Constantly unwell since having my child 2 years ago! Help!

[Laddie16]

Hello!
just wondering if anyone has similar symptoms to me because I feel like I'm going mental. My son will be two next month and I've never felt right since I had him. About four month after I had him I went to the doctors with extreme fatigue total body ache, dizziness all tests came back clear.

Last August I went to the doctors as I had pains/tenderness and dull ache in both breasts and under the armpits and a little down the inside of my arms, sometimes they'd feel tingly too. And I've always for years had a tiny weeny bit crust (sorry tmi) on both Nipple ends that I keep wiping off but over time comes back again, doc put it down to nerve/muscle pain accross my chest and nipple discharge that is dying up basically nothing to worry about.

Over time the breasts got slightly better don't have the tingles, dull ache anymore but still tender and have the tiny bit crust etc but now excessively sweat, have terrible skin and giant hard spots under the skin on both cheeks I've not had before, my partners also said I'm a lot more moody now and I have the odd pains in my left side. So a few weeks ago I went back for the third time, explained everything had bloods done (certain ones not FBC) and they came back clear.

I just feel at my wits end I'm sick of feeling the way I do and wonder if it's all in my head and I'm having abit anxiety, I'm not a soft person usually but I'm starting to feel teary and quite down about it.

Has anyone ever felt like this or have any symptoms like me?
Thank you xxxxx

Did they test your liver function?

Did they test your B12? And if so, do you know your result? Especially if you had gas and air in labour, as that can really affect B12 levels

What kind of birth did you have? Section?

Hi there I'm positive one of them was liver function, I think I'm going to make another appointment and go back for the 4th time and get them to check everything (FBC) including b12 as I did have gas and air.

Yes I did have to have an emergency section as his cord was wrapped around his neck tightly. Could it be something to do with the section?

Thank you very much for your replys xxxxxxx

I've also developed psoriasis on the base of my neck since my boy came along if that means anything too. I've literally never felt like this before I was always fit and well beforehand.

It sounds like your hormones are all over the place to be honest. Even if you were to get them tested, they would still come back within "normal" parameters, because every woman should have the same hormone levels to feel normal 🙄. Were you on any kind of hormonal birth control pre pregnancy? I've not been right since coming off the pill and that was four years ago. My hormones are certainly nothing like they were before I had ds and that was 11 years ago.

Psoriasis is linked to high Homocysteine, which can be caused by B12 deficiency. If your GP says your B12 level is normal/fine, still ask for the level and range... unfortunately B12 deficiency goes undiagnosed a lot as GPs don't realise that levels need to be higher than they think

Just to add, B12 is not included in a FBC so needs requested separately

Have you had your thyroid checked op?

Tingling arms and feet, dizziness, confusion unclear head, exhaustion and extreme fatigue, aching, irritability. I had all these plus shortness of breath, racing heart weight loss, stomach upsets, very pale colouring and it was due to very low b12 (folate) levels as well as low ferritin and low haemoglobin. The b12 was really surprising as I'm vegetarian and live on green veg. Im on lots of supplement which are very slowly topping me up.i don't have the dewaful feeling and do not feel like death walking and arent irritable but am not well enough topped up to be cured of the breathlessness and racing heart.i do still get tired out relatively easily.
Ask for serum folate For b12 and serum ferritin to test stored iron in your body plus a FBC. Get the doctor to check ranges for your age.

GlamGiraffe B12 is only in animal products, not in green veg. But if you eat dairy and were still B12 deficient then it is probably an absorption problem which you would need B12 injections for (and would explain why you still have breathlessness/racing heart).
Folate is B9, a different B vitamin

Hi Delilah I'm 31 and haven't been on any type of birth control since I was maybe 26 and had my boy when I was nearly 30 so been off it a while.
Upthelagan I'll definitely ask separately for my b12 levels and range. So if the doc says its normal but the range is slightly low will I just need to top it up myself with say supplements and diet?
Spaghettihooligan yes my thyroid is apparently normal.
Glam Giraffe I definitely will we've got a few symptoms in common there and I hope you get sorted soon.

