To ask if stress could have caused these symptoms

[Apieceofnuisance]

This should really be in health but I’m posting in AIBU for traffic because somebody who knows is more likely to stumble across this here.

I’ve been very unwell for the past year and a half with what I assumed was long covid. I had a very weird bug type thing in Feb 2020 and a month or so after that I started getting awful autoimmune style symptoms: burning lungs, severe fatigue, rashes, headaches, hair loss, intermittent diarrhoea, tachycardia etc etc.

But in the months running up to the start of the pandemic I was under severe stress. I won’t go into it much as I don’t want to be identified but my exH was being psychologically abusive and put me through hell to the point that I was too scared to leave my house and then something else traumatic happened. I had a total breakdown and was only just starting to pick up a few pieces when covid hit and we locked down.

I am not getting better despite researching long covid and following all advice, attempting a special group, graded exercise, pacing and so on. Nothing is helping. I am now wondering if this is somehow a psychological reaction to the severe period of stress. Does anyone know if this is possible? I am so ill.

Yes, it absolutely is possible. There's a book called The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel van der Kolk, the title alone says it all. That might be worth a read for you.

When signing up with Rape Crisis one of the questions they ask is "Do you have fibromyalgia?" which is very telling. Many Women's Aid users also have it.

Have you had any counselling specific to what has happened to you?

Before assuming a psychological response you should maybe ask your doctor to run a panel of blood tests to include autoimmune conditions as they can be triggered by viruses.

Absolutely it can. I've been going through similar issues myself for the past two years. Breathing problems is my biggest issue.

A neurologist recommended this website to me, which you may find useful:

www.neurosymptoms.org/en_GB/

You should definitely see a GP though, as PP has said, to rule out anything serious.

@Orgasmagorical

Yes, it absolutely is possible. There's a book called The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel van der Kolk, the title alone says it all. That might be worth a read for you.

When signing up with Rape Crisis one of the questions they ask is "Do you have fibromyalgia?" which is very telling. Many Women's Aid users also have it.

Have you had any counselling specific to what has happened to you?

Thank you for the book recommendation - I will search it out now.

Yes, I had some counselling over a year ago but it didn’t solve anything or even make me feel better emotionally.

@KatieB55

Before assuming a psychological response you should maybe ask your doctor to run a panel of blood tests to include autoimmune conditions as they can be triggered by viruses.

I’ve had a lot of tests as I needed them to be referred to the long covid clinic. Nearly everything appears normal.

@shorttwoshot

Absolutely it can. I've been going through similar issues myself for the past two years. Breathing problems is my biggest issue.

A neurologist recommended this website to me, which you may find useful:

www.neurosymptoms.org/en_GB/

You should definitely see a GP though, as PP has said, to rule out anything serious.

Thanks so much - I will have a look at that website this evening.