what's wrong with me?

Hello

I am new to this but I am at the end of my tether. I've had a flu virus in February 2012 and don't seem to have recovered from it yet. I've had blood tests and last week, my gp noticed something not quite right with my thyroid. I am seeing an andocrinologist on Thursday. Some days I feel fine but others I feel terrible. I am exhausted and can sleep for 12 hours with lots of night sweats. I feel nauseous most of the time. I have digestive issues and my nutritionist advised to cut out gluten. I can't really see a difference. I also have a rash on my neck which comes and go. Sometimes it is on my body. It is all very peculiar.
The future with these symptoms petrifies me. I am single, have to work and also look after my 3 year old twin grand-children. I feel I can't do this anymore. How long before I am back to normal?

Welcome Armelle, Im so sorry you feel so bad. I have not had a thyroid problem. I do have chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, plus neuropathy in both feet and legs that I have had for 8 years or more. I was diagnosed with diabetes a few months ago. I have totally lost control of my housekeeping because I simply hurt so bad. I have heard of people having a flu or other illness that feels as if it never went away. I know of your distress about keeping grandchildren. You want them so much but know in your heart you must stop for at least awhile to get your complete diagnosis. I was in those shoes about being able to work when I felt so horrible. How I did it I dont know. I met my sweet husband 10 years ago. I quit working 9 years ago and had trouble for a long time about losing my ability to work any longer. Now, I know I have no choice, I cannot work. I hope your doctors can find a way to help you. Im sure your sharing can be helpful to someone else here so keep in touch.....hugs.....Cathy

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I am 61 years young. I have neuropathy in both feet and hands. I have spinal stenosis and arthritis in my back. I am bipolar and with panic attacks. I cannot walk. I choose to stay home all the time. I love living in the country. Its very peaceful.

Hi there, sorry I can't really help but I have had similar issues since coming down with a flu-like illness in April. I'm the same way, lots of digestive issues, fatigue, and good days/bad days. Usually I'll feel good or at least decent for two weeks and then bad for a week to ten days. The good days are lasting longer than they used to, though. A doctor I saw once said he sees a lot of people who got a virus and developed many non-specific symptoms that wouldn't go away. He put me on an antidepressant that sometimes helps people with fibromyalgia (since fibro can also be post-viral) but I've been on it for a month and I don't think it helped. It seemed like it was helping for a while.
Have you had your thyroid levels checked? Mine have all been normal so I know that's not my problem, but I have had weird changes in my appetite that seem like a thyroid problem. Food never sounds as good as it used to, but I feel like I have to eat all the time or I get lightheaded and have stomach pains. I get lots of gas and have some IBS-like symptoms. I take probiotics and they did help regulate my bowel movements. I think I might have lactose intolerance and soy intolerance when I never had problems with those foods before.

Do you feel like you're getting any better? It's hard for me to see it on the bad days, but I feel like as a whole I have gotten quite a bit better. For a while I was waking up every morning with horrible nausea and vomiting, and that actually never happens anymore. I also used to have more problems with lightheadedness and heart palpitations than I do now. I still have them, just not as often.
What were your symptoms with the virus? Mine were fatigue, low-grade fever, very sore ribs and back, lightheadedness, no appetite, and some nausea and vomiting. I recovered after about a week then started having very similar symptoms but without the body aches and with more stomach issues two weeks later, and the symptoms have been off and on ever since.

Post Edited (lindsay0891) : 11/19/2012 1:56:04 PM (GMT-7)

Hi,

Thanks for writing. I feel better today after 10 hour sleep. Woke up drenched. Gp gave me some laxatives as this is a big problem with me. I am supposed to be gluten intolerant but I am sceptical. I got better after 2 weeks in February and started walking again. Bad move. Went down hill in April and June and September. It seems to happen every other months. Having my thyroid checked Thursday

Sorry sent it by mistake. I am also having a tummy scan as I suffer from bad nausea, tender tum and back ache. The worst thing is no one believe you. My children seems to think I am making a fuss over nothing. I look normal but I feel dreadful inside.

The virus came very suddenly. Shivery, fever and that's about all. No flu symptoms. I could barely stand up. I did collapse at the doctor's surgery. Terrible nausea too. It is all so weird. When better, I put it into perspective and am grateful. However, when I feel bad like last week, I do struggle to see light at the end of the tunnel.

I know exactly how you feel with the last part. I felt great (well, better than I have in a while) from about the 20th of October to the 10th of November and my attitude improved so much. Then I started feeling sick again and now I feel totally hopeless. I'm hoping to go to the doctor tomorrow but it's hard for me to get up and go since I sleep so late.

Armelle, welcome to the forum. I am interested in the fact that your doctor found something wrong with your thyroid. Your symptoms could be from that & you may find a lot of relief from a med or diet change. Wouldn't that be nice!

I have fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome so I understand the flu like feelings & fatigue. I have good days & bad days. Good weeks & bad weeks, I am in a bad week right now & feel just terrible but next week I could feel so much better I never know. I have been disabled with these illnesses for about 4 years & would love to be able to work. What kind of work do you do? Do you have to work everyday or can you pace yourself? Some people can work with CFS & others can't. I can't even imagine having to take care of 2 three year olds. Oh my, I feel for you. I have 2 of my grandchildren and my daughter living with me but they are older, 10 & 14. More self sufficient & their Mom takes care of them mostly.

Try to take care of yourself & rest as much as you can, if that is possible. Don't worry about the housework or anything like that. I hope you find some answers on Thursday. Let us know & keep posting, we are here to help you. Gentle hugs, Denise

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Fibromyalgia-dx'd: 2006, ME/CFS-dx'd: 2006, Holt-Oram Syndrome dx'd 1975, reduced lung capacity dx'd 2009, nasal allergies, food allergies, depression (lifetime problem) IBS, neuropathy in hips

I have 4 children & 7 grandchildren.

As apples of gold in silver carvings is a word spoken at the right time for it. Prov. 25:11

Hello,
Thanks for writing and thank you for the advice. I do work 3 days but look after the boys 2 days so rest for me.

It is my thyroid. It's hyper. I can't believe I got all these symptoms just because of that. It started with a flu virus so thought it was post viral fatigue.
I am now on beta blocker and that has made me better.

Armelle, I am so happy you found out what is the problem. How wonderful!!!! I hope you feel better soon. Hugs, Denise

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Fibromyalgia-dx'd: 2006, ME/CFS-dx'd: 2006, Holt-Oram Syndrome dx'd 1975, reduced lung capacity dx'd 2009, nasal allergies, food allergies, depression (lifetime problem) IBS, neuropathy in hips

I have 4 children & 7 grandchildren.

As apples of gold in silver carvings is a word spoken at the right time for it. Prov. 25:11