I never feel well… anyone else?

[OnceuponaRainbow18]

I’m 34 female and no underlining health conditions… apparently. I have a 3&5 year old and work 3 days a week in a very stressful job, but not ridiculous hours. I’m married and OH is fabulous.

I’m not overweight, BMI is 24, don’t really exercise but walk a lot. And don’t eat particularly well but not terrible. Don’t drink alcohol drink lots of water, take daily vit D and daily multi vits.

I just never ever feel well, I’m exhausted, I have chest pains, I’m out of breathe when I talk, my neck aches, my back aches, I get chest pains, I just don’t feel like a healthy 34 year old. Even my boobs hurt!!

My bloods always come back normal, my thyroid is fine, ECG scan is fine but honestly I don’t feel well.

I’m mentally ok- usual stresses and mild anxiety but nothing major.

I’m just at a loss; how can nothing be wrong yet I feel so unwell all the time for about a year now!

Any one else?
Any ideas?

This sounds exactly like me. I'm 37 female. It's starting to get me really down and, I never used to be an anxious person, but this is starting to make me really anxious. It only seems to have started about a year ago, and I've been to the doctors numerous times but feel like they are sick of seeing me. Ive had ecg, bloods chest X-ray.
Have you had covid?

Sorry you feel the same, it’s shit isn’t it.

I wondered about long covid, I’ve not had it officially but as I work in a secondary I’m not sure how I haven’t!!!!

I honestly feel like if I had a full MRI they will say I’m riddled with cancer

I'm 37, two kids and a part time job which isn't massively stressful, but I'm constantly ill with something. Coughs, colds, chest infections... the last few weeks have been particularly hideous for this. I struggle with my breathing and really need a doctor but can't get in. I also suspect my iron levels have dropped as well but cannot book in to see the nurse as its impossible.
I've always struggled to get through daily adult life though, as I've got older I feel that I can manage at work but the rest of my life is chaos. I just can't seem to function normally

I'm like this but know that it's long Covid.

Get yourself to the GP for a full blood count to figure out if there is anything underlying - it could be something simple. And don't catastrophise in the meantime

Oh god, this is me too. It's almost a running joke that I'm permanently feeling under the weather. Very similar lifestyle to you, except I'm a couple of years younger and my second child is imminent (40 weeks pregnant, so a no-brainer as to why I'm feeling awful just now!).

I'd love to understand exactly why I feel so depleted all the time, but I've come to the conclusion that I'm just a bit... runty. A hundred years ago I would have been described as having "nerves".

One thing that did make me feel a little better - liquid Floradix. A shot of that a day definitely lifted me a bit (and then I realised that it wasn't a habit I could afford to maintain!)

@Luckingfovely

How do they know it’s long covid?

Vit D deficiency or anaemia?

Could you be anaemic, or asthmatic even. Have they checked your ferritin? This sounds very similar to how I usually feel and my ferritin is usually on the floor. I usually know when I tip over into anaemia because I add heart palpitations and exhaustion on climbing stairs into the mix.

Apparently they did a full blood check and all was normal…!

I would keep a diary and see if you can see if you feel better after some rest.

Auto immunes could be an issue and tricky to diagnose. Do any run in your family?. What bloods have you had? If it was serious there would be some inflammatory markers

Anxiety can make u feel like that and depression!! That’s how I knew I was struggling because I felt so ill all the time dr said it can be physical illness I don’t even know I’ve been on anti depressants since may and feeling well again x

Nothing bad in my family, they always say a full blood count and all is normal

But I genuinely don’t feel well, I never do, surely this can’t be how a healthy 34 year old feels?!

@Hairobsessed123

Glad you’re feeling better.

Can anxiety not present as feeling anxious but feeling physically unwell?

Gosh I could've written that myself. I am also ill on top of the usual feeling and am floored like I can't go on, so tired and poorly. Reading for pearls of wisdom!

Have you seen your actual blood results? There's a big difference between 'in range' and 'optimal'. I struggle with iron levels and feel like absolute crap when my ferritin gets towards the lower end of the range - but the GP would still say I'm in range.
I'd start by getting details of your last results so you can see exactly what was tested and where you are in the range.

I'm 36 and could have written your post! I just had bloods done last week and they're apparently normal. I have 2 small children who suck the life out of me and I work full time (remotely) and I had covid in July. So a combination of long covid and a busy life is what I've come up with

How is your sleep? Do you snore? Do you sleep crappy hours or have/want naps in the day? Because you sound exactly like me before I was diagnosed with sleep apnoea, feeling run down and achy and little energy to do anything but sleep more.

Just throwing that out there. Lack of quality sleep can give you physical symptoms too.

I was like this when kids were tiny. Iron was borderline but nothing to write home about. Periods fairly heavy and lack of sleep was a huge factor. Actually feel better even though in my 50s

@Blupblup

Have you seen your actual blood results? There's a big difference between 'in range' and 'optimal'. I struggle with iron levels and feel like absolute crap when my ferritin gets towards the lower end of the range - but the GP would still say I'm in range. I'd start by getting details of your last results so you can see exactly what was tested and where you are in the range.

That's interesting @Blupblup - I have access to my test results through the NHS App and according to my GP my results are all normal even though a few things are under the lower limit! I'm not sure how that can be?

My Ferritin is 90 ug/l (20-275)
Transferrin is 1.8 g/l (2.1-3.6)
Haemoglobin is 121 g/l (115-165)
PCV is on the lower limit and so are my neutrophils

I have a call with a GP on friday to discuss my results but not sure I'll get anywhere!

This was me…..blood test a few years ago, was ‘normal’ when I rang for results.
Then earlier on this year B12 was flagged up, when I asked for a print out of the results from 2 years ago they were 3 points away from bottom end of the range.

Would definitely echo a PP and get a copy of your results (don’t let them rob you off, they legally have to provide them, they may charge you though)

Working in a demanding job and looking after small kids IS exhausting. I often feel exhausted and unwell too! So it’s normal to an extent.
Strangely exercise actually really helps. It gives me energy and reduces stress (stress can also give me head aches and chest pain). Walking just isn’t quite the same for me.
You’re a healthy weight but if your diet isn’t brilliant that will also be impacting on your wellbeing. Have you tried cutting out processed food etc? Previously when my diet wasn’t great even though my BMI was technically fine at 24 I still felt breathless and awful with back ache. Perhaps focussing on healthy eating and exercise will help.
I don’t want to minimise your issues though, it sounds unpleasant and I certainly would want to get to the bottom of those chest pains. Hope you feel better soon.

What do you eat? If you eat a diet rich in processed food, refined carbs and sugar that can,make you feel tired.

I’ll call GP receptionist and try and get a breakdown of my blood tests.

I do need to eat better, at work I go most the day with nothing then come home and binge on crap!!! Then dinner is usually healthy ish! But defo could do 100% better.!!

@OnceuponaRainbow18 yes definitely!!!! X