So fed up of feeling like this

[Janel85]

For the last three and a half years, since the birth of my second child I have felt physically awful every day. I have absolutely no energy and get out of breath really easily, it actually burns my legs just to walk up the stairs, I also have periods that last 12 days. I have had loads of blood tests over the years, initially I had a short lived thyroid problem (apparently normal after stopping breastfeeding) and a vitamin d deficiency and my symptoms where put down to this. I had strong supplements and these were corrected, my iron levels come back fine but still I feel terrible. The slightest exertion leaves my chest tight and makes me feel out of breath. My gp just keeps telling me it’s stress and asking if I’m depressed. I don’t think I am stressed or depressed, I’m a stay at home mum of two (one is at school) and yes there are intense points of the day but it’s certainly nothing out of the ordinary. I am very happy with my life apart from my health which after three years of suffering is now actually making me feel depressed because it just won’t improve. I was referred to a rheumatologist about two years ago because my hair all started falling out (this has also stopped now) and they couldn’t find anything wrong with me either. I don’t know what to do, I don’t feel like I’m long for this world at the moment, I feel like a 33 year old in a pensioners body. I do the school run on foot and play netball once a week, I just can’t face serious exercise it hurts 😞 I’m about half a stone heavier than I should be for a healthy bmi. I’m thinking of seeing a private gp as I feel like my regular one just brushes me off. Has anyone experienced anything similar to this before, I feel so wretched that this Ill health just goes on and on and on.

Stress can make us very ill

Anxiety can cause chest pains

You sound very anxious and the thoughts of anxiety can trigger anxiety symptoms

You have had checks so maybe ask if you can see a different doctor to double check ?

Did you have a c-section?

NHS iron levels aren't that high. Try taking Floradix or Ferroglobin liquid supplement and always take DLux Vit D spray in winter (won't need it now with all this sunshine) Take a B vitamin supplement as well with B6 and B12 in it.

Get onto you Tube for some deep breathing techniques. Have you had asthma tests?

Thanks for the replies. No I’ve never had an asthma test, might be worth looking into. Perhaps I should request the actual level of iron in my blood rather than just accepting its “fine” from the receptionist then. stellenbosch I have had two c sections yes, first was emergency and second was planned. Why do you ask?

I don’t totally dispel the fact that I might be stressed, it’s just that my situation isn’t out of the ordinary, I have a supportive husband who kicks in with the kids, I don’t work, I have help from family when I need it and one of my two kids is at school. Been feeling terrible for three years, if it is stress what should I do? Move out and live alone until the children are adults, they aren’t even challenging bless them, just a normal three and five year old! What can I do to stop the devastating effect stress is having on me if that’s what all this is? Would a cortisol test be useful?

*mucks in with the kids

Have you had you ferritin levels tested. I felt similar for most of my adult life. I wasn't anaemic and blood tests didn't show up any problem. A locum GP thought to test ferritin levels and they were really low.

Sounds like vitamin b12 deficiency. Post your levels and I can pass comment. What the NHS see as passable is actually quite low.

Yes get your actual levels. Ring up now if you can.

As someone who has Addison’s disease I doubt it’s anything to do with cortisol levels from what you’ve said .

Have you been tested for hypothyroidism?

my thyroid levels were initially checked when all this started (it was soon after I had stopped breast feeding) and they were under active, the doc said that this wasn’t uncommon as sometimes when you stop breastfeeding the body then attacks it own thyroid or something? Anyway he said it would resolve itself on its own naturally and when I had them retested weeks or months later (can’t remember) they were back to normal. I think I’ve had them tested twice maybe over the last three years to recheck but a problem has never been flagged up.

I will ask for ferritin levels and b12 to be tested too.

Doesn't sound like stress to me, if you are stressed enough to the point of it manifesting itself physically then you will already know in your mind that you are stressed/jittery/anxious/panicking. My sister was the same, short of breath with mild exercise, tight chest, lacking energy and was also told by her doctor that it was anxiety, even though she told him she wasn't not feeling anxious he gave her anxiety medicine and sent her on her way. She didn't take it but ended up in hospital 2 months later undergoing a battery of tests and was finally diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension which is a very serious lung condition, the consultant told her if she had left it another 3-4 weeks she would have been dead without the right medication. Not trying to scare you or anything, just want to point out that if you feel you are not stressed do not let gp or anyone else fob you off, your symptoms are real and you shouldn't have to put up with them.

Get your thyroid levels checked.

Have you had a d-dimer (clotting) test?
I had this extreme breathlessness and lethargy, heart racing for no reasons, tight chest - they gave me an inhaler.
3 months later I collapsed in the dr surgery with pulmonary embolism - I was lucky I was in the surgery they were that big.
Not saying you have huge ones like I did but PE is difficult to diagnose without the d-dimer test & ecg.
Worth asking if it’s s possibility anyway.

You thyroid level can be clinically "normal" but you can still have thyroid disease. I have hashimotos and at first mine was classed as normal but on the low side. I still felt TERRIBLE. I would get them checked again and ask for your results. Put your results on here and someone will let you know whether you are low.

Thanks for all your replies, I’m a bit perturbed about some of the posts about pulmonary embolism and hypertension. I borrowed a family members blood pressure monitor and that has come out normal, would that be the case if either of those things were a possibility?

Tried to get an appointment with the gp and was looking at two week wait.

I’ve booked a round of blood tests at a nearby private hospital instead, I’ve gone for a thyroid screen which includes free thyroxine, free t3, and tsh, I’ve also gone for an anaemia profile which includes fbc, esr, iron, Ibc, ferritin, vitamin b12, and folic acid, as well as a cortisol test and a glucose test as I did have gestational diabetes (i have been tested since my son was born three years ago but figure I may as well get it checked again as my dad is diabetic).

Hopefully this yields some answers for me, thanks for all your input, much appreciated.