Tired, Dizzy and Moody

Zeena21

Hi there,

I'm currently having a problem with energy levels. Let me give you some background info on myself! I'm a 20 year old female student, vegetarian. I eat quite healthy and talk B12 drops, iron supplements as well as vitamin C and D3.

For the past year I have been experiencing problems with being tired and weak, and lately it has gotten a lot worse. In the morning I struggle to wake up, I find it very hard to get to college on time and a lot of the time I have to skip lectures because I just can't get up. I have headaches in the morning and lasts throughout the day. I eat a very good breakfast (Smoothies with fruit and porridge). As the day goes on my concentration is awful in lectures. I also find it hard to hold conversations. I need to urinate all the time, almost every half an hour. Sometimes when I stand up I get a rush to my head, my vision goes blurry and think I'm going to faint. By about 4pm I start to fall asleep and just want to be in bed. I struggle to stay awake on the bus home, I have to stop myself from falling asleep. I never feel like meeting up with my friends because my mood is bad and i have no energy. I snap at people like my mom when I'm home because of the bad moods. I have anxiety, but the exhaustion is bringing it on a lot worse. By evening time i start to have small anxiety attacks. It takes me hours to fall asleep, and when I do eventually get to sleep I wake up 4-5 times a night. In the morning, the process starts all over again. At the moment I don't feel like I'm living, and more just getting by. This is unlike me and not my personality.

I'm also feeling very weak and have aches in my body. I am extremely sensitive to the cold as well.

I have been to doctors and had bloods done over a year ago, there was no sign of problems with my thyroid. Each time I go back to the doctor he dismisses it as something else. I have read into other things it could be, adrenal fatigue or leaky gut. However as I'm just a college student I cant afford to go to expensive nutrition clinics. I would like to get a food intolerance test done, but am unsure if the doctor would give me that opportunity.

Any help you can offer would be amazing! Thank you

Stheno

Perhaps see another doctor?

njs030

I'd ask for the results of those tests before making appointments anywhere else. You should be able to get a hard copy from the reception desk and see what the results were.


Edit-and see someone else!

Alf Veedersane

Get the results of any tests and go to another doctor.

If your doctor is dismissing concerns without investigating further to get to the bottom of the issue, then it's time to go to someone who will do their job.

coffee_cake

What do you eat during the day? Full typical day?

Other than that, go to another doc and get some answers.

stezie

Sounds like Sleep Apnea symptoms to me. GP's know very little about it. They will just pass off snoring as snoring and suggest that you sleep on your side or loose weight.  Best to ask for referral to a sleep / respiratory consultant for a sleep study just to to rule out apnea's aren't happening.

Alf Veedersane

stezie wrote: »

Sounds like Sleep Apnea symptoms to me. GP's know very little about it. They will just pass off snoring as snoring and suggest that you sleep on your side or loose weight.  Best to ask for referral to a sleep / respiratory consultant for a sleep study just to to rule out apnea's aren't happening.

It doesn't really sound like sleep apnea specifically. And OP never mentioned snoring or respiratory issues.

Zeena21

bluewolf wrote: »

What do you eat during the day? Full typical day?

Other than that, go to another doc and get some answers.

In the morning I make a smoothie (strawberries, banana, orange juice, yoghurt, goji berries and chia seeds) with a bowl porridge. I usually bring a flask of black coffee to college. At lunch I usually have crackers with hummus as a snack and then soup or a sandwich, sometimes we get burritos. For dinner I usually make pasta with vegetables or curries. I usually have chocolate at some stage or a packet of crisps. My appetite isn't that big so I don't really eat large meals

stezie

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

stezie wrote: »

Sounds like Sleep Apnea symptoms to me. GP's know very little about it. They will just pass off snoring as snoring and suggest that you sleep on your side or loose weight.  Best to ask for referral to a sleep / respiratory consultant for a sleep study just to to rule out apnea's aren't happening.

