I have so many health issues at the moment

[Ceriane]

I don't know where to start with all of this:

I think I began peri-menopause at the end of last year, the symptoms I'm getting are feeling low, anxious, irritable (all of the time like having really bad PMT), low energy, dry skin, zero sex drive, vaginal dryness and chin hairs (loads of them, I have to get rid of them every day so no one would know I had them). I was tested for PCOS a few years back, I don't have that.

Following an allergic reaction to a lip balm, I had anaphylaxis (have never had it before, but have had minor allergic reactions to things in the past). Since then I have become reactive to all skin care, cosmetics, perfume and toothpaste. I have been referred to immunology and dermatology as they think my immune system has become hypersensitive.

I have problems absorbing B12 and normally have regular injections however have not had my B12 for 3 months so all my symptoms from this have come back. I have low ferritin, but at the moment can't treat it in case I react to the iron tablets (there was one brand I did react to). My thyroid is also on the low end of normal.

Then following my period a couple of days ago, I now have BV like symptoms, including vaginal pain (I had this before and it was treated really well with metronidazole gel) in the past I had a staph infection in that area years ago which was treated with anti-biotics (no idea how I got that). I have metronidazole gel in the house, but not sure if I can use it due to reactive immune system (have been told to leave off all skin care, make-up, they couldn't even give me an HRT patch in case I react to that).

Today I feel as if I have Covid-19. I feel like I am coming down with something, feel achy, my glands are swollen, I have a sore throat, feel like I'm getting a cough and now I'm worried about toxic shock syndrome... incase I have a staph infection again. I just don't know what to do or where to start.

Also under a LOT of stress at work and in my personal life.

Oh my gosh you have an awful lot going on at the moment. My sympathies. As someone with some complex medical issues, my frustration is that I get treated by different teams for different elements but no one looks at the whole. This would be my worry in your case - is there a bigger picture that is being missed? Also, people blame everything on peri menopause but I always worry is there something else going on. Do you have a primary consultant in amongst all this that you could talk all of this through with? And if you are seriously worried about TSS, you should present to A&E.

And I really hope you feel better soon. Hopefully if you can get rid of Covid and sort the BV out, you can then go back to ticking off the other things.

I think I have Covid-19, my lungs feel full of something and I think this is why I don't feel well.

This is where UK doctors fall down. They never seem to look holistically at the patient. There's a lot going on for you, but with my small knowledge, I'd say it sounds connected in some way.

If you have Covid you are quite likely to feel rubbish (not everyone!) but hopefully that at least will go.
I really hope the doctors help you-got angry earlier today when a doctor was explaining that when she trained, her bosses dismissed middle age women with complex symptoms-they called them WW (whining women)!
Hopefully, the doctors you see will have moved on from this and do something to support you.

Obviously as Oestrogen is anti-inflammatory it is not uncommon for women in peri/meno to develop autoimmune disorders at this time of life.

Thank you.

I think my plan for now is: Get anti-biotics, drink plenty of water and Covid-19 will eventually go. Go to my appointments for immunology and dermatology and they can test for everything under the sun including allergies so that at least I know what to avoid and they may give me something to sort out my immune system such as strong anti-histamines, steroids, maybe even something like omzulimab injections (if needed) so that I'm less reactive and I carry epi pens in case I do come into contact with an allergen (if I know what to avoid, then less likely), take some time off, get some rest, don't push myself to go anywhere for at least the next six weeks, carry on with my B12 injections (which I'm fine with) get my iron levels to where they should be (hoping they can find a brand I don't react to) and then when safe to do so, go on an HRT patch. Hopefully, if I do all of this, by the end of this year I will start to turn the corner from this bad time in my life!!!