Feeling down due to fatigue & undiagnosed health issues

Elizabeth CP · ‎01-12-2016

I haven't been using the forums much apart from a couple of responses to others posts. I stopped as I was too busy & trying to keep up with the forums was becoming too stressful. In September My husband went to Europe which was great although tiring due to the pace of the tour we did. Unfortunately a few days before returning home I fell heavily on concrete steps hurting my right side. I continued on relying on icepacks to manage the pain. I couldn't sleep because of the pain when lying down. The last day I came down with a bad cold which developed into a chest infection later on. The pain eased after 6 weeks & I recovered from the chest infection but have ongoing problems with fatigue & abdominal discomfort. My GP arranged pathology tests. The blood tests are normal but urine isn't. Today I was sent for a ultrasound of kidneys & bladder. Next week I have a gastroscopy & colonoscopy. My stress levels seem to be escalating out of proportion each time I see the GP & get sent for more tests. Prior to my accident my mental health issues were settling down but the last week it is much worse. I have lost my temper a few times in the last week without much provocation. This is not normal for me. I have been on a diet for several months but I am now finding it really hard to stick to it I just want to go & eat food I know will make me feel worse. The diet is a healthy one which I normally find easy to stick to because the food is satisfying.

I just want to get back on track & feel in control of my life & not feel so stressed & down. I also feel guilty for feeling this way because There is no confirmation of a serious illness.

Elizabeth CP · ‎06-12-2016

Today I'm feeling better than I was. Still tired but that is to be expected after the last few days. I had some tests yesterday under anaesthetic & following 1 1/2 days of no solid food & some other unpleasant prep. I fell asleep early last night which I needed. I go back to my GP next week to get results of this tests & last week's test. I felt I needed a break so I deliberately made only one appointment when both sets of results are available. I presume if last weeks test showed anything really sinister I would have been told to come earlier. In the meantime I'll bury my head in the sand & pretend nothing is wrong!!!

I saw my psychologist today & discussed strategies to manage my weight without overstressing or over eating. We came up with a few strategies.

Elizabeth CP · ‎09-12-2016

Just an update. I thought I was doing OK on Tuesday & assumed I would continue to improve. Unfortunately Wednesday & Thursday I was more exhausted. The fatigue then affects my mood. I find it hard to know when to allow myself to rest & when to push myself. Achieving nothing & feeling lazy makes me feel depressed but being overtired does the same. Managing my diet has been challanging. I am having trouble knowing whether I'm really hungry or whether I am just tired & eating more will make me worse. Some of my health issues are linked to my digestive system making it hard to know what to do. Hopefully next week my GP will be able tell what is wrong & what I need to do to manage it. Unfortunately today has been very busy & so is tomorrow leaving me little time to relax & catch up with the rest I need.

Elizabeth CP · ‎12-12-2016

Just saw the GP. Have another referral for follow up. I wasn't happy with the GP as she gave me little guidance in what to do to manage my problems. She told me to read up a website to get some ideas I wanted to know what I needed to change but her only recommendations were doing exactly what I thought I've been doing. Meanwhile I continue to feel tired & anxious about what is happening.

MarkJT · ‎13-12-2016

Elizabeth, sorry to hear that you didn't get the service you were after from the GP. If that continues, you can always find one that will give you the attention that you deserve. They can request all your files so continuity of your treatment will not be lost.

With your fatigue, when you feel like doing nothing, that would be a good time to sit down and practice mindfulness. You are still and not using energy. Put on some really relaxing music - YouTube has heaps - and lie down or sit comfortably and just listen to the music. Let it consume you. This is a nice little safeguard from eating for the sake of eating and doing destructive things.

Don't worry so much about having a bad day or two - that happens. Accept it and move on. We all have our days where we dip in mood so you are certainly not alone. Surf the waves.

Mark.