It doesn't really sound like sleep apnea specifically. .

Why not?

Zeena21

stezie wrote: »

Sounds like Sleep Apnea symptoms to me. GP's know very little about it. They will just pass off snoring as snoring and suggest that you sleep on your side or loose weight.  Best to ask for referral to a sleep / respiratory consultant for a sleep study just to to rule out apnea's aren't happening.

I never snore when I'm sleeping. I just find it very difficult to get to sleep and then wake up a lot during the night!

stezie

Zeena21 wrote: »

stezie wrote: »

Sounds like Sleep Apnea symptoms to me. GP's know very little about it. They will just pass off snoring as snoring and suggest that you sleep on your side or loose weight.  Best to ask for referral to a sleep / respiratory consultant for a sleep study just to to rule out apnea's aren't happening.

I never snore when I'm sleeping. I just find it very difficult to get to sleep and then wake up a lot during the night!

Sleep apnea is considered a serious medical condition. Complications may include:

• Daytime fatigue. The repeated awakenings associated with sleep apnea make normal, restorative sleep impossible. People with sleep apnea often experience severe daytime drowsiness, fatigue and irritability.You may have difficulty concentrating and find yourself falling asleep at work, while watching TV or even when driving. People with sleep apnea have an increased risk of motor vehicle and workplace accidents.You may also feel quick tempered, moody or depressed. Children and adolescents with sleep apnea may do poorly in school or have behavior problems.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sleep-apnea/basics/complications/con-20020286

Also, please research Central Sleep Apnea, as this does not result in snoring. I  know you didn't specify snoring in your original post,   But GP's will ask you about this, and they will only presume you have sleep apnea if you snore.

coffee_cake

Zeena21 wrote: »

In the morning I make a smoothie (strawberries, banana, orange juice, yoghurt, goji berries and chia seeds) with a bowl porridge. I usually bring a flask of black coffee to college. At lunch I usually have crackers with hummus as a snack and then soup or a sandwich, sometimes we get burritos. For dinner I usually make pasta with vegetables or curries. I usually have chocolate at some stage or a packet of crisps. My appetite isn't that big so I don't really eat large meals

any protein at all?
I am asking as i knew someone who was losing the plot and found out they had a near zero intake
I absolutely advise finding another doctor as well though

Alf Veedersane

stezie wrote: »

Why not?

What part of the OP specifically suggests sleep apnea and not the myriad other issues that might have someone tired and irritable during the day with less than brilliant sleep that isn't helped by the anxiety that is possibly brought on by the whole situation?

There's nothing related to snoring or breathing that would suggest sleep apnea on particular.

The OP needs to see a different doctor who will examine what the issue actually is rather than just say what it isn't and no more.

stezie

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

stezie wrote: »

Why not?

What part of the OP specifically suggests sleep apnea and not the myriad other issues that might have someone tired and irritable during the day with less than brilliant sleep that isn't helped by the anxiety that is possibly brought on by the whole situation?

There's nothing related to snoring or breathing that would suggest sleep apnea on particular.

The OP needs to see a different doctor who will examine what the issue actually is rather than just say what it isn't and no more.

The symptoms defined clearly do suggest sleep apnea. By your tone you don't understand the effects chronic sleep apnea can have on a persons life. I recommend you research this, before you argumentatively deny something without understanding it. I do understand the condition..

Zeena21

InTheAttic wrote: »

I had a lot of symptoms you describe last year. Feeling of being dreamy and extremely tired (the worst fatigue I have ever experienced). Dizziness. Panic attacks. Horrible dark thoughts. Heart palpitations. I eat very healthy too. And guess what?.. All my bloods were fine.

I knew something was very wrong. I went to counselling and also to CBT sessions. They didn't help me.

The problem? I was mentally burned out with work and had developed generalised anxiety and depression.

I Quit my job. Moved home and surrounded myself with people I loved. I exercised. I all but cut out alcohol entirely. I continued to eat well. I recovered. Life is good again!

