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Chronic Illness 1d
Does anyone have advice for those who are seeking ought to determine whether they have a chronic illness. I’ve had chronic fatigue and exhaustion all my life but attributed it to burnout… but things are MUCH WORSE now and I can barely function.
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Anonymous 23h

Start with your PCP and go from there. They can run many tests to rule out common causes of fatigue (anemia, B deficiencies, etc) and it’s the easiest place to start. Most specialists require a referral and only after testing can a doctor make an appropriate one. Chronic fatigue is becoming more prevalent, associated with people who had COVID. But can show up in people with borderline anemia, vitamin deficiencies, and more.

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Anonymous replying to -> #1 22h

Thank you 🫶 I’ve had it all my life and I just assumed the pain and difficulties I had were normal. I was told it was my weight and my anxiety causing some of it… but everything has gotten significantly worse and I can’t do the things I used to be able to. I’m saddened. I feel like I’m grieving the person I wanted to become because they no longer have the capabilities I need to succeed.

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Anonymous replying to -> OP 22h

uggggh yeah, unfortunately Very common for doctors (often even specialists who should know better) to completely dismiss legitimate medical concerns with “whatever, you just need to lose weight” I was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis as a small child, which has very noticeably never gone into remission, and I’ve had a rheumatologist try to tell me the same as an adult. I lost over 100 pounds and my symptoms are still worse than ever

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Anonymous replying to -> #2 21h

I fear that because I’m at a larger BMI than I was even then, they’ll say the same thing. 🫠

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Anonymous replying to -> OP 21h

please do feel free to view this group as a resource / bank of knowledge and ask any questions that may be relevant to you, most of us may not be medical students or anything like that but as a collective one of our strengths is being able to share what we’ve learned in the course of treatment and researching our own diagnoses. really want you to get the support you need & deserve!!

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Anonymous replying to -> #2 21h

I appreciate that so much. Thank you 🥹

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Anonymous replying to -> OP 21h

I could rant about the BMI system for dayyyyys 😭 genuinely pseudoscience, a formula that only accounts for height and weight doesn’t even manage to take into account actual body composition (i.e. fat vs muscle—literal bodybuilders often qualify as “obese”) or genetic factors. it’s absurdly unreasonable that a “measurement” like that is used as a justification to deny proper medical care!!

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Anonymous replying to -> OP 2h

I would just go into the appointment prepared knowing that. There are always the basics doctors have to cover and anytime I meet with a new doctor I always prepare myself to answer those common questions (diet, water intake, sleep, exercise). I also always bring notes and questions.

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