please somebody help me - I’m at a loss. - Foggy's "Invisibl...

Foggy's "Invisible Illness" Support

5,536 members627 posts

please somebody help me - I’m at a loss.

AshB66 profile image
10 Replies

Before I start, this is definitely going to be a long winded one but stay with me here if you can 😂

 I’m absolutely desperate for some kind of answers, advice, similar experiences - literally anything to make me feel like I’m not going completely insane. I’ve just turned 27 last month, I have 4 children. During lockdown in 2020 with loads of spare time on my hands (as much spare time as you do with 3 children at the time) I decided use that time to lose some weight & get healthier and fitter. I managed to lose 2 stone, and felt amazing for it. I was so much more energetic, and for the next 2 years I would walk miles every day, always out and about with my kids and just enjoying life. 

In April/May time this year I started to notice that my feet & legs were going really, really blue. When I was cold, when I was in the shower especially, or sometimes just randomly. This then spread to my hands. After about a month, I rang the GP (in England - NHS) feeling a bit stupid for even doing so as it seemed such a minor thing. The GP assured me it was NOT normal, and I was right to ring. He ran some blood tests. All fine. 

But after this it was like it snowballed. It was like somebody had flicked a switch. I was suddenly struck down with this awful fatigue, and started to get joint pain & stiffness. Started in my knees (which have clicked & popped for years) but then kinda spread to my hips, lower back, shoulders. I started getting pins & needles and numbness in my hands and feet. I also felt just generally run down + crap. I couldn’t work it out but I knew I felt rough. I started to feel cold a lot, but had some increased sweating and was also very thirsty + hungry. My first thought was diabetes. Rang the GP again, he said they’d already tested for it. It had come back normal. But they were going to run some basic rheumatoid & inflammation tests. I started to look into this more. By this point, it all seemed to fit. I had worsening joint pains, tiredness, stiffness in the morning, and by this point also had some general weakness in my legs/arms. They were all clear. I was referred to rheumatology anyway.

I was given co-codamol and naproxen. This went on for a few months, gradually worsening until I ended up in urgent care twice because of pain so bad I couldn’t take a deep breath. Both times I was put on stronger painkillers & steroids temporarily. Back to the GP - a new one who thought I had ankylosing spondylitis. The gene test for that came back negative.

After another episode of horrific pain, I had another amazing doctor at my GP practice who ran every immunology test under the sun. All clear. In fact, everything perfect really except a borderline high ALT, borderline high but normal WBC count, and a low potassium. Bizarre. At this point, I was okay as long as I was moving around. The less I moved, the worse I felt. I stiffened, I got sore, I was in pain. So I kept moving and it was awful, but bearable. I began sleeping on the sofa because night times were the worst. I tossed and turn in pain and discomfort.

Onward to my rheumatology appointment last month. He reviewed all my tests, and said they all looked fine. He said I had hyper-mobility, and would send me for a nuclear bone scan to see what was going on.

Now, during the last month or so the general stiffness/pain in joints has slightly improved. I still ache, and hurt but not unbearably. But the weakness has become horrific. My legs give way from under me and buckle, I have days where lifting a spoon can seem too much, I shake, and I have zero strength or grip whatsoever. I’ve also started to notice I feel less co-ordinated, more clumsy, just sometimes not on this planet at all. I’ve started to get weird dizzy spells where I just feel almost drunk. I don’t drink either by the way! I go light-heated, sweaty, shaky. My heart races and I feel dreadful. Last week I spent the whole night awake with the most horrific pain in my right shoulder that went all the way down my right leg. The pain was bad in my shoulder, but most worrying was the complete weakness in my leg. It kept giving way & buckling on me. I went my out of hours doctor, who gave me muscle relaxants for a ‘muscle spasm’ and sent me on my way. 

The weakness in my leg got worse over the weak, and then for some reason I was struggling to go the toilet. I’ve always suffered from constipation mildly, however this was as if I’d lost the ability to go at all. I was sent from urgent care to A&E, who x-rayed my spine and ruled out cauda equina and sent me on my way. I disclosed to the doctor that I was worried it could be MS, so they put in a referral for a brain mri. Awaiting this. Amazing.. but I’m still poorly?! I’ve spent the last week feeling the worst I have ever felt in my life. Weak, shivery, poorly, just unable to function whatsoever.

I went to the pharmacy for laxatives, who redirected me to my doctor, who sent me BACK TO A&E.

Are you losing the will to live with my story yet? Cause this is my life at the moment. 😂😂 it’s a ball.

I went back to A&E who diagnosed me with faecal impaction and sent me on my way with laxatives. But not before they’d taken my bloods and put me in the waiting room as standard. 10 minutes later they are running in for me and putting me in a private room in emergency care, telling me I’m having a hypo and I need a glucose drip fast. My blood sugar was at 3. I’d an hour before eaten a bagel with Biscoff spread because I’d felt so weak & shaky. 

So I’m now at a complete and utter loss. I’m stumped, seriously. I have some healthcare/medical experience, I work in science, I’ve worked in midwifery, nursing care. I’m not a doctor but I have some knowledge there. And I’m seriously just baffled by what is wrong with me. I know for a fact I don’t have fibromyalgia. That’s all I do know. But I’ve cycled between RA, lupus, axial spondyloarthritis, diabetes, MS, ehlers-danlos. I just don’t have a clue what is wrong with me and it is completely ruining my life.

