I am tired of being told my fatigue is stress

Posted , 4 users are following.

I am 53 years old and for the past 11 years I have been experiencing episodes of extreme fatigue and dyspnea on exertion.  Thes symptoms will hit me four or five times a year and will usually disappear in a week or two.  In 2004 I had an episode that lasted three months.  in March of 2015 it hit me again and I have yet to recover.

i have seen a cardiologist and diagnosed with mild coronary heart disease after catherization.  I have seen two neurologists and had severL test which were normal.  The diagnosis...stress.

I believe if it were stews, I'd feel it or some type of anxiety.  there have been no changes in my life. 

Just tired of being told "nothing fits".  Just looking for an answer or at least some direction.

1 like, 16 replies

16 Replies

Next
  • Posted

    Have you excluded the possibility of vitamin D deficiency? It's very common these days, comes with crippling fatigue and can be identified very easily with a blood test. Like you, I suffered years of being told I must be depressed because all my blood results were normal. They just weren't booking the right blood tests

    You really will have to keep on insisting that your symptoms are taken seriously until you can get a more proactive practitioner. 

    Wishing you all the best.

    :-)

    • Posted

      Thanks for that I will mention it to my GP, I take B12 as well as folic acid because of all the DMARDS I take 
  • Posted

    I read that fatigue is one if the main reasons people go to see their doctors. As Jaybelle says a lot of them could be suffering from vit D deficiency.
  • Posted

    Hi I know exactly how you feel, is your heart and BP normal? If so brilliant, then think am I taking medication that might make me feel so tired?  If neither then am I anxious that while I am better it might happen again? If you went to neurology Why? Did you go because your legs felt numb or tingle? Was the equipment modern? Was it for small fibre nueropathy? Have you had of have damage to your sinal chord, do you have a bendy spine scoliosis? Do your hands or legs change colour from red to white and possibly blue Raynaulds? Beyond that I am sorry I can't think of  much more, but I hope it has helped to give you some thoughts as to what is going on ❤️
    • Posted

      Thank you for your input.  

      I was sent to a neurologists as I experience episodes of syncope in which they were testing to rule out brain timers, aneurisms, or seizure activity.

      i had a tilt table test yesterday that interestingly showed a stable blood pressure; however my oxygen level dropped and my heart rate doubled when I went from laying flat to standing up on the table.  At least the doctors have something to look at.  It was suggested I have POTS.  Not sure what that is so will be some research on that.

      I am am scheduled further testing including a sleep study so hopefully an answer will be found instead of the fall back DX of "stress".

    • Posted

      One thing if you are diagnosed with POTS you are supposed to inform the DVLC regarding driving.
    • Posted

      Hi well I have finally got a date for July 29th! I have been to neurology twice, have a further appointment in August but the London autonomic unit supersedes it from early February! The NHS in the SE is really overwhelmed. I think with my 3 day stay they will do everything they can check me for, except an MRI of my spine which I was asked to ask my GP for! He can't, GPs in the SE can't refer for MRIs anymore! I don't faint at all so am hoping it won't affect my ability to drive, but we shall have to see. 
    • Posted

      Are you a fainter? The only time I have really fainted was when the hospital drew a unit of blood to make serum eye drops! The last time they did this 2 weeks ago, I drank gallons of water and ate some salt biscuits and was fine, I sat there watching the unit flow out! 
    • Posted

      Well I am Hypermobile still, I was Beighton 9 now 3 as the surgeons chopped off my knees and thumbs! However now my toes now bend upwards!! Only done this in the last 3 years!  However I am not a fainter, so it will be interesting to see what the tests show. I have all the symptoms of Sjogren's I have had the Sicca symptoms since 20! The dry mouth, eyes and vagina, the thrush, the swollen parotids, I just don't have the markers! 
    • Posted

      I have just looked at your post again, after my numerous ops I can remember the nurses saying deep breaths and DONT cross your legs! Of course I cross my legs and fidget constantly I am Hypermobile!
  • Posted

    Finally diagnosis.  Chronic fatigue syndrome and dysautonomia.  There goes my driving privileges!
    • Posted

      Yes I think you may be right Rebecca, but IF you haven't experienced Syncope surely despite your disautomnia you should be eligible yo drive?
    • Posted

      Unfortunately it was the syncope that put me in the hospital.  I guess it could be worse. 
    • Posted

      Well Rebecca at least they are putting you through the mill, I know it is difficult to think you may lose your ability to drive, they may revise this depending on whether your new medication stabilises you or not.m   
  • Posted

    I do mot know where you luve but i would say to check your b12 levels which should range between 400-600 to feel good. I think the uk has it at 200 which is so low. If they sell b12 the M one its sublungual and you would use it daily. 2500mg if available. Not sure how the uk works with this. Normal blood tests are relative and very from different parts of the world. Lower your junk intake because lots of carbs and junk soak up your energy to convert them to fat. Vitamin D should be around 25. Any vitamins you take are best in liquid forms as they absorb much better then hard pills which usally  just leave your body without much a sorbtion at all. Its not your imagination at all. Stress depletes the body of everything especially c and all b vitamins as it makes the body produce cortisol and adrenaline constantly. Most doctors are rushing and do not really care at all as they need to fill their own quota on seeing patients. They will only find what they are looking for in their mindset. An old older and lovely doctor once told me that before he retired and it made so much sense. A standard bloodtest reveals a little but there are tons of tests out there drs do not bother with as insurance wont cover it and they dont bother telling the patients about it all.

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.