not something which would negatively affect your conventional medical treatments/tests etc)

@Teazels

Sounds like you might be borderline with your thyroid then, which could explain a lot. My thyroid is within "normal range" but I still get these antibody flare ups, which just floor me. Basically the Drs won't give you anything for it, but I've since gone gluten free on recommendation from a thyroid charity and that has made a huge difference to the amount of flare ups I was getting.

Hmm... just been googling about this and it sounds quite likely. One of my blood tests showed raised a white blood cell count, which they never got to the bottom of, and was just put down to probably having a cold or something that was causing my immune system to react. I’ll definitely look into getting my thyroid investigated more.

Hi op,
This sounds almost exactly like lots of mine and many others long covid symptoms, there’s a really good discussion on here with a lot of lovely ladies.
I’m just not sure about the two years ago start point? That wouldn’t make sense for covid? I’m 42 also and never had any of the issues I do now before I had it in March.

@Toddlertalkslots

Hi op, This sounds almost exactly like lots of mine and many others long covid symptoms, there’s a really good discussion on here with a lot of lovely ladies. I’m just not sure about the two years ago start point? That wouldn’t make sense for covid? I’m 42 also and never had any of the issues I do now before I had it in March.

Yeah it does fit, but I’m fairly sure I’ve not had Covid. The palpitations have been ongoing for at least 2 years, the indigestion/heartburn well over a year (I’ve had a look on Amazon at how many times I’ve ordered Rennie!). The “new” things really are the dizziness and tight/heavy feeling in my chest when breathing, which started around October time last year, and I tested negative for Covid back then.

OP I didn't see your other post before. I reckon your GP is underestimating your thyroid issue. I'd have a private thyroid test and get TSH, total T4, total T3, free T4 and free T3. Somewhere like medichecks might do it or similar. Get blood drawn properly, not a pinprick home test.

Check out these: there's transcripts if can't listen

chriskresser.com/subclinical-hypothyroidism-what-you-need-to-know/

chriskresser.com/why-your-normal-thyroid-lab-results-may-not-be-normal/

chriskresser.com/5-thyroid-patterns-that-wont-show-up-on-standard-lab-tests/

I’d ask for thyroid to be retested and coeliac disease to be done - a symptom can be heartburn.
I once saw a holistic therapist and she asked me to describe where I felt my feelings of frustration came from (I was also grieving) and I indicated the area where you would get heartburn - she looked at me and said; “ah, you’re overwhelmed.”
She was absolutely right. I was. With grief, with life (illness, small children etc.) I started to allow myself to properly grieve after that and also pushed for more thorough blood tests. But having someone pinpoint the feeling really helped. Feeling overwhelmed (whilst also dealing with the death of your father) really does sometimes manifest itself in physical symptoms.

Thanks all. I’ve just been googling and there’s a Nuffield place not far from me where I can get various bloods done to check my thyroid/hormone levels/vitamin levels, so I think I’m going to pay to get them all done privately. I think my gp sometimes has a bit of a tendency to out everything down to either stress or fibro, and, whilst I’m happy to accept it if it is down to either of those, I’d rather rule everything else out extensively first.

Thyroid could be the problem, why have they not given you a trial of thyroxine if it is “running a bit low” do you know what your levels were ?
I had all of these symptoms when my thyroid was struggling, before diagnosis. Peri meno could also be a factor.
Your brain injury - could it have had an impact on your pituitary?

Hi OP. Years ago I had heart palpitations and convinced myself I had some dreadful heart condition. It was thoroughly checked out at the local hospital. I even sat down on the pavement waiting for the bus home afterwards as I just didn't have the energy to stand up. The results came back - yes yyou've got palpitations yes it's perfectly normal. I instantly felt okay and now rarely think about the palpitations though I still get them.

Also when I was having a very stressful time at work I felt like I had a steel band round my chest stopping me taking a full breath. I knew it just muscle tension but it felt so like a possible heart attack.
I also can't sleep when I'm stressed.
Don't know about your other symptoms but these could definitely be down to stress.
Like pps I find walking helps.

I’m so sorry for your loss op 💐
I have ME and regularly have all the symptoms you mention. Yes, I know my GP likes to put it all down to stress but I do believe that many of the symptoms (particularly the heart issues) are actually causing the stress or at least exacerbating it. I regularly have the difficulties breathing that you mention and find it referred to often in some of the ME Facebook groups that I’m in. I particularly wonder about ME because you have fibromyalgia and it is very common to have both.

