Tired, fatigued, out of breath, dizzy spells?? - don't ignore it, get checked!!

[Hedgehogs123]

Some of you will be aware that I've posted a few times about being frustrated with my running over the last few months. I've posted about feeling tired, fatigued and just seem to be getting slower and slower. Well I now know why!

April I did my first HM and got a sub 2hr which I was delighted with, May I did the Yorkshire 3 Peaks with friends from my running club and then in July raced 10 miles and again felt ok. Suddenly Aug, I couldn't even run Parkrun without stopping, gasping for breath, having dizzy spells and generally it took days to recover. Did a few 10KM races in Aug and Sept and really struggled. I thought how can that happen, I've always kept myself really fit, surely I can't lose fitness just like that?

Had a few pals laughing saying ' you're getting old, its menopause , so I did think that was obviously the reason. I happened to go to menopause workshop ran at work and then was convinced that probably my symptoms were infact menopause, so I thought, ok the doctor will probably not even take me serious. How wrong was I?!

After a series of blood tests, turns out I am on the cusp of under active thyroid, and I have macrocytic anaemia (which explains the tiredness, fatigue , dizziness and other systems) and an large internal bleed that at the moment they can't find but which is causing the anaemia. Just had an endoscopy to look the stomach and small intestine. Didn't find the bleed but find that I have helcobacter pylora, which is a bacterial infection in my stomach, so have to have the other procedure , when the camera goes up from the other end if you know what I mean (!) to try and find the cause of the bleed.

So why I am writing this, well I'll tell you why, because I struggled with these symptoms and wasn't going to do anything, really believing people that I was getting old and it was just menopause.

So, have been advised if I run, not to push it because it will take time to get back to full health and fitness again. So I will be careful, I'm not stopping running but will go careful.

I'm just relieved that something was wrong, so there is light at the end of the tunnel. I will get back to full fitness , just have to be patient.

So please, if any of you, more so the ladies, do experience symptoms similar to mine and you can't work out why, please go and get checked it may not be menopause, it could be something more serious.🤗

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

It's almost always right to follow your gut instinct isn't it? One thing running gives us is a greater awareness of our body and it'sstate of wellbeing; it's capabilities and it's limitations. We are more in tune with ourselves and stand a better chance of spotting things that go awry, early.So glad you're now getting some focussed help. You'll be back, every bit as fit as before ... and quite possibly even fitter.

Well done for following it up 🥰

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thanks Linda, you're absolutely right , I just knew something wasn't right, despite what some people tried to tell me. As you say running definately gives us a really good awareness and I just couldn't see how I could go from feeling really good with my running to feeling like I did when I first started C25K. Thats why I wanted to post, as its really important that if we feel something is wrong, it probably is! 😚

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Hedgehogs123]

Hooefully you're now in good hands and ready to reverse the trend xxx

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to linda9389]

oh yes, hardest bit is staying patient , but I'll be back to form soon! x💪

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon]

Thank you for putting this out Hedgehogs and well done for following it up. Hopefully you can start back towards full fitness again now you know what the problem is. Good luck xx

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon]

Thanks Sandie, I just thought it was important for others to think about whether they've had any similar symptoms, definately important not to ignore.

Hope youre Ok? x

[misswobble Marathon]

Helicobacter pylori is very common and treatable. 🙂. Now you’ve a diagnosis you can start treatment and start feeling better soon

Good luck 🙂👍

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Hi, yes didn't realise until I got the leaflet, got all the antibiotics (which I don't really like taking) and all the antivac handwipes etc are all out again! Just want the bleed found now to stop the anaemia and get back to not feeling like I need my bed all the time!

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Hedgehogs123]

It’s not like you’re popping antibiotics regularly. They’ll knock it on head sharpish so you should quickly feel better.

My niece collapsed at school with anaemia and later at university. She had blood transfusions to get back to rights. it causes the symptoms of breathlessness, feeling faint and awful you describe. She’s fine now 🙂

I hope you get it sorted soon and can get back to your usual fitness 💪👍🏃‍♀️

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

At least you know now and are being treated for it. There's nothing more scary than not knowing and worrying

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Absolutely, just knew there had to a reason for suddenly not even being able to go up the stairs without being out of breath, nevermind running a 5or 10km!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Oh Hedgehogs, I’m not going to ‘like’ this post because I’m sad that you’re unwell, but I’m so relieved you’ve been diagnosed and there is an end in sight. 🙏

I’d have put it down to menopause too, although I had no experience of running during peri menopause, but I was doing a very physical job working with horses at the time and had similar symptoms every so often.

Take it easy, enjoy lovely gentle runs and get yourself back fighting fit. 🥰

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Aww, thank you, I'll be fighting fit very soon and hopefully posting some great run reports!! 🤗

[TimeInNature]

Menopause comes with so many potential symptoms that it’s easy to dismiss things. Glad you followed up on it.

