People with unexplained symptoms

[MorriseysGladioli]

That's me.
Unexplained problems, tests are mostly clear, and gp less than sympathetic.
I'm sure there are others in the same boat?

I'm beginning to feel like a hypochondriac, but have felt so unwell for such a long time.
Anyone else?

Yes that's me. And one specialist says one thing, another says a different thing. And then I get a blood that's positive for something (thyroid antibodies) and when it's repeated its negative. I used to spend hours Googling and researching but I have no energy left now and have given up hope of finding an answer. I think a lot, but not all, of my medical issues are caused or exacerbated by stress/anxiety so I'm just trying to focus on self-care and managing anxiety and to stop thinking about the medical stuff as I never get anywhere with it.

I'm glad I've found another one, but sorry at the same time for your plight.
I'm beginning to think it may all be in my mind, when I'm sure it's not, if that makes sense.
Nothing does make sense anymore though.

Me too. I was due to have surgery tomorrow as an 'experiment' but I've had to cancel because I live on an Island and am not allowed to drive after an anaesthetic. GP said I'd have hospital transport but now apparently not. The pain gets worse all the time with no solution. It's only been 30yrs so far...🙄

Oh my lawd!
I'm in pain too, but only 18 months so far. 30 years!!!
That's awful.
What does anyone think it is?

Yup, my ed. Had blood tests which are all clear but she has felt so unwell for so long there must be something they are missing.

My blood tests were clear, too.
Well gp said clear, locum said 8 or so levels slightly out, but he was only at the practice for a week so that was the end of that.

Yes, me too! I’ve got a list of problems as long as my arm and no answers as everything comes back ‘normal, no action’! I’m fed up of new symptoms occurring weekly and not knowing what to do to help/make myself better. Does anyone else ever actually feel scared about the state of their health? I’m sure my anxiety doesn’t help things but it’s a vicious circle 😖

Yep!
Currently in Dr's waiting room
Blood tests cancelled due to vial shortage
All tests (so far!) Have come back OK
did have low folate but that was sorted with 4 x months of high dose folic acid
I'm utterly exhausted with it all

I'm not an anxious person, and certainly not about my health, ordinarily, but yes, recently I have been concerned that there is something really, really wrong.
It would never have occurred to me, but I've felt and looked I'll for so long.
I'm due back to work in a week, and I know I'm not going to suddenly "get better" before then.

It's so rubbish for all of you. I'm 50 and have been in pain since just before I was 20. It's a joke tbh. Well not, obviously. I've had surgeries and treatments, I was told I'd feel better in middle age, I'm feeling worse now I'm very old! 🙄 During my 3rd pregnancy aged 28 a consultant told me it was my own fault I was in pain and couldn't walk because I was pregnant! None of the medication works but I still shovel in naproxen and amitriptyline! Tramadol, diazepam, codeine, all the other stuff didn't touch it either. I sympathise with you all and so hope you all get answers and treatment x

Ah thank you.
I hope something will come up for you, too.

Same. Me!!!

It’s made me have the worse health anxiety recently. I’m starting to think it’s a lifestyle thing which it probably is, or I’m deficient in something. My immune system seems shot to pieces.

I’m being more conscious of my health and well being including sleep, my eating habits, taking extra vitamins etc. My diet isn’t bad, but I do drink alcohol probably a bit more than I should. I’m vegan so I know there is a scope for being deficient in something. Im 31 years old I shouldn’t feel the way I do.

I'm 37 and feel so utterly broken. It's ridiculous. List as long as my arm of things that are wrong and it's really starting to get me down. I started a new job yesterday then got a uti so now I'm off sick on my 2nd day 😭

You could ask for blood tests to see if there is a deficiency, or pay privately for some?
I had thought of the private route, even though I'm on a very limited budget.
I have been found to have a vitamin d deficiency, but haven't seen any improvement since taking prescribed doses of it.
I thought it was going to be THE answer.

I have a phone call with the gp tomorrow. Hopefully something will come of it.
I wanted to go private for an iron infusion but £700 is not cheap :/ it's partly what prompted me to get a job with more hours but I'm worried I'll just burn out now. It's a difficult situation.

It is horrible trying to negotiate work when you feel like crap, I know.
I'm dreading having to tell my gp I don't feel well enough to go back to work when my certificate runs out, and he is so impatient with me it just makes it all worse.
Fingers, toes and everything else crossed that your gp comes up trumps tomorrow.

I’ve been looking at having a private full health check myself but in theory they will not offer me anything additionally that my GP can’t do so I can’t justify the money at the minute. I feel like I’m constantly pestering the GP at the moment so I’m going to give it a few weeks and see if they can do a full Blood profile again. I had one two years ago because I was worried about my diet intake and all was fine.

I feel like I’m riddled with health anxiety at the moment.

I think at the moment a lot of people are struggling with work, I know I am today. I just want to go home and crawl in to bed.

Make sure you put yourself first though. Withholding Rest and recovery will not help with any ailment, even those that have not had a label put to them!

Thanks. Can you ask to see a different gp? I've had a few rubbish ones in my time but there's apparently a couple of decent Dr's (both female I think) at the practice I'm at now so hoping to get one who listens and understands.

Yes very very common although doctors and hospitals no one ever says look this happens all the time I’m sorry. They make you feel like only person in world and you are unique mystery! Which just makes it all harder deal with

@Themadcatparade Cross posted, I was asking @MorriseysGladioli if she could see a different gp.

But that is great advice re resting. Some family members look down on me and judge me for resting when I'm ill (apparently I should "just get on with it") but I'm lucky to have a partner who understands and doesn't judge.

Over fifty years ago I was misdiagnosed as being mentally ill, even though, as on doctor wrote She has many very real physical symptoms that we cannot account for
Then at the turn of the millemium at last a top consultant diagnosed post viral fatigue ie CFS/ME.
They were leaving me on the twenty four various tabs a day but I spoke with Action for M.E and the ME association and tranx experts and locked myself away for a year to clean my whole system.
Oh it felt so good to be myself again... And many of my symptoms were in fact side effects of the meds
Then I left the UK for good as they were clearly not going to change anything; They said well ME is party mental illness..
NOT...
I came to Ireland and a new start with a clean record. Seeking only pain relief and emergency cover
Would not touch tranx etc ever again. I am free now and managing my life albeit limited by age and by the illness. As long as I am left to get on with all I CAN do. And I check any meds carefully online and then decide.

My doctor said there was nothing he could do for me after the first round of blood tests. I was stunned, to be honest.

The nurse called me "mystery woman".
Said she couldn't really tell if my eyes were red because she had never met me before so had nothing to compare them to.

Omg. Sounds like you need a new gp practice! The only reason I'm trying the gp route again is because we moved area so we have a new one. I'm not expecting miricles though.

I havent really ever thought of changing gp, namely because I have ordinarily just gone maybe once every 5 years or so when I've had an issue.
That also makes me cross, because I feel as if they think I am a fuss maker.

I was the same until I was found to be coeliac and later diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism. Sometimes they need to expand the blood tests they are requesting from just basic ones