@SirVixofVixHall

Thyroid could be the problem, why have they not given you a trial of thyroxine if it is “running a bit low” do you know what your levels were ? I had all of these symptoms when my thyroid was struggling, before diagnosis. Peri meno could also be a factor. Your brain injury - could it have had an impact on your pituitary?

I’ve just looked at my records online and my TSH levels were 4.8. Gp said they class anything up to 5 as “normal” although this seems to vary depending on the doctor/area/which website you look at! My mum had an under active thyroid and it took years of symptoms to diagnose. Thinking about it, I was told years ago that I have a goitre - my throat has felt like there’s something a bit tight around it for a very long time. Just got used to it if I’m honest - and I know that’s related to thyroid things. Doc wasn’t concerned as it’s fairly small.

I dire if my TSH goes above 2, i also had a Mum who took years to diagnose, years and years of her feeling rubbish. I took a decade. Absolutely at that level your GP should have also tested your antibodies and allowed you to to try thyroxine to bring your TSH down. I would go back and insist. Try and have your blood test as early a possible.

I feel dire, not “I dire” ... ( I tired😁)

Yes, I’m going to ring and get more bloods done definitely. Probably go private this time as I get the feeling my gp is a little bored with me

I was about to say POTS too.

I’m in a similar boat to you OP; 43, asthma, disc disease, brain injury and stomach issues on and off so I can fully empathise. I started years ago waking up in a panic like you described, struggling to breathe and heart pounding and it happens more often when I am stressed. The stomach thing is definitely related to stress and anxiety in me, plus you can get rebound reflux from the medication after a while so I withdrew off them. It really was awful for a couple of weeks but eventually it settled using natural remedies. I also realised that I’d been hyperventilating chronically which can happen when you’ve had asthma for years and adding stress doesn’t help. You don’t know you’re doing it but it can have a really awful effect on your body, it put you in a constant fight or flight state and give you palpitations.
Look up respiratory physio exercises for chronic hyperventilation and buteyko breathing. It’s really helped me.

Hyperventilation syndrome sounds a pretty good fit for your symptoms. Though that is linked breathing and ultimately stress normally.

www.dchs.nhs.uk/assets/public/dchs/services_we_provide/service-directory/our-services/health-psychology/Information-sheets/stress&anxiety/Hyperventilation%20Syndrome.pdf

I can’t do fancy links but have a look at this

How are you sleeping? I had similar symtoms due to extreme anxiety. The anxiety was a result of sleep deprivation. Once I sorted my sleep out I felt a lot better, even my fibromyalgia symptoms improved.

Came to say thyroid as I had similar symptoms. But see others have mentioned already. Hope you get sorted.

Thanks. Hyperventilation sounds like a pretty good fit so I’ll look into that.

Sleep is abysmal. Takes hours to get to sleep (6am the other day!) and I wake up every hour or so. I’m averaging 3-4 hours a night. I’m bloody exhausted.

Hi OP, re your thyroid, you can always by-pass your gp for a while and get bloods done by a private company. I used Medichecks (cost about £50) & it’s a finger prick test. I would definitely recommend following the thyroid thing up. GPS don’t do the full tests.

Other thoughts of mine reading your symptoms were look into POTS, also look into ‘histamine intolerance’. It’s a condition with some of your symptoms and can include digestive issues, heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, joint pain, anxiety, fatigue, sinus issues, allergies & more. It can be exacerbated by stress and in particular adrenaline. It’s gaining recognition recently but many doctors haven’t heard of it. How is your diet by the way?

@crazyontheweekend

Hi OP, re your thyroid, you can always by-pass your gp for a while and get bloods done by a private company. I used Medichecks (cost about £50) & it’s a finger prick test. I would definitely recommend following the thyroid thing up. GPS don’t do the full tests.

Other thoughts of mine reading your symptoms were look into POTS, also look into ‘histamine intolerance’. It’s a condition with some of your symptoms and can include digestive issues, heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, joint pain, anxiety, fatigue, sinus issues, allergies & more. It can be exacerbated by stress and in particular adrenaline. It’s gaining recognition recently but many doctors haven’t heard of it. How is your diet by the way?

Yes, I’m going to get bloods done privately. Got a few places to ring on Monday. I’ll look up histamine intolerance.

Diet isn’t bad. Probably eat more chocolate than I should, but I’ve made a big attempt to eat healthier as I need to lose some weight.