Thanks for sharing and hope you recover well

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to TimeInNature]

Yep, it's so easy isn't it to just think that's what it is, and ignore but I just just knew something wasn't right.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

I’m so pleased for you that you got a diagnosis. I remember several of your posts where you said you didn’t feel right so it’s good that you got it checked out.

Having read your post I’m thinking if you can do all that not feeling 100% just imagine what you will do when you are back to top form!

Thanks for posting this and all the best for a good recovery x

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon]

It was sooooo frustrating, and still is. Yesterday I did Parkrun in ,32 mins, normally I can do it in ,25-26 mins. So yep, I'm definitely looking forward to getting back to full form again. I have a couple of races coming up, quite a big one next Sunday, and I know I'll be slow but the main thing is, I'll still be doing it!!🤗

[nowster Metric Marathon in reply to Hedgehogs123]

"Normally can do it in 25-26 mins."

That's my parkrun PB on a totally flat course. My most recent runs have been over 30 mins, but I've put that down to doing less activity recently (lots of non-running things have been vying for my time and attention).

Interestingly, my partner's currently undergoing tests for a similar lack of energy, but she was never particularly active to start with. That seems to be a form of anaemia too (and malabsorption of certain vitamins). Like me, she's in her mid-fifties.

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to nowster]

Glad she's being checked out, I'm sure it will give you and her peace of mind. Good luck! 🤗

[RunningJ123 10 Miles]

Wow, Hedgehogs123 , it's SO good you got checked out! Hope they will find the source of the bleed now and get you fixed up again. Look after yourself! Thanks for writing... It's good to know these things...

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon]

Absolutely, so easy to ignore symptoms, that's why I posted. It may help someone else.🤗

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Thank you for posting - certainly a reminder to all of us to get checked out if we’re not feeling right. Glad you now have a diagnosis and can work towards getting things sorted. 🙂

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Listen to your body and don't ignore it.Ypu did just that, thank goodness.Well done you anx thank you so much for sharing here.

Heal well and recover slowly...you will be back on track, even stronger.

We and the runs will be waiting.

Sending a gentle hug. X

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you so much. The power of this forum and the wonderful caring people on it never fails to amaze me 🤗x

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Hedgehogs123]

You have come so far and you have shown how strong you are... just stay strong and remember, you are never on your own here x

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

You did exactly the right thing to get medical advice Hedgehogs123 . I know it’s not easy to get an appointment these days but it’s worth hanging in there if you know that something isn’t feeling right. Lots of tests and you will have a way forward and I hope you will soon be back to where you were before. Do keep us up to date with progress.

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy, as Linda says, I think as runners we know our bodies and we know when something isn't right. I wanted people to be aware do they don't ignore any similar symptoms or get fobbed off. 🤗

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon]

Thank you for sharing and I do hope the medical folk soon find the bleed and are able to stop it. Get well soon and here are some flowers for you 🌹🌸🌺🌼🌻🌷💐

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Awww thank you 🤗

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon]

Oh goodness Hedgehogs, I wrote a post very similar to this a few months ago. I had part of my thyroid removed last year, and my running just got slower and slower...53 minutes for 5K and I've been running for nearly 10 years....people just said "speed doesn't matter, you're out there doing it" and even a friend who used to be a thyroid nurse and who knows my history well told me I just needed to do speed work or run hills. I couldn't pick up my tiny dumbbells - "buy some lighter ones" whereas I was wondering where my strength had gone...

Three consultants at the hospital blamed the radiotherapy I had five years ago for breast cancer...finally the 4th one actually looked again at my blood levels and prescribed LevoThyroxine, and what a difference....

Your problem sounds a lot worse than mine, but thank goodness you are now on the path to getting it sorted. I'm still trying to get the dose right, I had another increase a couple of weeks ago, and it all helps.

All the best for your treatment.

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

Aww thank you, we know our own bodies don't we, and I just knew something wasn't right, I just couldn't see how I could go from being very fit to struggling to walk up the stairs without being out of breath and dizzy. Then I developed a few other symptoms and ended up getting referred to the cancer clinic. Anyway, had the awful colonoscopy last week , 1.5 hrs later, and still can't find the bleed. So back on the iron tablets and a stomach liner, then tests again in a couple of months to check the red blood cells and the thyroid again. They didn't want to treat that on top of everything else. I just want to be able to run again with it taking me days to recover,!!Hope you get your dosage sorted and you too start to feel better.🤞

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Hedgehogs123]

Oh bless you, you've had a rotten time haven't you? My husband has had 4 colonoscopies so I know all about them, albeit at second hand..I hope you get some relief soon xx