Feeling down due to fatigue & undiagnosed health issues

[Elizabeth CP]

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.

[blondguy]

Hello Elizabeth

No worries at all! I was only giving you a compliment....Its all good...Sorry If I was awkward in my post

When I mentioned I wished I had your strength it was acknowledging how well you have been doing under such prolonged and difficult circumstances...

Croix mentioned the same a few posts ago with "The only thing I'm certain of is you are as strong as they come"

Can I ask how you have been sleeping? (if thats okay)

I do hope you find some peace soon Elizabeth

Paul

[Elizabeth CP]

Thanks for your encouraging posts including your complements even if they are totally untrue. I see both you Paul & Croix as incredibly strong caring people who have dealt with a lot but are still willing to use your experience to help others.

My sleep seems really bad this week. We got a new bed through the NDIS a week ago so we can sleep together for the first time in years while enabling my husband to adjust it to suit his needs. I'm not used to the matress & keep waking up. Also I've been busy trying to sort out a lot & trying to work out what to do to help me cope better. Even my pillow feels like a brick at night even though its normally comfortable. Since I don't have enough to deal with I broke my foot on Thursday so spent time in emergency getting XRays etc so late night. Last night we babysat so that was another late night. The kids were fine but we had to wait up until the parents picked them up. The person who came the other day to see what help I needed rang back yesteHe is trying to get me into a retreat in April as that is the first available. I need something sooner but at least this will be something to look forward to. I need to go as I'm exhausted.

[Elizabeth CP]

I am trying to get through each day. Sometimes I'm more effective than others but still find myself getting extremely tired even doing simple things.
I got a message from my psychiatrist cancelling my appointment. I normally go every 4 weeks but he cancelled in early Dec then next 2 appointments not available because of his summer break and now cancelled again making it 5 months between visits. To me this is wrong since he started me on new meds but left me with no support. I have stopped the meds but it would have been better to have support to discuss the options. I need ideas to get me out of the hole I'm in. The slightest little thing seems to send me spiralling down rapidly. Things I normally find helpful don't seem to work at the moment

[mocha delight]

I’m so sorry your phychiatrist has canceled on you so many times and I’m probably a poor substitute to him nor I am I a professional but if you would like to & if it would help you in any way I’m here if you want to chat before you see him again or if you ever have enough and find someone new. As sometimes I find talking to someone helps me feel better but I’ll leave that up to you. But please don’t feel inclined to if you don’t want to or feel like you have to but I thought I’d put the offer out there in case you want to talk to someone who’s neutral 🤗

[Elizabeth CP]

Thanks Mocha, When I see the psychiatrist he is good but these long gaps are really bad. Problem is they won't reschedule but just stick to the original 4 weekly appointments. I had the same problem last summer and ended up missing about 7 appointments because I couldn't get to one& then he cancelled a couple more on me in May June. Maybe I give up on him & only see the psychologist.

Summer is the worst time of year & this one has been very bad The psychologist also has time off around Christmas but not as long. This gap meant I couldn't get help when I needed it so I;ve ended up worse than I've ever been, The smallest trigger seem to really set me off & I over react to small things

[Guest_1055]

Hello Elizabeth, thought I would pop in and see how you are getting on and what is happening in your life at the moment.

I am unable to give any suggestions or anything, as I just do not have any.

However I know you said you were tired on the walking thread. So many things seem worse when we are tired. Often I cannot even think properly. I may be irritable and definitely may over react to circumstances. Have you considered this may partly be the cause? Maybe?

Anyway I am also listening to you also

[blondguy]

Hello Elizabeth

I hope you have been doing reasonably well! I know when I (or Croix) post a compliment its true...so there 😉

Thankyou for the wonderful compliment Elizabeth " I see both you Paul & Croix as incredibly strong caring people who have dealt with a lot but are still willing to use your experience to help others" I also see Croix as an incredibly strong person too...yet I dont think I am incredibly strong at all

I still think you are an incredibly strong lady who has done everything possible to help your husband and family as well as you do

Paul

[Croix]

Dear Elizabeth~

I've been quiet for a couple of weeks because I've had the luxury of time off, something you might not get for another couple of months. I guess the good news is that break does help - often a lot, so I'm crossing my finger it comes off in April as planned.

Sorry about your foot -how did you manage that?

The bed -a win from NDIS many would simply not believe - will sort out I'm sure, a question of adjusting position and bed clothes, pillows etc until it is good for you. With the sleep that's another thing. My wife does not like air conditioning so I use a fan just on me, maybe something like that can help. I even find the sound lulling.

Reacting to every little thing is pretty normal in your situation, unpleasant, but please don't take the next step and feel less of your self as a result, that's simply undeserved.

A psychiatrist that allows big gaps for whatever reason is basically unsatisfactory, and frankly I've not found psychologists a good all-round substitute. What are you feelings about a locum?

Ta for saying I'm strong, yup, I'm often mistaken for Arnie.

Croix

[Elizabeth CP]

Thanks for your replies. I want to reply properly but it is late &I need to sleep. My plans went out the window tonight when dtr rang wanting help with a job application which took me hours & meant the other essential things got left, Application due tomorrow so no choice.

I wish I could feel more confident helping her because I want her to get the job. She lives in UK & I want her back. I miss her!!!

Will talk more when I get time

[Croix]

Dear Elizabeth~

Don't give it a thought, you only reply when you want and are able, so often real life unexpectedly intrudes.

I wish you daughter good luck with that application

Croix