To think I’m dying? Any doctors around? 🙏

[Garret]

Got worse over a couple of weeks. Tiredness. Squishy tummy and no appetite. Aches and pains. Buzzing sensations all over. Back and neck pain. Joints hurting and clicking. Muscles twitching and hurting. Feeling wobbly. Now struggling to walk because of muscle burning pains. Anxiety and panic.

GP is totally unconcerned. Checked me over and said I haven’t lost muscle strength, range of movement, tone or sensation. Took some blood to test for vitamin deficiencies (I often have these but never felt like this before). Told me to address my anxiety and referred me to the psychiatric nurse.

I’m hysterical. Imagining I have some awful disease. How can the GP not be worried when I have such severe symptoms? Please help me if you can.

So I've been where you are, no one had any idea what was wrong and I deteriorated fast. Numb face, numb legs, internal vibrations, muscle spasms, muscle pain, eyesight changes-visual snow, fatigue, chest pain, bone pain, dizzy off balance, forgetful. I went to an amazing endocrinologist who tested my thyroid, that was fine. He trialled me on b12 injections as my b12 was "in range" well there was the miracle I needed! Turned out I had a functional b12 deficiency which unfortunately goes unrecognised because I was essentially in range and there for ok in doctors eyes! My iron had always been low and unfortunately taking an iron suppliment crashed my b12 even more as they work together to create new red blood cells(along with folate). My folate was borderline low and because of this wasn't allowing my b12 to be actively used by my body. So there was b12 in my blood but it wasn't reaching my cells and my nervous system was in crisis. Reach out to the b12 society charity. They will help you access appropriate tests and help, do not take suppliments as these hugely falsify results in this situation. Let me know if you need anything x

Poor you, OP. It is scary it knowing what is causing you a lot of the symptoms, and I totally relate to how you feel about not being in total confidence or control of your body.

Remember, these things will be ok. Nothing I'd say sounds too serious (but obviously I'm not a doctor), and hopefully just to make you feel slightly better, I had a mild traumatic brain injury and post concussion syndrome in 2014, which brought on a lot of horrible things like tingling, brain fog, tinnitus, and I even lost the ability to read and write (that really was scary! 😨) Plus, much worse than all of that, I had a horrible adverse reaction to an off label antipsychotic prescribed for severe insomnia and anxiety after the head injury, which gave me a permanent neurological involuntary movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia. This is pretty much where things get very bad, and I literally don't have control sometimes over my tongue, mouth or other body parts, and they move on their own 😫😭🙃

I'm not saying any of this to scare you (I hope it hasn't!), just to say that I have been through, and still suffer from horrible things and have survived.

You will be ok 💖 Big hugs ✨

*not knowing what is causing the symptoms (sorry for the typo!) 🙄😳

@Poopants1000 thank you. So your blood tests showed your B12 was fine but really it wasn’t? I will look into this and see if I can request any help.

Hi OP,

I've been diagnosed with functional B12 deficiency and the consultant told me to buy some of the B12 patches on this website and used them. You could try that very quickly and easily, and if B12 deficiency isn't the problem then I suppose it shouldn't do any harm.

https://www.vitaminpatches.uk/vitamin-patches

You can get advice on this kind of stuff from these people:
https://www.theironclinic.com/

The consultant said that the problem with Functional B12 deficiency is that it stops the lining of the small intestine from developing properly and then the person can't absorb vitamins properly and they are stuck in a cycle of deficiency.

The B12 blood tests are apparently a bit misleading because they measure both active and inactive B12, but if you only have inactive B12 then that will not do what your body needs it to do.

I'm not sure if all this is right because I learned that second paragraph from discussion forums, but it might be worth a try.

I haven't yet tried the patches because I tend to react really badly to vitamin supplements, and I haven't plucked up the courage to do it yet.

There's a lot of information here:
https://pernicious-anaemia-society.org/

do you drink plenty of fluids?
are you seeing someone for your trigger finger?

Darling, I understand you're feeling nervous, but try and think of it like this.

The best case scenario is that you have something very minor - thyroid issue, pinched nerves, vitamin deficiency.

The worst case scenario is probably an onset of neurological illness such as MS.

So the way to feel calm is to understand it is far more likely whatever you are experiencing is at the best case scenario end of that scale. Far, far more likely. And although some symptoms can feel scary, they are often benign.

At the top end of the scale on the very small chance you do have something neurological, it won't be life threatening! You will cope with it and get treatment and be just fine!

Please stop googling, let the doctors do their job and if you feel they aren't then ask to see a different GP until you feel happy.

The best attitude is: "this is probably something minor, but if it's not then I can handle it". The symptoms you describe aren't ones which cause deep concern. If they were, believe me that the doctor would have you on the fast track to every test in the book in a heartbeat.

Yes, b12 is responsible for our nervous system and is in every cell in our bodies. It massively affects the brain and spinal cord. If you have neurological symptoms which you most certainly do you need injections not suppliments. Like I said before suppliments or patches will just raise your levels but won't help you as your body isn't absorbing and so the b12 won't pass through from blood to cells.
There are many more advanced tests you can ask for such as Holo TC(which tests active and inactive b12) MMA and Homocysteine. BUT let me tell you you have to read up and be aware as b12 is tricky to diagnose. The lack of awareness is eye watering and I was almost accepting my demise before I found my endocrinologist. My neuropathy pain, pins and needles and weakness was tragic. Please go on the b12 society website and contact them. I can help too

Here is the b12 society page
Contact by email
[email protected]
They are literal life savers

I love threads like this. So many armchair medics.

