What the hell is the matter with me?

[FallingApart2019]

NC for this as some friends know my other MN name.

I need the collective MN wisdom because I feel like shit and have done for so many months that I don’t remember what it is to feel well. I’m really at the end of my tether

I’m mid/late 30s and work FT with 2DC (married) in a relatively stressful and busy job but it’s been like this for the past 5 years and hasn’t changed in any way.

I have Vitamin b12 deficiency and get injections every 8 weeks and have done for the past few years - prior to this my symptoms were extreme fatigue and brain fog but this doesn’t seem to be an issue any more. I also take lansoprazole for acid reflux (although not every day because I don’t always need it - I probably take 30mg every other day). I also take a steroid inhaler for my asthma. No hormonal contraceptives as they made me lose my mind! Lots of my family are T1 diabetic although LADA but I’ve only ever had one out of the ordinary reading (11.2mmol). The rest are usually 5.0 or thereabouts.
My periods used to be 30ish days but are now 35/36 days and whereas my first day used to be hell on earth, it’s now my second day.

The past 6mo I’ve left awful. Really shit. There is always something wrong with me. It’s nothing particularly dreadful - I’ve not been off work for example - it’s always low level stuff but cumulative affect of making me feel constantly ‘not well’. I have a few days a month where I feel normal.

I am on my second cold sore in as many weeks. In between I have had a whopping great big mouth ulcer which went but the second cold sore came soon after.

I’ve had a very sore vagina (sorry!) - I’ve had some minor fissures between my inner and outer labia which seem to happen after I’ve finished my period but goes away with some hydrocortisone cream. I’ve previously been to the GP about a dry vulval region and they said it was due to me waxing regularly, so I’ve now stopped but the problem now seems to be my localised tobmy vagina than my vulva region as a whole.

My skin (overall) seems to be quite dry, I have dry patches on my face and arms with small plagues occasionally appearing elsewhere but are short lived and resolved with a couple of applications of hydrocortisone cream.

I always feel drained and lethargic. I mostly have no energy or enthusiasm for things.

I don’t have regular bowel movements (compared to my husband anyway) but I will have the occasional bout of an upset stomach, for no more than a day.

I recently went to the GP because I felt so anxious about how shit I felt and have been attending CBT but I’m so confused as to whether I’m actually ill or have anxiety which is causing physical symptoms? I don’t generally have a history of anxiety - I suffered postnatally with it but after a few months on Sertraline I was fine.

I’m just so sick of feeling awful but don’t know how to (maybe) separate the possible health anxiety from real symptoms.

Sorry for the rambling. I’m just so fed up and hoping that maybe somebody reads this and recognises it as something they have, that they have been receiving treatment for!

[NaToth]

Find out the reference range for that serum ferritin. Ask for a print out of your results. The ranges will be on there. 3 sounds awfully low to me.

[Perid0t]

Request a calcium blood test. High calcium has lots of vague symptoms and is rarely tested for (I have it)

[Perid0t]

Have just read about your phosphate. Phosphate is low if you have hyperparathyroidism (which in turn creates high calcium.

Back to the GP and request a vine profile, PTH and vitamin D test combined x

[Perid0t]

Bone profile *

[Perid0t]

@FallingApart2019 sorry for the multiple messages. I also have a problem with my lady bits too and reflux. Anxiety is new for me too and all are linked to high calcium. Please get it checked x

[TalbotAMan]

Another coeliac test recommendation. It's becoming apparent that it can manifest in many, many ways. In my case I was diagnosed at 60 due to nerve damage, though to be (un?)fair there were a lot of clues throughout my life that no-one medical ever picked up on.

The initial screen is just a blood test.

[TalbotAMan]

Sorry. Should have read the full thread before posting.

I think a TTG of 18.9 almost certainly means you are coeliac. Ultimately results depend on the laboratory that did the blood work, but I was told that 'normal' should be under 7. You should ask for the test to be repeated in a week or two. If that is similar or higher, then ask for the endoscopy.