I feel so unwell all the time

[Fern2]

I am 34 years old. Work full time. Never had children. And for the past 5-10 years I spend most of the time feeling unwell. Probably about 60-70% of the time, in bouts of up to 5 days at a time.

I have no quality of life anymore and doctors don't listen to me. Sometimes i've read about things and think 'Wow, that could be it!' but then I go to the doctor, have the tests, and apparently all is 'normal'. Some blood tests are so variable that on one occasion, something is off, but the next time, its fine although there's been no treatment.

When I say I feel ill, its a feeling of not being 'with it'. Of having a fuzzy head, tiredness, dizziness. Achy muscles. Exhaustion but i've slept fine. Like when I speak sometimes I know I can't be making much sense at its worst. Nobody has ever said they notice, but I wonder if I come across a bit strange in the way I am, because of how I feel. It seems to be worse at work, when i'm up and walking about the most. I don't have pain as such but I don't have any energy and really have to push myself.

I do suffer from depression but I have reasons for it which is out of my control so a situation depression. I take anti depressants for this and have done for 15 years.

Tested for but don't have:
Thyroid Problems
Vitamin deficiency
Anemia or iron problems
Blood pressure problems
Basic female hormone problems (have a period every month)
Inner ear or balance problems

At this point i'm starting to say I want a brain scan to check there's nothing wrong with it.

Its just confusing that it isn't all the time that I feel so ill but it is more than would be normal. I don't work with any chemicals or anything which would make me have a dizzy feeling.

Nocturnal seizures was my first thought.

This is exactly how I feel with long covid.

what are your results for b12 and iron. Post the exact numbers which you can access through the surgery office or online. The U.K. have a very low pass rate for iron and b12 meaning you can be very poorly but considered totally fine. B12 results can also give false healthy results if you take b12 tablets and struggle to absorb. Other countries have a much better grasp of these conditions and remedy. Post the results here and we can review them. It might be worth getting six weekly of b12 injections through a clinic even without a prescription . Google clinics doing b12 injections for details.

I think some of these suggestions are aimed at the original poster but my symptoms are almost exactly the same so this is really helpful - i’m having blood tests on Friday, how can I ensure it’s going to include things like B12 or ferritin? I’ve found a private service called thriva if the NHS tests aren’t comprehensive which I might try to get a really comprehensive set of tests.

just feel hopeless today. I’m trying to do way too much at home with kids birthdays and the run up to Xmas and working a full on job and feel like just stopping it all and saying I can’t do it. No one seems to be listening to me though…

Yes. And if you Google mood symptoms and gluten sensitivity, you'll find that there is starting to be an understanding that the gut and brain are linked, and even if you don't have full blown celiac you may be sensitive to gluten, which could be causing many of your symptoms. Try going 2-3 months completely cold turkey on it and see if that helps you. You may find that some of the brain fog clears and you have tons more energy.
I'd also be wondering if you need to change the type of antidepressants you are on. And how that longer term use of them may be contributing. Or they may just not be working and you may need to tweak dosage.

I'd absolutely explore gluten as a possible cause, it really can affect people in the way you're describing.

Would explain joint pain too. I was diagnosed just pre first lockdown, the difference in my energy levels after a couple of treatments was amazing. I honestly felt 80 years old beforehand. In the initial days it felt like gravity had eased up a bit.

Definitely do not cut out gluten until you've been fully tested for coeliac disease. The tests are only able to detect it if gluten remains part of your diet.

If you test negative, then that is the point you can try cutting it from your diet if you wish.

I’ve been your shoes, including the aching muscles and on-going exhaustion, it turns out I’m severely allergic to dust mites and have ADHD.

Being allergic to dust mites meant I had swelling to the inside of my nose and could only take in half a breath compared to most peoples full breath.Having untreated ADHD meant I was also working a lot harder than most to keep on top of work and day-to-day life.

I experience the same thing, mid 20's. I'm constantly drained and exhausted and feel off balance. I have periods where I feel better but then it hits me like a bus again. Just this week, I've spent the last 4 days feeling like I'm going to puke, I'm shattered and the worst part is the brain fog. I feel like my brain has been scooped out, I feel zoned out, overwhelmed and disconnected.
I'm not working at the moment but I'm anxious about how I will cope at uni in September with these symptoms

Also, everybody in the UK should be taking good vitamin d supplements from October to March. Vitamin d deficiency causes awful symptoms and is very common due to lack of sunlight.

