Not sure this is it~ Looking for answers
Posted , 4 users are following.
Hello! I am here to find some clarity. Two years ago I had the symptoms I list below for about three months with random respite of a few weeks here and there. I was tested for everything under the sun and they said I must have had a virus by the end of the testing because I felt better. In the last two years every once and a while I would feel the familiar feeling but it usually went away within a day or two. But tuesday of last week I woke up with a headache and then became fatigued, similar to when I have migraines but I was also nauseous. Here are the other symptoms that were consistent both in 2015 and now. Slight headache, slight nausea. Extreme fatigue, and not "tired" like need to sleep, but physical heavy exhaustion- like walking up stairs is a massive task. Total brain fog- can't remember what was just said, can't focus, can't spell basic words. Slight weird tingling/numbness in fingers and lips, accompanied by a little itchiness, but not like a skin rash, almost like my circulation or oxygen is off. And nothing helps. Has anyone else experienced the weird, hard to describe finger/lip tingling and does this sound like ME?
Thank you,
Sara
0 likes, 7 replies
bettybetter sarat573
Posted
Hello
Sorry to hear about your experiences. What you describe sounds so similar to what I've had over the past 3.5 years. It's been fairly constant for me over this time and at first, I also had really bad abdominal pains/bloating but that's resolved now thankfully. I've been tested for everything too and nothing has really come up (other than high iron which is being monitored at the moment).
I worked so hard to try 'fix' myself, it became a job in itself. I started practicing yoga & meditation, became vegan, stopped using harsh chemicals, went to therapy... But I'm still so fatigued. I describe it feeling as though someone has removed my batteries. It's like I just have no energy and my brain is sitting in a vat of treacle. It's awful. I do have better days but even at my best now, is nowhere near feeling like 'me'. The worst thing is that nothing helps. Nothing makes it any better. Sure the meditation and yoga give me ways to cope but I'm still completely exhausted and only living 20% of my life. I feel I have no life. Certainly not the life that I want. I only work part time now because of my fatigue and even then, all of my energy is spent on work. The rest of my time is recovering from working. I have no energy to do the things I want to do.
What I've learned has been that I have to look after myself. I can see now that my 'flare ups' happen when I've been feeling as though I'm looking after everyone else and don't get time for myself to rest. Or if something stressful happens. These things are always fairly minor but my body's reaction is extreme. It's like my body is telling me to stop. Even my subconscious mind is telling me - over the past few years I've been having regular recurrent dreams of needing the toilet but they're all blocked or out of order in some way (apparently meaning I can't meet my own needs because other people's needs are coming first) and I've also dreamt so often about being in a hotel and on holiday (apparently meaning I need a break).
I didn't see this before and thought I was looking after myself but in reality I wasn't really meeting my needs, especially my emotional ones. I work in a caring type role which is very emotionally draining and I'm always trying to please others. I also have had a pretty difficult childhood and I had not fully expressed my feelings about all that, which I think has been eating away at me.
Although I've been aware of this for some time, I've felt I couldn't really change it. I felt that I didn't have the time, energy, finances to do what I needed to but this was just maintaining my belief that my needs could never be met. But just recently I realised I wasn't trapped and so I'm currently signed off sick which is going to be my time to be COMPLETELY selfish and do only what I need to do for myself. While I'm off I'm going to work out what changes I can make to my life. These are going to be drastic (e.g leaving a well paid profession that I trained for many years and declaring bankruptcy). Gulp!
I know all of this may not apply to everyone but for me, I feel that my illness has been a messenger to get my life back to me.
I hope all of this is helpful in some way and that you get some answers to what is going on.
susan556 bettybetter
Posted
Read my other replies hear. Hope it all turns out well for you what ever you decide
Sue
bettybetter susan556
Posted
Hi. That's so interesting about the toilet dream. When I read the meaning of it, it totally clicked for me. I suspect it's a common thing for many of us with this type of problem. We just give and give until there's literally nothing left! I feel that for me, I need to heal from my past and then I'll start to 'heal' physically too and have more energy (hopefully!). I know I may have to totally selfish and it'll just be temporary until I get my energy back and then can start to be more balanced. If those around me are true friends etc, they'll understand.
I completely agree with what you've said about first etc. I eat a plant based diet so don't eat gluten (or very rarely) and same with sugar (and meat and dairy). It definitely helps and think that's why my gastro and skin issues have resolved. I think our poor bodies are dealing with so much, they need all the best nutrition to help. I'm always amazed when I get my blood work back and have good levels of vits and minerals etc... I always think but WHY do I feel so bad then?! Just imagine how bad I'd feel if I ate badly 😂
susan556 bettybetter
Posted
Well thats a good point yes Just imagine how bad you would feel if you eat badly , doesn't bare thinking about does it 😂.
Apart from the toilet dream i also dream im stranded and i dont recognise where i am and i dont know how to get home, then i see areas i do recognise but when i get there and i turn the corner again im lost, its getting darker as well, the car lights are on. Its not a very nice feeling.
Guest sarat573
Posted
Hi Sara
I too recognise each of your symptoms.
I've not been able to work for 6 months now. I've been pretty much bed bound for the majority of this time. It feels like I'm walking through quick sand and often my speech is slurred. The unfortunate thing is I cannot give you any positive advice on getting better and until I found this forum I thought I was alone in this debilitating illness. No one believes you and I get the impression that they think I'm just a wee bit tired. Take care of yourself and know that you are not alone x
susan556 Guest
Posted
Sue
susan556 sarat573
Posted
Sarat573 ive been getting the itching problem and made worse when i have a shower, had this for years now, was diagnosed with M.E. a few years ago by rheumatologist but a kenesiology diagnosed candida, the 2 give similar symptoms. Ive also found cutting out sugar, white bread, white flour and sugary stuff helps. Ive also given up gluten as well and my tummy is so much better now. I still feel lethargic and lack energy to do 'normal' things, been like this for approx 24 years now, You could have fybromalgia . Like you the physical heavy exhaustion- like walking up stairs has gone from a massive task, to a task now Slight head ache, nausea which can last all day. Cant even change the duvet cover myselfe. I can def say cutting out sugar and gluten has helped.. I only make myself some cakes using xylitol total sweet sugar alternative and gluten free flour, My only chocolate treat is melt one bar of plain chocolate in a bowl, add a teaspoonful of coco, a teaspoonful of coconut oil and a small amount of butter, when all melted i then allow to cool a bit and coat each cake and put in the fridge, always keep refrigerated, the texture of the topping is like the cup cakes you can buy in the shops. i make 12 and have 1 a day, no other sweets or biscuits.
As you say stress def contributes, i know!.. Try the cutting out sugar altogether for a while, no cakes sweets chocolates or biscuits at all and see if this helps, sugar is known to attack out immune systems, When i was eating loads of chocolate i became addicted and the more i ate the more i wanted. I had candida and boy was i ill. Had to keep away from chocolate, yeasty stuff, all sweet stuff for months and i did feel better. I always feel worse when i went back to these things too.
Hope this helps
Sue