Why do I feel so unwell all the time?

Posted , 49 users are following.

I suffer from depression and anxiety, and while I know that these are major factors in affecting general health and wellbeing I am beginning to feel so fed up with feeling unwell all of the time.

I'm so drained and exhausted all the time, I have constant pallor, dark circles under my eyes, terrible dry and flaky skin and my face is covered in red blotches, scabs and blemishes. My hair is so thin and frail it breaks when I brush it and it just always looks flat and dull. Sometimes when I am out walking around, I feel breathless, I drag my feet like my legs are weighed down, lightheaded or like there is a pressure in my skull, or that I'm carrying a block of lead inside my abdomen. I feel sniffley, I go from perspiring excessively to getting chills through my spine. And my muscles ache and 'tenderize' very easily, like my body is constantly in a dull state of pain. I often come home after a day out and have barely enough energy to drag myself upstairs and collapse on my bed and my body almost throbs from fatigue, I can feel every pulse pounding through me because my heart rate is so high. As a woman I also suffer from terribly heavy and painful periods that take a massive toll on my health, and leave me bedridden for at least 2-3 days every month and I still never feel like I completely recover afterwards.

I have tried absolutely everything over the years- specialized diets, exercising regularly, taking vitamins and supplements, holistic treatments and self help books- but I can never seem to feel completely healthy. I have maybe one week out of every couple of months when I feel 'good' but I can rarely enjoy it thinking about when it will end. I'm starting to wonder if there is something really wrong with me under the surface that I have been missing, but my symptoms are so broad and vague I have no idea where to start considering what it could even be.

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thankyou to those who take the time to read this smile

6 likes, 43 replies

43 Replies

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  • Edited

    Hi Holly , sorry no one has replied to your request for help , i just happened to see your posting , how old are you Holly ? Have you had chance to discuss your problems with your gp , or who have you been to see to get some help?

    Are you going through the menopause ? Please get back to me

    • Edited

      I'm 73 have been like this for soon time now I wake up with headaches in the night and nausea feeling  I have had a head MRI  scan and it normal 

  • Posted

    Hi Helen, thanks so much for your reply.

    I'm 25 so definitely not going through the menopause. I have discussed several of my individual symptoms with different doctors in the past, such as my skin health and my painful periods, and have simply been given treatment/advice on them as and where it was needed. But I have never raised a concern about my overall feeling of ill-health with a GP, neither have I ever had any kind of tests done to determine any underlying conditions.

  • Edited

    Hi Holly , have you had full range of blood tests ? I mean for everything , thyroid , hormones, diabetes , the works , so that these things can be ruled out of the equation ? Are you able to go and get this done at your gp ? from there you should be able to start an action plan to get better , a young woman like yourself shouldnt be having all these problems , there are lots of people that can help you get back on track , but start with the doctors first , then you can go from there , etc etc ,I think

    Obviously I dont know your own particluar circumstances but make today the start of getting some answers and improving things .

    I think you need to look at the endometriosis websites , have you heard of endometriosis , this could be something you may be suffering with , please look on line at the various organisations ! Theres lots of information available and support , let me know how you get on

    Kind regards

  • Posted

    Helen, thanks again for replying.

    I haven't had any formal blood tests done before, I used to give blood about a year ago and the nurses would sometimes pick up I was low on iron and therefore couldn't donate, but that's about the only thing. I have looked into different disorders relating to thyroid and hormones and they both sound like something I could look into as they generally seem to fit what I'm going through.

    Otherwise I have also heard of endometriosis and did a fair bit of research on it in the past because I was looking for answers to my abnormal periods. The doctors before told me that it was all 'normal' and I could maybe consider getting a coil fitted which might alleviate some symptoms. But I believe there is no way to tell if it is endo without them going in surgically, so I doubt there is a chance they will do that unless they think I am seriously suffering.

    Anyway I will definitely look into getting some tests done, if only to put myself at ease because I need answers really.

    Thanks again for your advice!