OP@Garret is there any reason why they aren't considering Psoriatic arthritis ?? ex-physio here and your symptoms sound very classic for a flare.....can often take 5-10 years to develop after a psoriasis diagnosis , it affects up to 40% of people with skin psoriasis and it can come on slowly or quickly and be triggered by something like a bacterial or viral infection , severe stress can also have an impact on symptoms. Also, in case your GP hasn't told you, don't take any calcium containing supplements at the same time as your iron(.P.S....generally calcium supplements aren't recommended for people with normal calcium levels on a normal diet so you may want to check with your pharmacist whether your combined calcium plus vit D is actually necessary or whether plain vit D is adequate!!!)

I had this everything youre describing plus chest pains and my eyes randomly twitching from side to side so I thought. I went back and forth to the GP and A&E constantly stating how wrong they were when they said it was anxiety because I knew better got to the point I was off sick for 6 months and almost sectioned... 10 years later im still alive with a much better understanding of exactly how much stress can physically manifest in a body and that the only things I do in fact have are health anxiety and general anxiety disorder. Feel better soon and dont Google any symptoms X

Glad Op that you are getting some constructive , helpful and kind replies. YOU KNOW your own body and when things are not right.
Ignore the critical and negative responses. Wish you luck in your search for a solution.

Is it going okay there OP? I was just thinking of you and wondering if things are any better.

Thank you for thinking of me. Unfortunately I’m no better. I’m struggling to walk and in a lot of pain especially with my thighs and calves. My blood tests are clear so I’m exploring the possibility of functional B12 deficiency, but I can’t get a doctors appointment for another ten days. If it’s a virus it might have resolved by then.

@Garret that's the thing with viruses, though. If that is what is causing this, you may just have to wait for the virus to subside before you start to feel better.
That may be why your doctor is taking a "wait and see" approach.

I remember having a horrible viral illness about ten years ago, and although I knew I wasn't dying, I did feel that I would never get better. I could barely walk from the bedroom to the bathroom (and we had an en-suite) without feeling utterly exhausted.

It took many months to resolve, but it did eventually.

Thanks @TheShellBeach. I’ve had nasty viruses before, which have left me exhausted and aching and struggling to breathe. I haven’t felt anxious about it and I’ve got better. But I’ve never had anything that’s made my joints and muscles swell up so I can’t walk or use my fingers properly. My leg muscles are burning so much I’m crying in pain. It doesn’t seem normal and I’m worried it could be neurological.

@Garret You have 3 choices really rather than relying on a bunch of strangers on the internet for a diagnosis. Either ask to see a diff GP at the practise or as someone up thread suggested perhaps see if you have £100 for a private GP to give you a second opinion.
If its that excruciating then you could go to A&E. In non of those avenues find anything then you need to stop self diagnosing and listen to your original GPs advice.

A&E is for injuries like broken bones and urgent issues like heart attacks. They can’t do investigations or order tests for chronic conditions. If you’re being treated by a GP they will just give you a strong painkiller, tell you to see your GP and send you home.

I have booked to see a different GP but I can’t get an appointment till the end of next week.

I actually find it really useful to ask other people what diagnosis they had. Then you know what to ask your GP about.

If you go to the gp with the 50+ things you've been diagnosed with on here the gp will definitely label it anxiety. Try to stick to the facts.
99% of the time bodies do strange things and resolve themselves, bodies are designed to protect themselves. Your condition isn't chronic and if all your limbs have suddenly become swollen and you can't walk then yes a&e is absolutely the right place to go however if it's not that severe then time is your bodies bestfriend. Rest up drink lots of water and try and relax and see your gp in 10 days. I genuinely hope you feel better soon.

Hi OP,

I'm sorry to hear that it's so rubbish still. That sounds hard.

I did go to A&E in this state a while ago and they pepped me up nicely with IV saline and vitamins, but to get a proper fix, I then had to pay privately to see a gastroenterologist. My symptoms were stress-related, but my gut had tied itself so badly in a knot that I did actually need IV saline and a gastroenterologist to get me back functioning. It turns out that stress can really do bad things to the body.

Good luck there and keep going. You ask good questions and you are fighting for yourself. You will get there.

Now I have what feels like a sinus infection on one side. Pressure, discomfort, throat and ears don’t feel great, cheekbone hurting and the eye on that side has gone blurry. They’ve moved my GP appointment forward. No idea what’s going on, they said the sinus suggests viral rather than B12 deficiency.

I'm no doctor OP but it sounds like you either have some kind of B-12 deficiency, or perhaps your thyroid is out of wack and now you are having a terrible Hashimotos attack. You need to have a full break down of your results - and push for every test going. Do your research too! I remember going to the doctors thinking I was dying (my anxiety was off the scale) and nothing could calm me down. Doctor ran the normal tests, and said 'your thyroid is fine' - no, no it bloody wasn't! Two weeks later, I could hardly get out of bed. Doctor ran test again, and low and behold - I was under. My thyroid was attacked so much that it finally gave the result to satisfy the doctor. Ranges differ depending on where you are. Unfortunately these days you need to be your own advocate and push, push, push.