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Sick & tired of being sick & tired - help!

Posted , 5 users are following.

Ker185
Ker185

Hi,

I'm hoping someone can help me - after countless visits to my GP in the last year and so many days off work sick I feel like giving up on getting better!!

Start from the beginning - I'm 22 years old, female, smoker - 15 a day for 6 years - always been relatively healthy up until 2 years ago. I should start with the worst issue I'm experiencing - chronic and extreme tiredness and body aches!! And then comes the rest...

I started getting niggly lower back pain (right side) which progressively got worse, went docs and sent for MRI to check for slipped disc. All fine. Had physiotherapy / massage / pilates and nothing improved, then sciatica started and pain felt more in my right hip. Gave up trying to reduce the pain so just deal with it now, take cocodamol as and when it is needed.

Then the start of 2015 my stomach swelled up slowly (over a few weeks) and became rock solid, bowel movements changed (diarrhoea every single day), excessive gas, cramps in stomach and lower left pain constant. My stomach now looks 7/8 months pregnant and size has never reduced (I am usually a size 8 clothes but can no longer wear these due to stomach size). There is a hard painful lump in lower left just above where the hip indent is (has been there for a good 6 months and is not reducing in size) I can see this lump through my stomach. Went GP several times, dismissed as IBS each time (family history of ulcerative colitis), finally had sigmoidoscopy recently showed mild inflammation throughout bowel but no cause for concern. Feel sick a lot of the time and diarrhoea still present. I was sent for bloods pretty much everything checked, had signs of anaemia, but when tested again came back borderline. Also abnormal raised CRP (infection/inflammation marker). Tested again and result slightly higher, doc put this down to the flu I had at the time and I was not sent for another. Had an ultrasound of urinary tract, kidneys were fine, bladder emptied fine etc.

In additon to the above, in last 6 months I have suffered with flu/cold like symptoms on and off (usually on for 2 weeks off for 2 weeks) Work are getting very sick of my absence!! My flu/colds knock me for six and I cannot get out of bed until they clear up. When it clears up, it kind of lingers for a few weeks but never fully disappears then hits me again worse each time! My most recent flu/illness which i have right now has persisted for almost 3 weeks, tight chest, sore throat, swollen tonsils (no white spots) and extreme body aches. docs found lymph node swellings under arms, above collar bone and in groin just a few days ago which are all painless with no sensitivty. Sent for bloods to check for glandular fever, FBC and CRP (awaiting results).

To this date I'm suffering with stomach problems, back pain and flu symptoms for what feels like every other day and I am just so worn out. I feel like the docs don't take anything seriously as I'm young, does anyone know if my issues could be related or what could be causing it? I'm so sick of being turned away at the doctors because "I'm young and my body can fight these things off" or "its normal". I know what's normal for me and feeling like this everyday isn't, it is seriously getting me down as I feel unwell constantly. Please help sad sorry for the essay, hoping someone can shed some light for me or advise on what else I can get checked as I'm at my wits end!!

Thank you sad

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Ker185
    Ker185

    Posted

    Should probably also mention I suffer from tension headaches every other day for many years now. Would love some answers sad I know my issues are very general but any advice would be appreciated! Thanks
  • Misssy2
    Misssy2 Ker185

    Posted

    OMG..your story sounds like mine and I did quit work and they are still doing tests.

    ​I am going to have a CT of lungs again and stomach...my inflamation markers and WBC are high.....and they can pinpoint nothing!

    ​I can't really help you...unless you haven't YET been ruled out for LUPUS, LYME, THYROID, MS (Multiple Sclerosis), Rheumatoid Arthritis...I've had to be ruled out for all of that. 

    ​As far as the colon stuff...you may be too young for insurance to cover a colonoscopy...BUT if you are having these symptoms and have a family history of colon problems or colon cancer...than your Dr. should be able to get you approved for an early colonoscopy.  I was approved for one at 40 and they found polyps....Polyps take 3 years to turn to cancer....and I'm lucky I didn't wait till I was 50.

    ​I'm really not trying to scare you...although I probably am scaring you and I'm sorry! But, I'm just trying to help.

    • Ker185
      Ker185 Misssy2

      Posted

      Hi Missy,

      Thank so much for your reply, I'm starting to think that I'm going mad and it's just me!

