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 :(

Sorry you’ve had such a hard time . The feeling of not being able to take a proper breath and constant heartburn - for me, that was grief. Grief manifests itself physically as extreme stress, so it could be that.

I ask about your diet as I was overloading myself on ‘healthy’ foods but not realising I was loading up on high histamine foods; fermented foods, mature cheeses, spinach, citrus, tomatoes, shellfish& fish, dark chocolate also coffee, black tea, alcohol. I was following a paleo style diet but eating too much fat and protein in the process. My gut and liver were struggling to process everything. I’ve now cut down to a lighter, more vegetarian diet (but not totally) and my gut already feels better.

@mekitgubakuds

And people doing that are ruining AIBU, there have been several threads on the very topic recently. Im not going start an argument but the topics are there for a reason.

Oh shut up, you utter nightmare.

Op i had something and it was basically
Anxiety.. it just went away in the end. That’s the heart stuff.

Indigestion - how is your diet? And are you drinking or taking drugs like antidepressants? These both cause indigestion and heartburn for me.

@TramaDollface

Op i had something and it was basically Anxiety.. it just went away in the end. That’s the heart stuff.

Indigestion - how is your diet? And are you drinking or taking drugs like antidepressants? These both cause indigestion and heartburn for me.

I eat reasonably well although I’ve noticed the palpitations are worse after too much storage or cheese so I’ve cut down on that. I don’t drink much at all, a glass of wine on a weekend if that. I started antidepressants a month or so back, but nothing at all before that. I’m not great with taking pain meds and prefer to manage it myself if I can.

Many of the symptoms are similar to mine when my anxiety is climbing.
Get all the tests done but it continues to amaze me how anxiety, grief and stress can have such an impact on the way we feel physically. The brain is a powerful thing.