I feel that I have something that is dragging me down in all senses. I've been dismissed for years and told the connections are all in my head and that each thing is it's own problem if I am not imagining it. I was offered physion as a child and had surgery in my teens (arthroscopy on right knee) but apart from that have never been offered any other kind of help.
I am desperate to work out what is wrong with me. I saw a physio who was fantastic (privately and only one session but she gave me more of an idea as to what was wrong with me than years of GPs and a consultant) for some exercises a few years ago but haven't had anything since apart from doctors dismissing me.
I have various problems.
My joints are bad, it started with my knees being painful when I was 10/11 and in the past year or so my other joints, particularily my wrists but also my elbows, shoulders and hips are becoming painful. All of my joints seem to click or grind a lot, especially when in use (knees click when using stairs, when unfolding them, elbows and wrists click when at PC, shoulders grind when I'm reaching for something or hula hooping, DP often comments on the shoulder grinding as it's that loud, etc). The pain is normally a dull, achy pain that goes on for ages as opposed to a sharp or sudden pain (though it does come on suddenly sometimes and will stay for the rest of the day). Painkillers can bring it down to a manageable level or to non-existence, but I prefer not to use them as a) the pain is manageable most of the time anyway and b) it just masks the pain but doesn't stop the joint feeling weak, and I don't feel comfortable going up and down stairs when it's like that. Over the past few months the muscles around my knees have started pulling in a way that makes me feel physically sick with every step as I walk up hills (I live at the top of a long hill!), it's disgusting and I have to stop and breath deeply to control it before carrying on in a weird limping type motion to stop it.
I also have a bladder problem, something that started when I was about 13, I think back then it was spurred on by a nervous habit and all I really remember is that I went to the toilet more frequently. It got to the point where earlier this year I found it difficult to leave the house as I'd get panic attacks. I know part of it is in my head, but not all of it. I got help from a hypnotist who made it much much easier to manage and control within four sessions, now it's just the physical side of it left.
I've started getting bad headaches with migraine symptoms (but the pain is usually bearable to a point where it starts at lunchtime and I will be able to wait until I finish work at 5/6pm before having to take pain killers) and the very rare migraine in the past year or so too.
I'm constantly tired, I know I'm low on iron and have seen an improvement within a week of being on iron supplements. It's a very bone-weary tired, my mind gets foggy and I just find it difficult to think or do anything.
I was also diagnosed with 'Tietzes Syndrome' a couple of years ago and my chest still bugs me. Sometimes, when breathing deeply and especially when I'm feeling a bit down or emotional it feels as though my lungs are 'catching' at the end of the breath on something and it feels uncomfortable, as if they're being pulled towards the sternum and twisted.
I became dependant on pain killers in my teens due to my knees so try to avoid them as much as possible.
I feel as if this is all linked. I am finally settled somewhere and would like to get down to the bottom of this with a whole new start. My diet has been gradually improving over the past four months, which is making a little bit of difference to the tiredness and helping me stay alert for longer. My boss gave me a bunch of supplements which I'm taking (they seem to be doing something, again I feel less tired!) and now I'm ready to face the doctor again and get help instead of being dismissed this time.
But how to I voice all of this in the very limited time I have with the doctor and get them to be constructive? Should I go for each problem individually? I feel it's all linked but they may see it differently (or see me as a hypochondriac!) How can I push for physio and tests?
Thank you if you read any of this! I know it's long and I have written on here before about the problems, but now I'm finally in a position where I can seek help as I'm finally settled somewhere! And I can't find my old thread 