Try a different doctor.

Thanks so much for your reply! I am considering going back to a councillor to help with the anxiety. College is intense and things at home aren't the best but however I am sure that my health is what is making the anxiety a hell of a lot worse. As I am in college and living at home and working there is very little I can change in my lifestyle!
I used to convince myself that the energy levels etc were all in my mind and it was just the way I was thinking but they are getting worse and are most definitely real and now impacting my daily life hugely!

So while going back to a councillor may help the stress, there is something underlying that is causing this. Thanks for the help!

Zeena21

bluewolf wrote: »

any protein at all?
I am asking as i knew someone who was losing the plot and found out they had a near zero intake
I absolutely advise finding another doctor as well though

Hey thanks for the reply. I try to include protein as often as possible, eating hummus and chickpeas, protein pasta, sometimes I have quinoa and I also eat avocado, I snack on nuts too but yes I could definitely try include more protein in my diet. I did actually read somewhere that a protein deficiency could impact sleep. Il take that into account thank you

Zeena21

stezie wrote: »

Sounds like Sleep Apnea symptoms to me. GP's know very little about it. They will just pass off snoring as snoring and suggest that you sleep on your side or loose weight.  Best to ask for referral to a sleep / respiratory consultant for a sleep study just to to rule out apnea's aren't happening.

Hi there thanks for the reply! Can a doctor diagnose you with this? I know you say they know little about it. Would I be able to treat it?

njs030

stezie wrote: »

The symptoms defined clearly do suggest sleep apnea. By your tone you don't understand the effects chronic sleep apnea can have on a persons life. I recommend you research this, before you argumentatively deny something without understanding it. I do understand the condition..

The symptoms also suggest underactive thyroid which is why I told the op to get her test results so she can compare them against a new set, also possible would be anxiety from college, food allergies, lack of protein as said above, and a host of other chronic illnesses....but we aren't doctors so the only correct thing for the op to do is to see a more sympathetic, understanding doctor who will do proper tests.

Most chronic illness are marked by things like fatigue and problems sleeping, they don't point at any one thing.

InTheAttic

Zeena21 wrote: »

Thanks so much for your reply! I am considering going back to a councillor to help with the anxiety. College is intense and things at home aren't the best but however I am sure that my health is what is making the anxiety a hell of a lot worse. As I am in college and living at home and working there is very little I can change in my lifestyle!
I used to convince myself that the energy levels etc were all in my mind and it was just the way I was thinking but they are getting worse and are most definitely real and now impacting my daily life hugely!

So while going back to a councillor may help the stress, there is something underlying that is causing this. Thanks for the help!

I updated my post, maybe read it back again Don't bother with the councillor. I did the same thing and it just made me put off going to the GP and I just got worse. Go try a different GP. You may require medication to get you back to normal.

Zeena21

InTheAttic wrote: »

I updated my post, maybe read it back again Don't bother with the councillor. I did the same thing and it just made me put off going to the GP and I just got worse. Go try a different GP. You may require medication to get you back to normal.

Oh sorry I read it wrong! Definitely going to head to a different GP thank you !

Alf Veedersane

stezie wrote: »

The symptoms defined clearly do suggest sleep apnea. By your tone you don't understand the effects chronic sleep apnea can have on a persons life. I recommend you research this, before you argumentatively deny something without understanding it. I do understand the condition..

You're very defensive. I understand the impact sleep apnea could have on a person's life.

I'm not saying it couldnt be sleep apnea. I said the symptoms weren't specific to sleep apnea. It could be a lot of other issues. The symptoms are common to a lot of issues and none of them are more characteristic of sleep apnea than any of the other potential issues.

So the OP needs to go to a doctor with an open mind to find the solution.

stezie

Zeena21 wrote: »

stezie wrote: »

Sounds like Sleep Apnea symptoms to me. GP's know very little about it. They will just pass off snoring as snoring and suggest that you sleep on your side or loose weight.  Best to ask for referral to a sleep / respiratory consultant for a sleep study just to to rule out apnea's aren't happening.

