Post Viral?/Depression? Should I doubt my doctor?

[jade5]

I have suffered problems with my arms, legs and body for more than a year on and off with tingling, pins & needles, muscle aches, heavyness, tremors, motion sickness, headaches, and really bad fatigue.. I was seen by a Neurologist who thought it was most probably Post Viral but did a full spinal MRI to be on the safe side.. (this was in Dec 09).. The scan came back clear. I went back to the doctors today because although the pins & needles have died down, the fatigue and muscle aches have got so bad, i struggle to tie my hair up,  hold a kettle, cant get out of bed without having to rest for 5/10 mins before making it downstairs,  cant walk up the stairs with out feeling like i've done a work out in the gym, can't do housework.. etc.. or anything that i manage to do (as just mentioned)  i end up being totally wiped out for the next few days after i've exerted myself. Anyway, when i went back to the doctor today about it he told me that its just depression!!! I am NOT depressed in any way shape or form!!.. admittedly i did start crying in his room, but that was because i felt so tired and achy, was frustrated my body won't do what i want it to do, and hormonal (my period due nxt week). When i mentioned to the GP that the neuro had written in the letter to me and him (the GP) that he thought it was Post Viral and that i thought it would have cleared up by now (no one has actually bothered to tell me exactly what post viral is!) he just said yeah well if it was post viral it would have cleared up so its obviously depression causing these symptoms!!.. I feel really angry and upset and let down that he's saying all this because no matter how hard i tried explaining that i really am not depressed and am actual quite happy in myself, and want to do stuff and am not just being lazy/cant be bothered, he was having none of it. He sent me for some blood tests today which he said he KNEW would come back fine and that i had to come see him next week to sort my depression out!..

Please give me some advice... Is it possible to be depressed and not know it?? I honestly am a really happy, positive person who is quite content with myself and my life.. the only problem I have is the frustration of feeling so fatigued and heavy/muscle aches all the time thats stopping me carrying on life how I was more than a year ago!!

What should I do next? Accept that i'm depressed because he's a doctor and knows best? See a different doctor for a second opinion on it actually being post viral and not depression? And can anyone shed light on what post viral actually is/how long it lasts/and what to do to get rid of it please.

Thanks for your time.

[jellylegs]

jellylegs back again, I called myself jellylegs on this site cos thats what my legs felt like at the time and when i tried explaining to a doc in the hosp how weak I was trying to stay standing at my sink ect, guess what he said? Go for a nice walk in the park!!! In my head I was screaming at him, Do you think i'd be here if I was able to go for walk! but of course I just kept my head down and nodded in agreement. Before I got sick I walked 3 miles every night after a 10 hr day on my feet. As for depression they cant see the real thing when its right in front of them. I bet you know of someone who took their own life because doctors didnt realise how low they really were. It happens here for sure.

[jade5]

Thanks for your comments on this,

I know my body and my mind and i know i'm not depressed!.. very frustrated about my body not working the way i want to with the whole fatigue and muscle aches but defo not depressed.

I guess i just needed some reassurance that GPs aren't always right.. and that someone actually believed in me and my symptoms.

I shall wait for this second lot of blood tests to come back and make an app with a different GP, one who might actually take an interest in my problems.

Once again, Thanks for the confidence boost Jellylegs :)

[jellylegs]

Hi, sorry to hear about  the muddle you are in healthwise, but this time 2 years ago I was in the same situation as you but my problems began after a chest infection and even though that cleared up with antibiotics the weakness and leg pain destroyed my life, or should i say the lack of help from medics destroyed it. I too was a happy healthy person with my own business before this illness forced me to close and nearly put me out of my home. MS was my big fear cos it's in my family but I had to go private to have this ruled out properly(we have socialised healthcare here in ireland but you have to be near dead before you can get in) however when joint pain set in I knew there had to be a reason for it and I was determined to get my life back. Turns out I have a rare type of arthritis and am now on treatment for it.DO NOT ACCEPT DEPRESSION AS A REASON FOR YOUR SYMPTOMS. I wish I knew then what I know now and I would not have accepted ridiculous diagnosis such as " you just have a virus" chronic fatigue and all that crap I was told when I didnt have the strength to argue with them. I am on some steroids now at moment for a while so I'm probably coming across as a bit aggressive but its important that you keep looking for the real illness that you certainly have. Take care, Jellylegs.

[Dr. A. Srivastava]

Thank you for your question. Although without being able to examine you I can not offer you the specific advice on diagnosis and treatment that you need, but I would try to provide you some relevant information about your health concern.

From your description of symptoms, it certainly sounds that you are suffering from post viral fatigue syndrome that may originate after a long lasting viral infection or if you had viral illness plus underlying disorder such as anemia, diabetes etc. One may experience muscle pain, headache, no refreshing sleep, depression, malaise, pains in joints and sometimes nerve compression symptoms (tingling/weakness). To diagnose this it is quite essential that your doctor first evaluate common accompaniment of other disorders such as anemia, hypothyroidism, diabetes, kidney or liver dysfunction and may be persistent (or not properly cured) infection. Meanwhile, you should keep your immunity high by taking a balanced diet, avoid stress, take brisk morning walk and take sufficient sleep. This will surely help you in recovering from your symptoms much faster. Hope this information proves helpful. Take Care & Regards!!!