From C-Scare to Shock

After months of hiatus, I’m finally back! Despite my hectic work schedule, numerous doctor visits, and a couple of trips to the ER, I’m doing completely fine—and I’m truly grateful for that.

However, before things returned to normal, I became sick, burned out, and lethargic. Despite my efforts to exercise and regain my health and energy, the symptoms just wouldn’t go away. For a couple of weeks, I thought I had caught a bug. Eventually, I concluded that it might have just been the result of the extreme summer heat this year.

I lost count of how many times I went to the doctor or how many vials of blood were drawn for tests.

My GP suspected I might have a food allergy, such as gluten, and recommended that I avoid foods like bread, as it could explain the long-term constipation. Additionally, my reflux—which I’ve had since I was younger—worsened, so I was prescribed Omeprazole to help with the heartburn. The heartburn subsided, but only temporarily.

As a result, I began to worry about my health, feeling both physically unwell and mentally drained by the whole situation. I was concerned about chronic illnesses because they can have a huge impact on one’s quality of life. I didn’t want my family to worry, especially my child.

The doctor ruled out pregnancy because nothing indicated it in the blood test results, and I have an irregular cycle—though I still get my period every now and then.

During my two ER visits—one in summer and the other in autumn—the doctors suspected an infection. One of them even considered sending me to the main hospital because of my headache, heavy breathing, and dizziness. My CRP level was elevated, and I was extremely sick. However, the doctor at the main hospital rejected the suggestion and asked me to wait and monitor my condition for three days. After the three days, I went back to work feeling better, but the symptoms returned. I ignored them because I was tired of going to the doctor—and honestly, I was sick of waiting hours in the ER for nothing.

Eventually, I got a new appointment with my GP because I was getting lethargic again despite getting the right amount of sleep, eating well, and staying active. More blood tests were drawn, and after a week, the results indicated that I might have hypothyroidism. My GP then suggested further testing for autoimmune illnesses, as many of my symptoms pointed toward that possibility.

The days were never the same. Some were good, and some were exhausting. I tried my best to eat healthy, but the digestive issues and pain wouldn’t go away. I also felt like I was becoming a regular at the clinic. I started to believe that I was dealing with a chronic illness, and the thought made me emotional. Then one day, I felt sick again, so I had to call in sick to work and visit the doctor for a sick leave document. The GP examined me again, asked a lot of questions, and suddenly told me that something wasn’t adding up in the blood test results from the previous week. It seemed that some of my symptoms were the opposite of what she initially suspected. So, all of a sudden, she requested a urinalysis—and after a few minutes, there it was: the biggest shock of my life.

Clue: I’m not sick. 😀

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