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I feel terrible but GP thinks it's depression

Posted , 4 users are following.

andy18445
andy18445

I am on a journey to work out why I've been feeling so unwell for the past 18 months. I have constant pressure headaches, painful neck and and back and terrible sleep and concentration problems. I'm 46. when i was in my late 20s I developed severe Peyronie's disease (in a strange place that still gives me constant nerve pain) and frozen shoulder in both shoulders. The pain in the shoulders burnt out after about 4 years. In my 30s and 40s i've been treated for depression and my GP thinks my current problems are a symptom of that and wants to put me onto a stronger SSRI. I'm convinced something else is going on. I've lost a stone in the past year and can't put it back on despite eating lots.

I wake up in the night from about 3am with gastro pain, pain around my kidneys and headaches and feel like a zombe during the day. I gave up alcohol last December as I was feeling so bad but still feel hungover all the time. I'm a University lecturer and have had to go part time because of the mental exhaustion.

Just before lockdown I was diagnosed with plaques in my heart and carotid arteries (I was being investigated because my Dad died young of heart disease) but my cholesterol is not very high. I don't know if that's relevant. I also have weird intermittent upper leg pain (in both legs) that is only alleviated by lying down with my legs raised. I also have prominent arteries in my temple and my eyes are very sensitive to light. I also feel like someone has just shone a bright light in my eyes all the time. I've also developed dupuytren's contracture in my left hand over the last couple of years.

Could it be GCA or PMR? With Covid going on I get the impression my GP thinks I'm a bit of malingerer and I'm reluctant to hassle them more. Is it worth asking for prednisone to see if anything improves?

I have suffered from bouts of anxiety and depression all my adult life and I am very familiar with the symptoms. This feels completely different.

I'm a bit desperate and exhausted.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Andy

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Anhaga
    Anhaga andy18445

    Edited

    I'm afraid I don't know enough about the more unusual expressions of PMR/GCA but I'm sure someone with more experience will be along eventually. This forum isn't very active these days.

    However from what you describe I'd be tempted to ask for a second opinion. Where do you live? Is it possible to see another doctor, or at least someone who is not so blinkered as to believe all your problems are related to one aspect of your health. To be honest, if I had some of the symptoms and other health issues you describe I'd be feeling depressed just from those! Probably the last thing you need is medication to affect your psychological wellbeing. You need a doctor who will listen to you properly and work with you to track down the source of your current symptoms. You are young for GCA/PMR but your symptoms sound real enough, and could be indicative of this or another disease, and deserve proper investigation. PMR itself is sometimes a symptom of another problem and should only be declared the disorder once everything else has been ruled out.

    If your visual symptoms continue or get worse, please go to an emergency department as your eyesight may be at risk.

    • andy18445
      andy18445 Anhaga

      Edited

      Thanks for getting back to me. I think I'll brave going back to the doctor and see if I can get a second opinion.

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga andy18445

      Posted

      Good! Do let us know how you get on. Good Luck. 🍀

  • EileenH
    EileenH andy18445

    Posted

    The weight loss alone should have triggered investigations - if it were PMR symptoms they can be caused by an underlying cancer or other condition.

    Is the leg pain linked to any specific activity? Have you at least had the light sensitivity investigated? I had severe light sensitivity at one point - needed sunglasses a lot even in the north of England. We thought it might be an allergy to the "new, improved" recipe for the contact lens solution I had been using, switching to dailies helped some but eventually I had to give up contacts altogether. Otherwise my PMR symptoms were almost textbook except for the blood markers never being out of normal range - they were, however, probably raised for me.

    Is there any chance of seeing someone for a second opinion who isn't being blinkered by your previous medical history?

    • andy18445
      andy18445 EileenH

      Posted

      Thanks for getting back to me. I'll see if I can get a second opinion. Did your light sensitivity improve when you were treated for PMR?

    • EileenH
      EileenH andy18445

      Posted

      It improved quite a bit once I gave up on contacts. I do wear sun-specs when outside and I consider it is bright. That may be advancing age - and sun-specs are advised when you are on pred as it reduces the likelihood of cataracts developing! I do live in Italy - usually above average sun ...

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