Hi there thanks for the reply! Can a doctor diagnose you with this? I know you say they know little about it. Would I be able to treat it?

A GP cannot diagnose this. you will need a referral to a sleep/respiratory consultant. They will arrange an over night sleep study . The sleep study will monitor your breathing patterns and you blood oxygen saturation. When an apnea occurs you basically stop breathing. When CO2 levels in your blood increase, you brain automatically wakes you up.
enough of these apnea events your brain is basically getting starved of oxygen, hence why i think you are getting headaches first thing in the morning.
because you keep wakening up to catch your breath you are not getting a proper nights sleep , leading to the exhaustion and possibly the anxiety, etc. You may not remember all these wake events.

What it may take is a bed partner to notice that you stop breathing or hold your breath, or notice your snoring is very abnormal, and say to you the next day. This is how it was brought to my attention. 12 years after i reported similar symptoms as you, this is how i realized i have sleep apnea. when i said this to my GP about my pauses in breathing, this is when i got the referral to a sleep specialist. When you hold your breath for up to 49 times per hour( or more ), while sleeping, you will soon have a headache and explain why you can be very very irritable the next day due to lack of sleep. ( you cant help this, and you dont notice your own crankyness) i completely understand your symptoms( although i dont think aches is a direct result of this)
if you are diagnosed with Sleep apnea , Treatment of this is done with CPAP or ASV.
I'm not saying this is definitely your condition, but at least have it ruled out by requesting a sleep study. Your symptoms are very familiar.

If you want further info on this, links etc, PM me and ill point you in the right direction for extra info on this that will give you more detail.

stezie

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

stezie wrote: »

The symptoms defined clearly do suggest sleep apnea. By your tone you don't understand the effects chronic sleep apnea can have on a persons life. I recommend you research this, before you argumentatively deny something without understanding it. I do understand the condition..

You're very defensive. I understand the impact sleep apnea could have on a person's life.

I'm not saying it couldnt be sleep apnea. I said the symptoms weren't specific to sleep apnea. It could be a lot of other issues. The symptoms are common to a lot of issues and none of them are more characteristic of sleep apnea than any of the other potential issues.

So the OP needs to go to a doctor with an open mind to find the solution.

Very few GP's will look at the conditions highlighted in OP and think sleep apnea. trust me.

J Mysterio

Sounds like depression to me.

Alf Veedersane

stezie wrote: »

Very few GP's will look at the conditions highlighted in OP and think sleep apnea. trust me.

That's fair enough and I appreciate you've first hand experience. But I think they should go to another doctor with their tests and see what comes of it. There is a point where suggesting sleep apnea as a potential issue is perfectly reasonable but I don't think the OP needs to pursue it straight off the bat.

stezie

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

stezie wrote: »

Very few GP's will look at the conditions highlighted in OP and think sleep apnea. trust me.

That's fair enough and I appreciate you've first hand experience. But I think they should go to another doctor with their tests and see what comes of it. There is a point where suggesting sleep apnea as a potential issue is perfectly reasonable but I don't think the OP needs to pursue it straight off the bat.

That's your opinion. But I don't think going around various GP's with the same blood test reports will result in anything constructive. The first GP is well trained at looking at the lab report and telling you the lab results. They wont look at the report and say something contradictory to the evidence on the report, on the hopes that the say something that you want to hear either its accurate or not.

Alf Veedersane

stezie wrote: »

That's your opinion. But I don't think going around various GP's with the same blood test reports will result in anything constructive. The first GP is well trained at looking at the lab report and telling you the lab results. They wont look at the report and say something contradictory to the evidence on the report, on the hopes that the say something that you want to hear either its accurate or not.

It's not unheard of that two doctors will read a report differently.

It's also possible that the blood tests weren't exhaustive.

