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 · ‎15-01-2017

I went to a baby shower yesterday. Unfortunately I gave in to temptation & ate more of the less healthy foods than I should & paid for it afterwards. My willpower isn't strong enough paticularly when tired.

Elizabeth CP · ‎21-01-2017

I am still feeling really tired Even when I go to bed at a reasonable time & don't get up early I am still tired. I had another procedure in hospital on Wednesday. The doctor told me afterwards that everything was normal so I don't have to have any more tests related to that issue for a year. The doctor used a local & there was no pain. On the way back to my car I experienced bad pains in my chest & stomach which I can't see how the procedure could have caused. I can only assume It was anxiety related to stress. Over the last few days I have the same feelings particularly when trying to walk fast. I know I have pushed myself more than I should & I had my husband sick for a few weeks but I don't think I should be reacting like I am.

Has anyone else had similar experience & what did you do to help.

Guest_1055 · ‎22-01-2017

Hi dear Elizabeth, the procedure you had on Wednesday was that the one that you were quite anxious about? It is good all was well there. About the pains in your chest and stomach, you poor thing. I wish I knew what it was so I could advice you or something. It wouldn't be like the aftermath of the meds you took for the tummy thing would it?

Maybe you are feeling better today?? I do hope so.

Shell xx

Elizabeth CP · ‎03-03-2017

I am resurrecting this thread rather than starting a new one. I am struggling with ongoing fatigue & feeling down. I thought I was improving but now going downhill & unsure what to do to help

Jugglin_Strugglin · ‎03-03-2017

Hi Elizabeth,

I'm sorry to hear you are feeling so flat. I had a quick read of your thread. You have been through the mill over the past few months. Did you feel better after the treatment for the stomach infection? Are you still following the diet?

I can relate as I am dealing with similar chronic problems including pain. It is debilitating, and like MI, it is invisible to others and that can be so frustrating. At the moment, I have given up on medical appts. They are so stressful, and I can't afford it anymore, anyway. I find it is easier to ignore it. Probably not healthy, but I was doing the roundabout like you, and not getting any relief anyway, so I don't feel any worse off now. Not being very positive, sorry, but I guess that is how I cope. I will probably go back again eventually, when I absolutely have to, but until then I just deal with it all, by not to thinking about it.

I do find that vitamins, like D, B, C and magnesium and Zinc do help me have more energy. I have also started Probiotics. There is a lot of info on brain-gut health interaction. It looks promising. It can't hurt, especially after all the antibiotics we swallow. They have definitely increased my appetite which was nonexistent before, so I know they are doing something I need. I don't need the weight back that I've lost, so Im hoping they help with metabolism as well. So far, so good.

For me, sometimes it is motivation that is missing. I might want to do things, but really just don't want to, so don't. Well, it make sense to me. I just can't be bothered atm. Even if I start something, I often give up before finishing it. So I usually end up doing things in stages. Most things eventually get done that way, and even if they are half done, it is better than nothing. Who WANTS to do the dishes or do the vacuuming anyway. A friend once said to me 'at our funeral, no one is going to say, wow her house was so clean', so that stuff is pretty thankless anyway. Maybe tackling things in stages is something you could try.

Sorry it's not the most positive post, I'm sure you'll understand. I do hope you start feeling better again soon. Perhaps spend some time with the grandkids, try and absorb some of their energy...where do they get it? I'm sure you'd feel a bit better after that anyway.

Warmest wishes for you, Lee x

Elizabeth CP · ‎03-03-2017

Thanks Lee for your reply. It is good to feel someone understands or cares. The treatment for the stomac infection didn't work so I was sent to yet another specialist to get advice. He thinks the options to treat the infection available to me know are likely to be worse than the infection. He recommended trying something else to see if it helps reduce the stomach pain If not more tests. I usually have rolled oats with milk yogurt & fruit for breakfast. The raw oats are supposed to have resistant starch which feeds the good gut bacteria so hopefully it will at least stop me getting worse. Motivation is an issue. My psych has said that lack of motivation can be a sign that your body needs to rest & recover whereas I tend to beat myself up for not doing enough. I remember my mum saying that when we were little her mum told her to leave the dishes in the sink, put on a hat and go out to have a break. The dishes could be done later when feeling more refreshed but staying home there was always going to be a list of jobs to do.

