Diagnose me please, MN!

[Buntythelizardqueen]

I've been to the GP a lot, and still no real answers, so turning to you wise MNers for your experience which might help me work this out and maybe go back to GP with some suggestions.

Here are my symptoms, if they are in fact symptoms:

Tired all the time (though I only get 4-6 hours sleep a night)
High blood pressure
Dizzy spells (though have reduced lately since medication for blood pressure)
I have two fibroids, and heavy periods and bad cramping every month mostly in my lower back.
Overweight
Aching clicking joints all the time, from neck right down to feet.
What I can only describe as "baby brain" but I'm not pregnant. Forgetful, fuzzy headed and can't concentrate a lot of the time.

I'm mid forties. Oh, and I've been blood tested for diabetes and thyroid and hormones, which apparently are all fine. I'm not even perimenopausal. I'm also not depressed. I do have a fairly stressful life but don't want the doctor to pin this as the cause instead of actually figuring out what is wrong.I eat plenty of fresh veg, meat, etc. and a penchant for cakes

Thanks in advance

B12 deficiency. Bet cha.

Watching with interest.

I hope you get it sorted, have you ever had glandular fever?

Pre menopause definitely.

I've never had glandular fever to my knowledge.

Isn't pre menopause, just every menstruating woman who isn't menopausal? Confused!

I don't know if the GP ordered a test for B12. Is that in a full blood count, or specially stated?

Could be fibromyalgia ?

Is your weight a factor? Obese people (I'm morbid....) do have additional issues to overcome.

Dietary issues?

I cut out wheat and cows milk (under a proper nutritionist) and whilst it wasn't a magic cure, a number of niggly issues of mine dramatically improved very quickly.

viv I'm probably just in the obese range if you believe in the outdated bmi ratios. It doesn't stop me having a quite active lifestyle, and it is probably a factor in the blood pressure but not sure how it would affect any of the other "issues" I have.

As regards food, I eat pretty well in terms of variety and vitamins I think. I have cut out milk in the past and there was no difference at all. Wheat I've never tried cutting out. I may actually die if I did that . I don't think I have any digestive problems though they are rife in my family.

trigger2 can you tell me about fibromyalgia. I only know it causes tremendous pain but I'm fairly ignorant about it. My pain is more like constant dull aches. Sometimes it's so bad I could cry, but in a wearing/dragging me down with no end in sight sort of way. Def worse with exercise/use. I think my posture could do with some help, which might improve the neck and back aches.

Did you get your full thyroid results. I was symptomatic (most of your list) for about 3 - 4 years as my thyroid function deteriorated. Finally I got to the magic "threshold" - ie it was rubbish enough and at a low enough number to allow the GP to treat (once you start the treatment you are on it for life).

Life has been symptom free now for 3 years.

Ask for your full thyroid results and/or ask if it may be a factor.

B12 & Vit D deficiency can often give symptoms like CFS/ME/FM

I've only been told that the thyroid results are fine. They've been checked twice as I originally went to the gp for dizzy spells and weight gain.

If I asked for the full results, how would I understand what they actually mean?

That's interesting about deficiencies. Perhaps I could try taking supplements and see if things improved. I have been reluctant to do this without some evidence of there being a specific need. Can you overdose on these if you are not deficient?

B12 is water soluble and hard to overdose on - but it can ve very difficlut to absorb - GP can give you some injections

Vit D is easier to overdose but there is massive differences between acceptable levels in different countries & again can be difficult to absorb

Both are avail in Holland & Barratt as high dosage sprays - so you can assume it probably isn't dangerous at that level

I'd suggest you start reading and researching to decide if supplementing outside of reccommended guidelines is for you or if the more 'normal' GP approach is for you

Thanks katymac can you recommend me some links or point me in the right direction. Thanks for your help.

I'm not an expert but after 20 yrs of being 'poorly' I'm off-piste

There is masses & masses of research out there - check your sources and make sure it's proper peer validated research

Look on MN there are lots of threads with links on under B12 or Vit D

Sorry I'm totally knackered right now (just dropped DD at college) - see how you do & PM me in a few days if you get stuck

From memory normal thyroid is in the range 0.2 to 4.2 but you won't get treatment unless it goes above the 4.2 more than once. B12 is definitely a separate test, not included in full blood count. hth

Keep persevering with doctors.
I had some of your symptoms. GP thought it might B12 deficiency then ordered more tests thought I was ok different GP looked at my results and thought I must be depressed even though I may not know it. As overweight he advised to overcome the depression I didn't know I had to take more exercise in the fresh air which I was doing already. Three months later I was diagnosed with blood cancer. I am not for a minute saying you have this but trust your instincts and push for a second opinion.

I was thinking B12 deficiency too. You can feel pretty rubbish with it even within what is considered the normal range in the UK. Other countries have a much higher threshold for what is considered normal. I have 8 weekly injections now and feel much much better. (Although, having said that I'm sure I'd be knackered regularly having 4-6 hours a night, even if there wasn't anything else up!).

I had low ferritin, some of my symptoms were tiredness, dizzy spells and brain fog. If you have heavy periods can happen easily.

Thanks Katymac will do.

I will google ferritin mrsbclinton . Cheers.

Thanks katkin I think I'll push the gp for another blood test. That's what I've thought about the tiredness, not sure if it's a symptom or I'm just long term sleep deprived. I do recall that 3 yrs ago I had loads more energy day to day than I do now. I'm just feeling really run down and sort of weary all the time.

I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis bright-eyes and hope you are recovering. Since this has been going on for more than 2 years, I think perhaps that serious a condition would have manifested itself more obviously before now. At least I very much hope.

Bunty - you mention fibroids - have you been checked for endometriosis and adenomyosis? Endo can account for joint pain and tiredness, and both lead to heavy, painful periods.

Thanks trustysnail I'll add those to the research/elimination list

Ahhh ferritin is iron! I'm so thick sometimes. I think my iron levels were checked but I will ask. I was anaemic a couple of years ago post partum but treated with iron tablets at the time for a few months (bloody horrible black constipation!) . I hadn't thought it had come back, but maybe with the heavy periods there is a chance.

I looked up endometriosis. I have no problem getting pregnant and don't have between period bleeding. But the pelvic/lower back pain during periods fits. I only found out about the fibroids when they were noticed during an ultrasound scan while pregnant. I had no idea before that and don't know how they affect me at all, if they do.

Following with interest.

If you manage to get more sleep it should help with losing weight too.

Bunty my iron count was 13 but my ferritin was around 20 which is on the low side. I have been taking iron and just over a month later the difference in my energy is unbelievable.