I have days where I can’t function, I crawl through the day most days. Then I have days where I think - mind over matter, I WILL get better. And I’ll go to work, or take my kids out for the day, have an amazing day. Then the next day I feel like I’ve been hit by a bus. It’s impacting my relationship, my parenting, my job, my life. I don’t know if I need a rheumatologist, a neurologist, an endocrinologist. My GP don’t seem to want to help unless I beg or hound them. I understand the pressures GPs are under before anybody says otherwise, but mine really have fallen short with me quite a few times. But I also, I understand that they seem at a loss as to what to do anymore. If anybody could help me, it would mean the world & more ♥️

Written by
AshB66 profile image
AshB66
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
10 Replies
New_N_2020 profile image
New_N_2020

Have any genetic tests been done?

Batty1 profile image
Batty1

Wow you have been through the ringer! Your constipation is most likely because of the pain meds you have been taking I had this issue after a surgery and never again will I take prescribed pain meds. You mentioned AS do you have psoriasis or a family history of psoriasis? Did you have a complete thyroid test done, do you have results with ranges you can post? If you haven’t had a thyroid test done it might be a good thing to look into…. I had Psoriatic Arthritis diagnosed a couple of years after I lost my thyroid to cancer and honestly if you have thyroid disease you would be surprised the stupid crazy crap this disease does to your body it’s absolutely mind blowing. My PSA attacks my tendons and can also make life unbearable with crazy crazy pains …..Test for PSA or AS are not simple and blood test are not 100% in diagnosing either the average person take 5 years to get diagnosed with PSA or AS.

BigBill profile image
BigBill

I have many of the symptoms you complain about. My prblems steem from a combination of Arthritis, Congestive Heart Disease, Advanced Jaoint Degeneration, and Sjogrens Disease.

Sjogrens Disease is an autoimmune that amplifies the arthritic degeneration and pain.

AshB66 profile image
AshB66

Firstly, thank you from the bottom of my heart for everybody who has taken the time to not only read but reply to my post ♥️

I can’t even tell you how much it means to me, the advice and information you’ve given me is absolutely invaluable and I appreciate it so much.

Just as an update if it offers anything more - things are finally starting to show in my bloods at long last.

Awaiting speaking to my GP/rheumatologist to discuss but my blood test from last week showed:

CRP of 21

Raised ALT & alkaline phosphatase

Low WBC & low neutrophils

Borderline red blood cell count & haemoglobin

Not sure if that helps anyone, but I’m praying that they can find some answers for me now.

Thank you, you truly wonderful people ♥️♥️

Grammatica profile image
Grammatica in reply to AshB66

Hi AshB Just wanted to encourage you - you've been through so much and I hope you can get a diagnosis and treatment really soon. Our bodies are so wonderfully made but so incredibly complicated in their functions. Can't think what else to suggest apart from getting a second opinion. When they found out by fluke that I had hyperprolactinaemia I became an "interesting case". There are so many medical studies being undertaken, perhaps it may be possible to unearth one which could investigate your case and shed some more light on what's going wrong?

FIN2589x profile image
FIN2589x

Did you get back the results from your MRI?

Skattyskoo profile image
Skattyskoo

Did you ever get any answers? I have had something similar and I was convinced I had craniocervical instability. I paid thousands for special mri scans only to find I don't have it. I then spent out my own money again on neurology tests, nerve tests, brain scans, still nothing at all other than a slight disc bulge at c5/6 and c6/7 in my neck but not out of character for my age (nearly 40). I find that I tense up quite a lot, especially my chest and shoulders and even when I try to relax within minutes im tense again. What does help with the tension is that if I take deep breaths and hold them then blow out slowly my muscles start to release. So I have come to the conclusion that I may have breathing pattern disorder. If you search for it, it causes a wide range of symptoms, the fatigue is severe because there isn't enough oxygen getting to the muscles. I downloaded a breathing app which helps with the tension, but like you I have 3 kids so it's hard to keep up with this every day to "cure" me. Anyway, I hope this is helpful - there are such things as breathing physios which might help if you can get a diagnosis. Good luck.

baggie58 profile image
baggie58

Diagnosing MS can take over a year, and it’s a long process, you have to have more than one MRI so that they can see if there’s a difference between them, Also you could ask for a lumbar puncture, testing for oligoclonal banding (you will be able to google what that is; early morning here after a night of little sleep so my brain won’t co-operate lol). It’s one of the definitive tests for MS, which I have, and which your symptoms remind me of. It’s not the scary diagnosis that it once was so don’t worry too much ❤️. Good luck.

BaddieThePirate profile image
BaddieThePirate

Hi, I have AS. Took THIRTY YEARS to diagnose (but my parent and brother had it, so I had no doubt what it was). I recently did some ‘pain’ photos for NASS. Maybe they’ll help you decide if you’re experiencing something similar? Although it sounds like you are worse affected than me. instagram.com/p/CjplaxrIQly...

I hope you get some clarity, and pain relief soon.

kushami36 profile image
kushami36

Has anyone considered dysautonomia (autonomic dysfunction)? It is often co-occurring with hypermobility. It wouldn’t explain everything but could possibly account for quite a few of your symptoms.

You may also like...

Please read, I’m desperate for some help

that I’m imagining the pain. Which I find so so insulting, I’m in so much physical pain, some days...

Looking for help with isolation and symptoms please

attend that even if I was having a good day. I’m thinking about starting my own group if I can’t...

help suggestions please x

changes I’m getting so desperate and so tired of this pain I’m on morphine now but even that I’m...

Help please, I don't know what I'm dealing with!

the nerve test gave the answer. Although the neurologist said that my problem did not have anything...

Sick since September 2018 but no answers

do. Starting in September of 2018, I started feeling very fatigued all the time. I was getting a...