Jugglin_Strugglin · ‎03-03-2017

Thanks Elizabeth, I'm sure there are too many people in this boat with us. In a way, reading your story makes me thankful I have jumped off the roundabout for a while. I imagine that I would be told much the same, and the heavy meds are not worth it, so back to basics is definitely worth a go. It is obvious if you think about it.

It is amazing that you mentioned oats! I love porridge. I have always eaten it on and off. Now this tale may get a bit graphic, but is funny really. Several years ago, I think I lived on porridge through winter. Couldn't get enough. It is so easy and healthy and cheap and warming. Of course I love salads etc in summer so don't eat it in summer. The next winter, I think yum, gonna have a bowl of porridge. Big bowl. Yum. Til about 2 hours later, no warning, explosive yawn? Then to the loo. Worst ever. Oh my. Shocking. Could it be the porridge?? Surely not. It's just oats! So a few days later, I gingerly have another bowl. A small bowl.Yummo. 2 hrs later....same thing!? How can I be allergic to oats? I can eat anything. I don't notice any problems when I eat something with oats as an ingredient, but a whole bowl, well. It is too unpleasant to try it again. I wondered if it might be the resistant starch was too strong for me now, sort of like gluten to a lot of people. I don't think I could go gluten free, we eat so much of it. Maybe it should be 'everything in moderation', (& I overloaded on porridge big time so my own fault).

Have you thought about probiotics. Of course yoghurt is. Also Kimchi, and kombucha. That may be why Koreans are so happy and long lived. I would love to try these but it is hard to get ingredients as I am in a remote location. I splurged on inner health plus, cos this is the easiest way for me. I am definitely more hungry and lack of apetite has been a problem. I am hopeful that it will benefit my general health. The research & findings are exciting. At the end of the day, if you believe in something, it is likely to help.

I love your psyched grandma (love autocorrect too!? Rofl, can see her now) ... psych & grandma's advice. We should listen to the wisdom of our elders, it is priceless. Good reason not to beat ourselves up about little things, in the scheme of it. There will always be another dish or cobweb. A garden is never finished. There is not much that cannot wait another day or week. Perhaps it is the things that cannot wait that are the important things. Getting deep now. Funny how the mind flows. x

Elizabeth CP · ‎03-03-2017

I also read somewhere that we often get caught up with the urgent things but leave no time for the important things. We need to make time to build/maintain relationships. We need to make time to exercise & do other things to maintain health rather than rushing to ndo all the urgent things which aren't so important

MarkJT · ‎05-03-2017

ECP, you are spot on with what you have to do. It is just that we have to do them. It is so easy to put stuff off because other things seem more urgent however, if we make time to do the things that are good for us, we will work and live better so they other more urgent things are completed easier....if that makes sense?

Example, I have at times let my mindfulness of a morning slip when all it takes is 15 minutes to do. I know after a few days if i have been skipping it because i am a bit flat. I start it again and then i feel good again. Pretty simple formula but for some reason cannot stick to it 100%.

Important thing is not to bash myself over it. I just accept that I have not been up to scratch and fix it.

Mark.

Elizabeth CP · ‎05-03-2017

Thanks Mark For your reply. I need encouragement & positive messages at the moment. I am trying to focus on dealing with the tiredness at the moment so not pushing myself. Unfortunately this means I feel like I'm not accomplishing much which is unhelpful too. I've always been better at theory than practical stuff. I preferred to sit inside doing homework that playing sport at school. I need to go to bed know my mind is remembering all the practical things I failed at.