The doctor is brushing the OP off and making no effort to get to the bottom of the problem. I would have little or no confidence in their thoroughness so I would find a doctor that would investigate properly and who would look at all possibilities and if it comes down to it, then send the OP to the specialist in sleep apnea when it's a more likely scenario.

gctest50

Hear hooves, think zebras something something


When did this start ? :

Zeena21 wrote: »

......... I need to urinate all the time, almost every half an hour. ...............

can be all sorts of reasons for it,

- easiest one is blood glucose all over the place

Do Oral Glucose Tolerance Test and
Check yer glycated haemoglobin ( hba1c )


Then that will be that out of the way one way or the other

stezie

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

It's not unheard of that two doctors will read a report differently.

It's also possible that the blood tests weren't exhaustive.

The doctor is brushing the OP off and making no effort to get to the bottom of the problem. I would have little or no confidence in their thoroughness so I would find a doctor that would investigate properly and who would look at all possibilities and if it comes down to it, then send the OP to the specialist in sleep apnea when it's a more likely scenario.

Although im not saying to get another doctors opinion, I think your option has been exhausted. Doctors have been involved. tests performed. Various suggestions made...

"I have been to doctors and had bloods done over a year ago, there was no sign of problems with my thyroid. Each time I go back to the doctor he dismisses it as something else"

The op is looking at new options that have not yet been considered.

You are unaware of your sleep pattern so you cannot tell your doctor exactly how you slept. The doctor won't put the evidence together as you can't inform them.

Just because someone has a alternative option to the one you suggested , makes you appear very naive by your forceful dismissal of it.

The OP is in a position , and I'm a sure a pretty stressful position of trying to work out how to put this right.
Constructive ideas as what next to suggest is what will help. pushing the can down the road asking other GP's to repeat work that has already been done is just extending the pain
.

sending this person away with no new ideas is not helping.

Alf Veedersane

stezie wrote: »

Although im not saying to get another doctors opinion, I think your option has been exhausted. Doctors have been involved. tests performed. Various suggestions made...

"I have been to doctors and had bloods done over a year ago, there was no sign of problems with my thyroid. Each time I go back to the doctor he dismisses it as something else"

The op is looking at new options that have not yet been considered.

You are unaware of your sleep pattern so you cannot tell your doctor exactly how you slept. The doctor won't put the evidence together as you can't inform them.

Just because someone has a alternative option to the one you suggested , makes you appear very naive by your forceful dismissal of it.

The OP is in a position , and I'm a sure a pretty stressful position of trying to work out how to put this right.
Constructive ideas as what next to suggest is what will help. pushing the can down the road asking other GP's to repeat work that has already been done is just extending the pain
.

sending this person away with no new ideas is not helping.

Sending the OP down a single route with the probability of finding a solution down that route is less helpful.

Getting the OP to go to a more thorough doctor is the better course of action. If a doctor is unwilling to look for a solution and dismisses the OP without having found one, I wouldn't have any confidence in what they have said this far.

Constructive is helpful. Constructive isn't picking an issue out of the many it could be and suggesting the OP spend a boatload of money on it first off.

It's also potentially a mental issue. If the OP is conscious of their tiredness during the day that they're anxious about getting a good sleep, then that's feeding into the not getting to sleep. Vicious cycle.

kaymin

I suffered regular tiredness for a few years - physical symptoms were always the same - yellowish skin around my eyes. Left me grumpy and lethargic 2 - 3 days every week. Immune system was weak - couldn't seem to fight off colds. I was convinced I had an iron problem but tests proved otherwise. I started taking iron tablets but they didn't seem to have any effect.

All the health checks / GP visits showed up nothing - blood tests, iron levels, thyroid function were all in the normal range, no food intolerances etc.

In the end I increased my food intake (good breakfast + 2 dinners a day and ate redmeat regularly) and weight (to a BMI of 22.5) and that seems to have resolved it. Perhaps your food in-take is too low?