Is this a weird thing to say to the GP?

[Aparecium]

"I don't think I'm stressed, but my body thinks I am."

I can't think of any other way to put it.

I enjoy my job and things are fine at home. I live with Long Covid exhaustion. I recently had blood tests for coeliac (negative), so had to eat food that disagreed with me, and then I had antibiotics for an unrelated infection, and my guts have struggled to recover from both of these.

Once again I find myself clenching my jaw, getting headaches, getting aches in my chest, wanting to shut myself off from the world, getting food-cravings and over-eating. All of which for me are signs that I am stressed.

I do know that I am not depressed. Been there, got the T-shirt, haven't worn it for years.

I don't know what's going on.

How old are you?

I don't think it is weird - it describes the situation as you see it.

Do you mean consciously clenching your jaw in the day time, or at night? Your dentist can make a mouthguard to help the clenching and prevent damage to your teeth. This alone can cause headaches!

so had to eat food that disagreed with me Sorry, I'm not sure why having a blood test for coeliacs would cause this? What did you have to eat?

Are you peri or in menopause? Did the GP also check for anaemia and other deficiencies like Vit D and thyroid etc?

my guts have struggled to recover Do you mean diarrhoea? I'd drink kefir and get some good bacteria into you.

I’d say that they are all possible long COVID symptoms (with the exception of the food cravings). How long have you had these symptoms for? Have you looked into/accessed any long covid services in your area? In my area you can self refer - but they can decide whether or not to accept the referral.

I don't think it's weird necessarily but I can't imagine my GP being especially helpful If I said something like that.

If you've got long covid you've probably got some sort of dysautonomia going on. Yoga nidra helps with calming ime.

How old are you?
Late 50s. I'd passed menopause and was established in HRT long before I had Covid.

Do you mean consciously clenching your jaw in the day time, or at night?
Day time. I rarely catch myself doing it. When I stop for a rest and change my focus, that's when I notice that I have been clenching my jaw.

Because I know I'm doing it, even though I'm unaware, I do try to consciously relax my jaw during the day.

Sorry, I'm not sure why having a blood test for coeliacs would cause this? What did you have to eat?
You have to eat gluten for several weeks before being tested for coeliacs. Which for me means shits-n-squits, wind, bloating, reflux, itchy skin and bad temper.

Did the GP also check for anaemia and other deficiencies like Vit D and thyroid etc?

Did FBC as well. Everything was within NHS norms.

I'd drink kefir and get some good bacteria into you.
Kefir, yogurt, home-made sauerkraut, pro-biotic supplements. ✅

Long Covid
Was seen by Long Covid clinic 2-3y ago, was referred to various support groups, did various therapies, tried various supplements. Not sure there's more they can do for me.

Long Covid-wise, I was in a good place in the summer, before I had to insult my system with gluten.

Writing this post makes me realise that I feel I've gone backwards a few years in my recovery. Except for the tinnitus. At least that hasn't come back.

I've been thinking about doing yoga. But I barely have enough energy to do anything more than go to work. By evening I'm knackered.

Yoga nidra isn't like normal yoga. You don't need to move. It's basically a kind of guided meditation and I find it super relaxing. There's some good videos on YouTube plus the Insight Timer app (there's a free version).

Suzy Bolt on YouTube is good too. Even her moving yoga is slow, gentle and restful.

I’m gluten-free too. There’s no way I would agree to a gluten trial now, having been gluten/wheat free for nearly 20 years. I’m not surprised that the gluten trial has messed your system around - it’s going to take time for that to settle down.

Your comment about your body being stressed resonates with how my body has been feeling. I’ve just started doing the long covid clinic workshops and I do wonder if the knowledge base about long covid has increased in the past couple of years. One thing that they have mentioned to me is Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and I’m also being investigated for autonomic dysfunction/possible POTS. I’m crossing my fingers that there may be some sort of treatment/supplement/activity that nudges me in the right direction. Maybe I’m being over optimistic though…..,

I've got ME/CFS which is think has many similarities to long covid.

I've actually been thinking much the same thing. What I find helps is breathing exercises, as is sometimes done in yoga classes, and meditation.

There are specific yoga poses recommended for long COVID. The ones I've tried just involve breathing in a certain position for a few minutes, it's very restful.