I don’t remember being a sick child. I rarely vomitted, I rarely vomit now. I don’t think that I was always with a cold or flu or hayfever or aches or pains. I remember as an adolescent having quite a bit of hayfever but not necessarily viruses. Perhaps my Mum can correct me on this (Mum, you can do so by clicking on the “No Comments” or the “[number] Comments” link at the bottom of this post). Since 2004 however I seem to pick up every cold or every flu1 and I also get mysterious pains. There was that pinched nerve episode which caused me to be late to band practice because I couldn’t move to get out of the house. At the moment I have this pain in my lower abdomen. It seems to methat it might be some ovarian related pain. I went to a doctor yesterday who seemed to concur after testing for pregnancy and infection. He gave me a slip, form type thing to have a pelvic ultrasound. I’ll try to make and appointment for that for Wednesday.
My question is, does this happen to all or a lot of women? Does it just suck to be me? Do I just happen to have a really poor immune system? Do vitamin supplements actually do anything? Can I actually afford to buy supplements to take them everyday so that if they have any effect then that effect will take place? Even if I do have a poor immune system, are pinched nerves and ovary pains related to that? I wouldn’t think so unless they were due to infections. That was actually several questions.
1 I don’t know what the difference is. I used to think a cold was just in the head and a flu was full body – aches and pains and sensitive skin. Other people seem to be under the impression that the flu is worse than the things I get and they put you in bed for a week. Although I do tend to stay sick for about two weeks and some of those days are spent in bed or at home.
Hezza says
Bother. I just somehow deleted my comment! GRRRR!
Continuous random (as in, different things in different parts of the body) complaints could be due to stress. Many people underrate the effect stress can have on the body and the physical toll it can take.
I empathize with your ovarian pain – I’ve had severe ovarian pain in the past which could not be accounted for after an ultrasound – having a scan will at least rule things out though (it won’t pick up endometriosis as far as I can remember).
Could it be ovulation pain? I don’t get bad period pain usually but I get excruciating ovulation pain. The “pinched nerve” might not be unrelated – ovarian pain and back pain can be connected.
In terms of vitamins – I really do think eating a balanced diet and getting your nutrients from food is the best thing – alot of people take vitamins unncessarily or take them and yet still eat an appalling diet! I’d write down what you eat for a week and then take it to your doctor so she can let you know if there is anything obviously lacking. Also, drinking at least 8 glasses (250mL) of water a day is essential – it really, really, really is good for the body – we need to be hydrated!
Will pray for you!
PS Good to keep the same doctor for each complain – that way if it is a chronic condition that is picked up by many symptoms they are more likely to pick it! – even if you tell each new doctor your history, it’s often just easier to stick to the same one in case you skim over something important.
Mags says
Poor Kristarella!! 8( I hope you feel better soon…
I am actually healthier than when I was little, though I still get sick these days too. I think that being in a good mental state has a lot to do with illness. Some people don’t agree, but when I was in my bad marriage and in an abusive relationship, I was sick a lot more.
Also-I do have endomitriosis and the way they discovered it was through a dye test where they put dye into my fallopian tubes to see if they were clear. But if you ask your doctor about it and describe the pain and WHEN you have it, I’m sure he can tell you whether or not it sounds like you have it.
Vitamins: Yes, they help, and I agree with Hezza-diet is key too. I find that when I am eating fruits and veggies and drinking water etc…I feel much better than after I have fallen off the wagon-and not just mentally-I have more enegry, my skin looks better and my eyes are more clear.
Again, I hope you feel better soon!!!
kristarella says
Thanks for you concern and suggestions Hez and Mags. I am stressed. I’m just like that, I always have been and I don’t know how to stop being that way without giving up pretty much everything I do. I’m busy and I have a certain expectation of myself and when I can’t do things and I get sick I get sad and angry.
My diet does leave a little to be desired, I find it nearly impossible to get to the supermarket often enough to have decent fruit and veg – then I get stressed cos we have no food!
Argh! I really need to go to uni now.
Hezza says
How about you take an hour one day and sit down and work out what nights you will be home for the week. Write down what you will eat each lunchtime and dinner and what you therefore need to buy to make those meals – (include times that you might be at uni late and need to take a packed dinner – otherwise you might not eat properly when you aren’t at home and the whole exercise will be futile!). Then take your list of things you need to buy and go to the supermarket. If you want then I will come with you and take you for coffee after : ) When you get home, try to divide everything up so the things for each day are sitting together in the fridge. Put your list of meals for the week (along with the ingredients being used) on the fridge door.
The downside is that you won’t be able to spontaneously decide what to have each evening. However the upside is that you can ensure you will be eating a balanced diet and getting proper meals. It might not make you better but it sure won’t do any harm! It will take a couple of hours out of one day but perhaps it will be worth it to plan a week ahead, at least in the short term.
The other wonderful thing for stress is exercise. I used to ignore my Dad on this one and could not be bothered. Now I run about 5 times a week and box twice a week and you would be amazed at how much happier I am and how much more relaxed and energised I am – even when I am worn out from doing it, I recover quicker from tiredness now and I FEEL so much brighter about things. The trick I have found is to get a training partner – without Simon and Russell I would not want to do it!
Baths are good too – do you have a bath?
Oh and I got your answer phone message from Sunday morning! I must have been at Nadja’s when you rang.