Friend’s mystery ill health

Sorry I mentioned Calendargirl in my post at 06.18
I wrongly thought that she was the original poster, not Newquay
Apologies to you both

So she refused to see a psychiatrist as had been recommended by a neurologist? If you really were this ill, and didn’t know why, wouldn’t you do anything in the hope of a cure? See whoever an ‘ologist’ recommended? This sounds extremely uncharitable but her symptoms are getting her a lot of attention from a lot of people - as is sought by Munchausens sufferers who would not want to see a psychiatrist for obvious reasons. Perhaps you might ask one of these retired medics about that. If she is getting private medical advice I’m sure it wouldn’t be difficult to get an ‘overall check’ from a private hospital, though you say she has had endless tests already. Presumably these retired medics will be able to understand what tests she has had and what further tests might be tried.

A neurologist told me my symptoms are caused by stress, but he has since been proved wrong.

Unfortunately, a good number of both physicians and surgeons do tend to suggest consulting a psychiatrist, which would obviously help if the symptoms are caused by a psychiatric problem, but do no good at all if making the suggestion is, as I suspect, a default setting when other consultants are stumped.

'Surely your friend can ask for and be given a copy of all her medical records showing which tests have been done and the results.

With this information her GP might be able to spot the one relevant test no-one has thought of.

Even the best of doctors may genuinely have forgotten a specific illness, or dismissed it because the patient is not exhibiting typical symptoms of it.

Thank you all for your input. A friend saw her recently and was shocked-from a smart elegant lady-she’s now lost weight and is “bedraggled “ and has lost all
Hope too. I keep asking her by text what the latest is; she’s had a blood test recently, don’t know what for. I asked if she has any further med appointments eg psychiatrist but friend who saw her said she’s lost faith in everything and now won’t see anyone or take any meds

I find it very strange that a psychiatrist has been recommended but your friend has refused this. If I were in the state you describe I would do anything. I’m sure most of us would. I’ve mentioned Munchausens already. Sufferers can make themselves physically ill and refuse the treatment which will help - from a psychiatrist. Why would she be so reluctant to try this when seemingly she has willingly seen numerous other medical professionals?

They check my vitamin D as ive to have blood tests every few months (missed some tests in covid times though) due to one of my tablets im on for life can effect levels- at one point i was found to be vitamin D deficient,& given supplements, then the extra was stopped, but then it was my thyroid that was low.so i was put on thyroid pills.But still i lose some hair, and am constantly tired, but my last blood tests were 'normal' i was told.makes no sense, and i doubt they can raise the thyroid dose anyway as I'm also on warfarin.?

A friend of a friends wife was really very poorly and they had no idea what it was(not old either, late 30's early 40-ish) they hinted it was all in her head, despite not even being able walk-& at one point her hubby was told to prepare for the worst- they never did find out what it really was, but thankfully she began to get better, now shes at home, still has a wheelchair, but is getting better each day.Drs seem to put everything on a psychological blame list when they don't know or can't be bothered to research what something is.

I think that's a bit unfair Nannan2 the physical symptoms experienced by people with mental health problems are very real and should not be dismissed as
"all in her head"

Newquay

Thank you all for your input. A friend saw her recently and was shocked-from a smart elegant lady-she’s now lost weight and is “bedraggled “ and has lost all
Hope too. I keep asking her by text what the latest is; she’s had a blood test recently, don’t know what for. I asked if she has any further med appointments eg psychiatrist but friend who saw her said she’s lost faith in everything and now won’t see anyone or take any meds

I can understand how she feels.
You should see the state I'm in, having battled for two years to be taken seriously.

Her latest bloods showed low potassium so I think she’s now got a prescription for that. When I ask about further med appointments/psychiatrist on WhatsApp she just doesn’t reply.

I know how she feels!
I have messaged you.

She saw psychiatrist recently who says severe anxiety and depression and prescribed something which she’s frightened to take. Her mental health nurse has recommended she’s admitted to local mental hospital. I SO hope she’ll go-IMHO she needs 24/7 care at the mo

That’s a big step forward. I hope everyone will do their very best to make sure she’s admitted. That’s her very best chance of getting better. Thanks for coming back to let us know.

Very best wishes to your friend, Newquay.

I think your friend needs to go back and ask for second opinions on everything. One possibility might be an auto-immune condition. These are often over looked or misdiagnosed. And some doctors don't tke certain people seriously. I know of someone who presented with the early symptoms of arthritis but who was dismissed by one specialist because he didn't look as if he had it. A year later and a younger doctor examined him more closely and did the blood tests and he is now being treated for arthritis.
You could also try "googling" her symptoms. It's not something I would recommend usually but this is a special case. You might find something that fits her perfectly and even if you don't if you turn up at a doctors and say you think you have "X" they will generally move mountains to prove it is actually "Y".
The NHS is wonderful but one of its failures is cooperation between disciplines.

trisher, I believe the friend has been seeing various consultants privately, not through the NHS, and the last one recommended she see a psychiatrist which she has refused to do until now.

I read that Gsm and I unerstand that she is now suffering from anxiety and depression, which I hope she will accept treatment for. But if you have had ill health and the cause hasn't been recognised and treated I think anxiety and depression would result. It is still possible that the underlying condition is a physical one. Just one which occurs rarely so that most doctors don't recognise it.
I was reading about Boris Johnson's mother recently. She had very bad OCD when she was younger. OCD is now recognised as sometimes a precursor of Parkinsons disease which she was eventually diagnosed with.

Doctors are fallible, just like everyone else.
It's worth bearing it in mind.
I'm sure there are countless people who have been ushered away, when there is something that has been overlooked.
It is acceptable to advocate for yourself and not blindly accept that "doctor knows best".

ElderlyPerson - may I ask what the problem was with using Mr Sheen? I tend to spray it around rather liberally when I decide to do some cleaning (not that often) and now I am wondering if I should desist.

I don't think elderly person posts anymore.
I do hope I'm wrong, though.

Newquay

She saw psychiatrist recently who says severe anxiety and depression and prescribed something which she’s frightened to take. Her mental health nurse has recommended she’s admitted to local mental hospital. I SO hope she’ll go-IMHO she needs 24/7 care at the mo

ElderlyPerson and I mentioned coeliac disease and I can't see on the thread if your friend has been tested for that.
EP said that GPs will do this routinely but our experience is that this is not at all the case.

It is not an allergy, it is an autoimmune disease and, if left undiagnosed, will leave a person becoming iller and iller as they cannot absorb any nutrients from the food they eat.

You say your friend is now eating ready meals- if she is coeliac then this diet will not help at all.

The doctors have obviously decided that her symptoms are psychosomatic so I presume they have exhausted all the possibilities but coeliac disease is one which was often overlooked although more GPs are aware now.

Two people, married, that I recall. They had both been I'll for sometime. Doctors found no cause. Eventually, a visitor, noticed a faint smell of gsd in the kitchen. When a drawer was opened, it was really strong. They could not smell it, and the gas engineer came out. They did have gas seeping into their home. Once corrected, they became well again

Someone we know suffered from very slow carbon monoxide poisoning from his car.
It was years ago and I can't quite remember how it happened but the exhaust was leaking into the car. He became very ill until it was discovered.

It can happen with gas boilers too.

That's a good reason to think outside the box, sometimes.
It would never occur to me, and yet we all know it can happen.