Can anyone convince me I won't be laughed out of the doctors office?

[BooBooGlass]

My dp has persuaded me to go to the doctor tomorrow as I've just been feeling very 'off'. I feel quite lightheaded and dizzy a lot of the time and just wiped out, so tired that it's making it difficult just to get through the day. I have had blurred vision in one eye for about a month or so, and was sick just out of the blue one evening last week. It's just making me feel rubbish :( I think he's most likely to tell me to get lost tbh. I eat a good diet, and drink plenty. I've been taking vitamins for the last 2 weeks and it's made no difference at all. Are they likely to do a blood test to see if I'm deficient in anything? I had a tooth infection about 6 or 7 weeks ago, then had a horrible virus a few weeks after that, so maybe I'm just still recovering? I know it all sounds very vague, but is it even worth keeping the appointment? I don't want to waste their time.

my hair was falling out and I had got those lines at the corner of your mouth that are apparently absolutely classic signs of vitb12 deficiency (don't ask how I missed all of this - in fact, I posted the hair falling out on mumsnet and someone said classic vitb12 definiciency and that's what pointed me to it)

I also had minimal folic acid and was anaemic (and had v low iron stores). I was completely exhausted.

they want to try and figure out why I don't have enough - they thought I had malabsorption but it turns out there is nothing wrong with my stomach/bowel.

so for the meantime I am on a multiple vitb oral supplement

Blimey. I'm so glad I started this thread then, I was kind of gong to go and expect to be brushed off but at least now I have some ideas of what MIGHT be wrong and so I'll know if the doctors just being dismissive. I'm just fed up of not feeling my best :(

Is it making a difference taking the vitb? They didn't do any other exams with me just a couple of blood tests and then the injections . It is normally seen more in vegans apparently which I am not and I don't know why it has only affected me in the last few years but I feel so much better now .

I hope you both get it sorted out soon .

I think it's very good you're seeing the doctor! It could also be a thyroid problem, a friend of mine had similar symptoms and it turned out to be because her thyroid levels were off. It was fixed with medication, it's apparently very common. Good luck and hope you feel better!

they only did the other tests as I had some other symptoms (I have a skin condition and have had problems with reflux/bowel issues) so they wanted to check for coeliac disease as the skin rash was very similar. I have been tested for it before so was pretty sure it would be negative and it was but they wanted to rule out connected conditions.

the supplements worked brilliantly for about 3 months then I forgot to take them for a month and I am back at square one and starting to take them again. It has really reminded me how bad I feel when I am not taking them and I am now kicking myself for stopping.

my skin condition has improved immeasurably too, let alone my general health. The improvement is actually astonishing. I'm just annoyed I didn't figure it out sooner!

I am sure I would absorb far more from the injection - the gastro consultant I saw recommended I have the vitb12 injections but the GP turned it down. I could go and get them privately I suppose. If the oral supplements don't start working soon, I will go and ask for it.

Good luck BooBoo. Sorry for the diversion. I hope it is nothing sinister (or pregnancy!) and you are on the mend soon.

Well the doctor was very nice but did seem a bit bemused by my symptoms. My blood pressure is fine, as is my breathing, so he's taken what seemed like an awful lot of blood, and the results will be back by tomorrow. I didn't think to ask what he was actually testing FOR, so Ijust have to assume it's going to be a kind of catch-all test and we'll see where that leads.

Glad you went and that the doctor took you seriously.
I hope the blood tests come back OK tomorrow.

Good luck. I am seeing my GP next week as I am almost delirious with tiredness.

Good luck , I am glad he has listened to you and is going to sort something out for you . Let us know how you get on tomorrow .

He said it might even have been done by the end of the day so am going to ring the results line at about 5. I am kind of hoping something IS wrong, odddly enough as at least it would be an explanation. Do they give 'bad' results over the phone do you think?

Boo - I understand the wanting something to be wrong as I am in that situation. That means I am not going more mad and hopefully it can be treated. Good luck, let us know how you get on.

light headed and dizzy with more frequent urination - an ECG may be prudent if you don't feel better in a couple of months (ie once you've had a chance to get over any post-viral fatigue or if you're anaemic).

Why highlander? What would those symptoms suggest to you? I called and results not available til tomorrow.

It's probably worth visiting an optician if you are suffering from blurred vision too. They can assess the health of your eyes to eliminate possible problems.

All results normal so back to the drawing board I am assuming he tested for vit and mineral deficiencies, but even so I've bougt a B12 supplement and will see how I get on with that. Thanks for all the suggestions :)

BBG - I had similar symptoms/tests a couple of years ago. I was diagnosed as "having two boys" - a perfectly good reason apparently for feeling completely exhausted most of the time!

Since you eat lots of salads, assume that you do lots of exercise too. Check depression/stress out as causes - they can mimic these symptoms too.

I still get really tired patches but have found that a SAD lamp helped lots

I love the assumption that salad scoffing = lots of exercise I do a fair bit, but none actually dedicated exercise iyswim. We don't have a car so I can easily cover 5 or 6 miles a day, which I know is actually enough to keep me fit as I put on a load of weight when pg with ds and lost it all doing nothing other than walking a LOT. I can see that just having children is tiring. But take right now for example. I could cry with tiredness and tbh today was a relatively lazy day. I'm going to take the B12 for a few weeks and hope to see a difference.

As for depression, I have suffered from it before and yes, tiredness and general lack of interest was a big symptom. But I really am not depressed. I just switched my pill several months ago as I could see it was affecting my mood, but my new one seems fine. Actually, maybe feeling this way does coincide with the change?? I've gone from Yasmin to Gedarel. I don't think it could affect me this way though surely? Bloody hormones.