I'm so pleased I posted this thank you so much again everyone, it's nice to get everyone's comments so I can go back to the doctors armed and ready with what i want rather than just taking the docs word for it all the time because I'm 100% not myself. Xx❤️

B12 should be treated if under 200ng/L according to the NICE guidelines (and even that is low). Most lab ranges unfortunately state 180 at most is fine, some are as low as 140, which is why it's important to check your result yourself... I was misdiagnosed for a decade because my level was 181, and ended up very ill with neurological damage. You'll most likely need B12 injections if you are deficient... oral supplements are really only useful for vegans

Ask to be referred to an Endocrinologist.

It could be a pituitary problem and a GP cannot accurately test for this.
Pituitary damage can occur during childbirth,although it is rare, it does happen.
The pituitary can also be affected by pregnancy then lead to symptoms after childbirth.
The pituitary dysfunction can be so slight that normal blood tests won't pick it up and dynamic testing is required which can only be done by Endocrinology.
Best to write a history of what's been happening since the birth of DC for the Endocrinologist rather than trying to explain verbally...it's easier for them to read!

One of the main pituitary hormones to show up deficient is Adult Growth Hormone and it causes all the symptoms you describe.

I have Hypopituitarism including severe Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency and my main problem is widespread joint and muscle pain and extreme fatigue both of these are caused by AGHD.

Most GPs will never see a case of pituitary dysfunction unless it's related to a tumour.
My lovely GP said that she had never seen a case like mine in her 30years as a GP!
My pituitary dysfunction was caused by a severe head injury which caused blood loss to the pituitary gland.

Here's link to some information

www.yourhormones.info/endocrine-conditions/adult-onset-growth-hormone-deficiency/

www.pituitary.org.uk/information/pituitary-conditions/hypopituitarism/

I am not a health professional but it took me 15years to be diagnosed with this problem and so many GPS said it was all in my head along with lots of other family and friends...I would not wish that on any one!

I'm a GP receptionist quite frequently if results come back as just out of range (higher) we are still advised by the doctor 'no abnormality' even though it's just out of range, this pickles me and I would definitely check the specific numbers op because just out of range can still cause symptoms but GPS would rather monitor it without alarm or action

Ah right upthelagan thank you I'll make sure I'll check my levels myself, it's mad you end up having to turn into a doctor yourself to get anywhere, I'm at my wits end after 2 years never mind a decade that's ridiculous! Xx
CaptainJ I'll make sure I look into this also thank you 😊 I've just ended up not saying anything now because your just made to feel like it's all in your head maybe that's what's making me extra moody too feeling like a crank!
Snowflakesnow thank you it's good to hear from someone in a surgery who sees that everyday from now on I'm getting all my levels myself xxx

Hello! I don’t know if anybody is still watching this thread but just Incase I wanted to say thanks after a lot of pestering I finally found out I am severely Vit D and Vit B12 deficient, I’m currently on 50,000 of Vit D and will receive my first B12 injection this Thursday, I’m told by a friend who’s suffers the same that once I start these injections I’ll feel like a new woman, lets hope so keeping everything crossed.

Especially because now I really struggle with my balance throat has been consistently sore and my vision is blurred it’s absolutely horrid.

Thank you again for your help everyone xxxxxxxxx

Just seeing your update How are you feeling now? You may find you need more regular B12 injections than your GP prescribes and you also need to have high enough folate and iron levels for them to work properly. Also Vit D needs Vit K and Magnesium.

It's worth joining facebook support groups for both vitamin deficiencies as there's more to it than most doctors are aware. Hope I'm not confusing you! Hopefully you're feeling much better at this stage already

Try seeing a homeopath. They can help balance hormones. Also the blood thinning injections after the c section really did not agree with me. Could it be something like that?

Hello good morning! I had my last loading dose last Wednesday (17th) then a few days later i felt worse like some of my other symptoms came back! I read in a few places that sometimes you do feel worse before you get better I don’t know if that’s rubbish or not. I don’t feel as tired etc but the pressing/dull ache feeling on my side hasn’t gone and it’s still quite tender to touch and I’m rather thirsty these days too and always feel like my throats slightly swollen 🙄 apparently it takes weeks for the injections to kick in so the doc says anyway xx

It is common to feel worse before better, but that's on continuous treatment... there's a very very good chance you need more regular injections. Unfortunately this is one illness that the majority of doctors know far too little about, and the people who recover fully are those who learn about it themselves. Awful that it has to be that way! I can't recommend enough joining the big facebook support group for B12 deficiency/ Pernicious Anaemia, there is a wealth of info on there that can help