Elizabeth CP · ‎13-12-2016

Thanks Mark for your reply. Your advice mirrors the advice I get from my psychologist or else (even worse!!!) He asks me what I would say to a client who was in my shoes. I am very good at giving good advice to others but not so good at following it. I'm concerned that it is so close to Christmas & I still have so much to do. I have had a lot of negative events around Christmas in the past )inc death of both my parents on two different years, serious illness of a loved one several years) Hot weather is also a trigger for PTSD in my case. In the past I found if I can be organised ahead of time I cope with Christmas but otherwise it becomes ýet another bad Christmas'. I am trying to balance things by doing what I can when able (I at least cleaned the house today which makes me feel better as I don't like having a messy house & I wrote Christmas cards) I also spent time reading which meant I didn't get everything done I wanted but I needed the break. Tomorrow My husband & I are visiting a friend for 2 days which will give me a break. Being with my friend will keep my mind off negative things. Next week I see another specialist but in the mean time I think I need to try & avoid thinking about what might be wrong.

Guest_1055 · ‎24-12-2016

Hey Elizabeth,

How are you getting along there? Yeah I know I haven't kept up with the walking thread. I haven't been walking much.

Anyway I hope you see this. I just wanted to say may you and all your loved ones have a lovely Christmas. Thank you so much for being my virtual walking buddy a lot of the year. I appreciate it.

Love Shell xx

EmmyEm · ‎24-12-2016

Hi Elizabeth,

so so sorry to hear about your injuries and ongoing tests. It is important to keep seeing doctors etc but I wanted to tell you about something that is helping me.

I have been seeing a Natropath for the past 2-3 months and it is making a big difference and as I get better I am discovering how out of whack my body was.

i had extreme fatigue where I had to have several lengthy rest breaks just getting myself up and ready in the morning. I also began eating and craving terrible foods where before I was able to eat healthy without much problem.

The minerals and vitamins my Natropath put me on, which were adjusted based on 2 weekly consults, have given me back energy. This also together with the foods I am eating, such as cutting gluten, sugar and increasing anti-inflammatory foods such as coconut and eating lots of lean proteins and vegetables.

I am no where near recovered but I'm better than I was.

My digestive system is out of whack due to sustained period of high stress and anxiety breakdown leading to constant anxiety and depression post the event. So different situation to you but a lot of what you are experiencing post your injury resonates with my experience.

I've never felt so let down by my body but at least I've found a road to recovery and have hope.

all the best

MarkJT · ‎25-12-2016

Elizabeth, it is clear that you know what to do, you just have to do it. I was like this and still are to an extent. To overcome this I do a fair bit of self reflection but keep it positive. I found at one stage that i was not practicing mindfulness as much as i should and as much as i was telling other people to do, so ramped it up.

The key is to keep it positive. It is so easy to be negative and to bag yourself for not doing something you should be doing. Make the adjustments where you need to, set achievable goals and move forward.

You are doing fine.

Mark.

Elizabeth CP · ‎25-12-2016

Thank you Shell, Mark & Emma for your reply. I am having a short break before heading out again to visit my brother. Ate too much for lunch so feeling very sluggish. Shell, I really enjoyed your interesting & encouraging posts on the walking thread. I haven't walked today as it was too busy & hot but have walked most other days. Sometimes it is a real effort but it is worth it. Yesterday was really busy but I needed fresh bread for tea as we had all my kids over so I walked to the supermarket early. Win Win. Got the bread, avoided driving & parking hassles & got a walk in. I have noticed that I feel much better eating healthy foods. Plenty of vegetables, some meat or fish & a small amount of healthy wholegrain carbs. If I eat that for my lunch & evening meals I feel better & not so hungry. I still need to learn to manage when out visiting & that isn't an option.

I saw the specialist & have more tests next week & then I'm on a waiting list for another test under a local in a public hospital early next year. He has put me down as category 1 so it should be done soon. Hopefully the tests will all be negative in which case I can ignore the results which led to these tests.

Tomorrow my priority is to sleep in as I am really tired due to lack of sleep (I don't sleep well when stressed, hot or overtired) & trying to do too much.

I had better go as we are due at my brothers in 10 minutes.

Elizabeth CP · ‎25-12-2016

Ps on a positive note my youngest daughter really spoilt us with very thoughtful presents for Christmas. My grandkids all loved their presents. I gave the 2 year old a circular saw. When it was time to leave he carried the wood he'd been 'sawing cuddled in one arm & the saw in the other. Normal children take teddies to bed. He went to sleep last night cuddling his circular saw. His dad managed to remove the wood. He loves tools & knows where they are kept in the shed. Real saws are kept up high for obvious reasons.