Have you had a kidney function test? And liver function? These symptoms can be caused by your organs not cleaning your blood well.

Hi, I hope it’s ok to post here but people had mentioned things like getting b12, vit d and ferritin levels checked and I had blood tests for all sorts of things yesterday and all has come back looking normal - from the ranges im seeing for most of them I’m well within. Can anyone advise if the ferritin is ok as I know it can be ‘normal’ but if on the low side can affect women more?

Magnesium 0.07 mmol/L
B12 - 439ng/L
Vit D - 78.9 mmol/L
Ferritin - 30ug/L

and thyroid levels seems normal -
Serum TSH - 1.99mU/L
T4 15.4 PMOL/L

i already take floridix but wonder if I need something more to help with the iron. Grasping at straws here really but sick of feeling rubbish and not getting any answers!

Do you have anxiety? Hyperventilating does that to me! I feel like I'm in a bubble. Do you feel your stomach muscles are tense?

Not to that level! The more I’ve read about ferritin the more I think it could be that as I have all the symptoms of low iron.

Ask NHS gp 2 check it
Or buy a feretin test from Boots shop - they have them on the shelves in many towns and cities now

Really interested to follow up OP as I feel similar and can't get to the bottom of it either

My result was 30 and that’s the bottom level of the range - so came back normal but still low. From what I’ve read lots of women are struggling with this especially in the years after having children. I’ve had low iron in the past so it makes sense.

Hi there,

I am the op and still not feeling much better.

When I wake up in the morning I feel awful. Tired, yawning, achy legs and arms. Sometimes having breakfast and a drink helps, but I don't feel at all better until at least 11am. And even then I'm not 'better' just slightly less tired. I'm late for work a lot which doesn't bother people but it bothers me. It takes me so long to get myself going in a morning.

I recently had a smear test which showed HPV and I had CIN removed. I've read up about HPV a lot since and what surprised me is that most women clear it within a year or two of infection, but I haven't had sex for around 6 years as I'm single. So it would appear my infection has lingered? I believe it's caught sexually? What I do wonder is if my immune system isn't as should be. I've also had BV which never goes away, I have no idea why antibiotics and treatments do nothing for it.

I've sometimes had low blood pressure when tested at the doctors as well, but equally I've had it normal, so surely I wouldn't feel ill all the time?

I take a Women's Multivitamin every day and that has made no difference.

I'm feeling really tired today and sat on my sofa, I feel 'lazy' like I can't be bothered to do anything. I'd like to have the energy to go out today, I need to get some shopping but i've just no 'get up and go! The thought of getting dressed and putting on a bit of makeup feels too much.

Its so rare I ever have energy, I might have burst of it once a week if i'm lucky for a few hours. When that happens I try to get as much done as I can.

Just feel horrendous and that i'm wasting my life with this. I remember this all starting around the age of 23, and it hasn't gone away since. I try to remember what was happening at that time that could have caused all this but there isn't anything out of the norm.

I've also tried going to bed earlier and getting more sleep but it makes no difference, I get around 7 hours sleep a night anyway.

Have you had your cortisol checked lately ?
Could be some adrenal issues
Lots of those symptons fit.

If i was you id be asking 4 recent

• full blood count
• vit d
• feretin
• 9am cortisol - dont eat or drink b4..
• crp ( inflammation in body )

Also hormones - Free androgen Shbg Testosterone Etc

Im extra tired lately
My feretin is low at 43

Not good

Have gp tues

Had spinach pasta at lunch..

Having steak with broccoli etc 4 tea to help feretin // iron.
I have 2 x wheatabix every day 4 iron

Op - have u had a recent qfit test ?
Ever been checked 4 colon polyps ?

Also have ya had a recent ca125 ?
Or recent transvaginal scan ?

Lotsa ' syndromes '
Can effect whole body.

I have many of them

• pcos
• ibs
• cfs

Etc

Have u been checked by gastro?

Equally Ever seen a rhuematologist consultant ? You could have cfs

Dya take daily high vit d ? - i recommend that. 2000 iu a day - helps me.
Def very much recommend getting vit d checked

You really do sound as if you have hypothyroidism, OP. Can you dig out any old lab results? Also agree with adrenal issues, you may have low morning cortisol which will make you feel awful first thing.

Do you have any gas appliances in your home? I'm thinking about carbon monoxide.