      How long have you been experiencing symptoms?

      I'm in the UK luckily don't need insurance so have had a sigmoidoscopy already which is a specialised type of colonoscopy to look at the sigmoid colon and small intestines, they didn't find any polyps but took 3 biopsies from the inflammation they said this was mild inflammation and nothing else has been done about it.

      They tested me for thyroid problems last year and the results were "borderline" and apparently when this result comes back it is normal.

      My doctors won't take me seriously as I'm young, they always say I'm too young for anything sinister and dismiss me!!! I'm so tired of it all and I'm scared of losing my job if I carry on taking days off sad at my wits end.

      I guess I will see what my recent bloods come back with. I've not been tested for Lyme, lupus, or arthritis just yet. I feel if I ever ask for any specific tests then they think I'm self diagnosing and think I am a hyperchondriact!

      I've been signed off work for 7 days due to my current flu symptoms but I fear nothing will be done and I'll just have to live with this misery sad there has to be something!

      You say your WBC and CRP are high, what are they doing about that? Have you been tested for Crohns? I hope you find what it is soon, please let me know when/if you get a diagnosis! Good luck X

    • Misssy2
      Misssy2 Ker185

      Posted

      All they are doing for me is investigating...with all the tests.  I don't think I have Chrons..and I self diagnose all the time...and I can't figure it out either! 

      ​I do know what you mean about them thinking you are self diagnosing...and I was fortuante enough to have a Dr. that I knew for over 15 years and I told him...I was self diagnosing and asking him to test me for various things.  He believed me because I self diagnosed WHOOPING COUGH one time and he didn't believe it....but then tested me and I did have it...and was out of work for 6 weeks with it!

      ​You could tell them that you remember getting bitten by a tick last summer (are there ticks in the UK? LOL)....Cause when they test for Lyme..they do alot of blood work that will have to rule out those other things such as LUPUS...and also if you have inflammation markers coming back high...you can say that you talked to a friend that is a NURSE...and you were wondering if you should see a Rheumatologist for the unidentified inflammation because you are really suffering and want to figue out what it is...

      ​I know it sounds bad...lie, lie...but I did that alot and now they are really looking for things and the new Drs...are sympathizing with me and my symptoms.

      ​My symptoms are diarreha every morning since November (3-7 times a morning), constant joint pain, migraine headaches, aching legs, pins and needles, not sleeping well due to pain everywhere and having to change positions often.  Everything is causing panic attacks.  I have depression issues and diagnosed with Major Depression, Anxiety and Borderline Personality....

      Like you I sometimes feel feverish...and lethargic...etc.

      ​Just lie...

    • Ker185
      Ker185 Misssy2

      Posted

      Hi missy,

      2 years later and I am finally at a diagnosis after much pain and confusion. Not sure if you still come on here or will receive my response but I have Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), I had a recent MRI scan and it showed fusion of my sacroilliac joint. This is a form of arthritis, might be with getting yourself checked for it as it has answered all of my problems and I am now starting treatment for this. It has no known cause except 1 possible -a gene carried down through your family. My back is so painful now because of the fusion at the base of my spine / hip I can hardly move it, I'm going for a ct scan on my pelvis to see the extent of the damage. Hopefully you see this and it helps you somewhat. Good luck!

  • Jaybelle
    Jaybelle Ker185

    Posted

    Have you been checked for your vitamin D levels and coeliac disease? Both of these can lead to symptoms similar to yours. Wishing you all the best. 
  • Ker185
    Ker185

    Posted

    Missy yours sounds so similar to mine, I hope you get it sorted soon - if you ever find out what it is let me know!

    Thanks Jaybelle, I've been tested for coeliac, lactose and food allergies all were fine. But not had my vit D checked will ask for that at my next docs visit though, thank you!

    Still waiting for blood test results will see what comes up with those (probably nothing going by all my previous tests!)

    • Jaybelle
      Jaybelle Ker185

      Posted

      Always worth getting the D checked. I am just recovering from osteomalacia, caused by a D deficiency. It causes your bones to soften (very tender and painful around joints, especially), muscle aches and wasting, severe fatigue and brain fog. Not fun. But correctable! 
  • jim18020
    jim18020 Ker185

    Posted

    Did your doctor check for a hernia where you have the hard bump? It could be a Spigelian hernia if that is the location.
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