  • Edited

    Hi Holly , thats good you are being positive , if you are iron deficient you will feel lousy all the time , try and get your bloods done for everything , i suggested and go and have a good talk to your doctor , and in the mean time get a good multivitamin with minerals and iron , the supermarkets usually sell their own brand at good prices , check your eating properly and getting the right nutrients , things may only need a small tweak to you on the road to better health

    Good luck

  • Posted

    Hi Holly, i have just read your post. Sorry i cannot offer any cure,but i totally empathize with you. I have also suffered with depression/anxiety & feel shattered nearly every morning. Im fed up with the effort it takes to feel normal ish for the day. I also hate looking dark under eyes all the time. I just want to feel normal for a longer period of time,instead of the odd day here & there. I have a voice in my head saying "be grateful for that" but i just feel Fed up,with being physically fit,but feeling malaise most of the time. It is a constant worry to me & i have a tendency to withdraw,which leaves me feeling suicidal. I also feel once you are tagged with depression/anxiety it's not even worth going to GP,because your diagnosis is already made. I have had many blood tests & Im generally healthy. Well Holly,just wanted to say "know how you feel" & i so hope your day is a decent one. Kind regards Marlon

  • Posted

    Do you feel that maybe you are gluten intolerant? I am not sure what the symptoms for this all are but I do feel for you. HOpeing that you find out what ails you soon.
  • Posted

    Though this was posted about 10 months ago I would like to advice you that should try Yoga, and meditation along with some good diet.

    The problem of depression and anxiety is due to hectic work life in modern days if you are into a job you should take a few days rest, if you are a student you should stay at home and away from books for 1-2 days. This will help you get back to your routine lifestyle.

  • Posted

    Hi, I know this is an old thread but I literally feel the exact same way. I feel like there is something really wrong with me but I have been diagnosed as being bipolar type II which means I feel horrible for a long while then I get a short burst of feeling better which makes me think you may have the same? Just a suggestion, I know how debilitating it can be ive been through several jobs and can't cope with the way I feel, might be worth talking to someone about, personally medicines didn't work for my moods but everyone's different. 

    smile 

  • Posted

    Low Ferritin levels could be an issue since you are so young and no where near menopause. You could be anemic.

    Thyroid is a big one as our adrenals. Sounds like you've got those symptoms.

    I'm old 76 and deal with narley arthritis but finally got my thyroid "fixed" after a 10 yr struggle there. So Many don't get properly supported for their thyroid.

    Vit D3 is vital as many are deficient unless in so much SUN that they get plenty of Vit D.

    Grape Seed Extract a powerful antioxidant has been saving me for the last 19 yrs, my immune system is good and strong. J

  • Posted

    You need to take an iron tablet everyday. 2hours before or after you eat. Pharmacist has them - ferrous sulphate. Without fail. Allow 3 months turn over but you should feel better quite quickly. If not sounds like a thyroid problem. but really really sounds like anaemia as I have it mildly. 
  • Posted

    Very good idea to get all your blood levels checked, for me Ferritin is the culprit, this is stored iron and from years of losing blood the stores were not replenished....all my other irons are good, so I'm not anemic..

    There are many doses of iron from 18mg up to 50mg, I buy the 50mg tab which is ferrous furmarate but I buy all my supps on line....don't take it daily but probably a couple times per week to get the ferritin up higher....

    Iron needs to be taken AWAY from calcium too...

    Iron can constipate and that is not good, so for me daily magnesium in higher doses keeps me all around regular. Plus helps with joint and heart health too.

    It takes work to keep healthy. And we need to do our work and use docs for labs etc....

  • Posted

    I have felt exactly like this for years , i am 67 now and convince myself something must be wrong with me because i feel so exhausted and unwell all the time, maybe a couple of good days here and there.  I have a lot of aches and pains and palpitations but that is all.  I too am fed up with feeling like this
  • Posted

    Hope you've found some answers, Holly.

    I'm a male in my forties, and know too well that something isn't quite right. I know of the fatigue, the changes mentally, etc. It really impacts one's life where you're doing just enough to stay alive.

    One day at a time...

    • Posted

      Im just the Same....trying to survive...se really do suffer in silence x

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