Suggest Treatment For Joints Pain And Breathlessness While Under Stress

Posted on Mon, 19 Dec 2016

Question: Dear Doctor, I have gone through quite a lot of stress in the last couple of months. In the last three weeks I have woken feeling very stiff and achy in the joints and it feels as if I am walking underwater (ie difficult). I also have an annoying feeling in the lungs as if I want to cough but I don't actually cough - they feel sort of inflamed as well - this is just sometimes, not all the time. I get breathless easily with exercise and I feel generally fatigued and demotivated.

I bought a glucose monitor, just out of interest, but my fasting level first thing in the morning is usually 5.8 but it has been 6.5 and 7.3 in the last week. A couple of times it was 5.4.

Standard blood tests all are normal - no inflammatory markers. Menopause was 10 years ago.

I came off Stillnox about three weeks ago and reduced Oxazepam from 7.5 mg to 3.75 mg about two weeks ago. Thank you

Answered by Dr. Mirjeta Guni (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Some exams needed.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
i can understand your concern.
As you mentioned, you have been in a stressful situation during last months. Do the symptoms correlate with the stressful period?
Anyway, except of a detailed clinical examination i would recommend to;
-Check the thyroid function ( TSH, Ft4 snd Ft3)
-Full blood count, ERS and a proteine C level.
-HbA1c ( Glycosylated Hemoglobin)
-Lipid profile
-Liver and renal function tests.
- Electrolytes ( Na, potassium, Calcium)
-Cortisol level at 8. a.m

If you have already done them, please attach the results.
Will be a pleasure to help you further after the above results.
Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta

Note: For further follow-up, discuss your blood glucose reports with our diabetologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T