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Stress

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Defren

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,106
In the main I lead a pretty stress free life, but at the moment I am under a wee bit. It's nothing major, well not really, but it's enough that I can feel it. I have been worried about the blackout I had last week, however yesterday a very kind poster PM'd me to tell me about a friend, who had the same sort of thing I am, their cause was a Novovirus. This made loads of sense to me, as I haven't been feeling myself this last week - not ill as such, just out of sorts. Anyway, something happened yesterday evening that really has worried me, and now to add to this, today I had a BG reading of 7.1. I have barely eaten anything today, I just can't face it, so it's not food that has done this, and as I only had steak with 5 lots of veg including creamed leeks which I make with butter and cream, there is no way that would have pushed up my BG. I have now got it down to 5.8 which although still high for me, is better.

I know stress can elevate our BG, so I understand that bit, what I am curious about is could stress combined with some kind of virus be giving me a double whammy? I have been tired this week, which is just not like me AT ALL! Usually I am up and running around getting all the things done I need and still have bags and bags of energy - not this week, I just want to rest, not sleep as such, but not run around. This is reminiscent of me before diagnosis, not post. I will be honest and say I really am hating feeling this way, I have got used to the new improved Joanna, and this version sucks!
 
Still a little new at this game to give any useful info but just wanted to say that I hope you feel better soon and send hugs.

However, I find that at this time of year, a lot of people, myself included, do feel a little low which I put down to the darker evenings. My friends have all been commenting that they feel that their energy has got up and gone. Get better soon!

Nikki
 
Hi,Defren

You need a nice long weekend type break with your family, or something similar as there is to much going on right now.

You know that your head is thinking to hard and that old stress factor gets its grip.

I could load your brain with possible causes, however you know your own advice is the best.

I think you are a like a nice Ferrari been driven with the handbrake left on and the brakes have overheated. The Ferrari needs to cool down for a while until brakes are back to normal.

I know "what a lot of waffle", good health.

Roy.
 
Any chance it can be blood pressure related? Did I see on an earlier post that you sent off for a BP Monitor? I think you would be quite sick if you had norovirus - isn't that the one that everyone got after going to the Heston Blumenthal restaurant?

Its really wierd, I have not really felt quite myself the last few days, I was wondering if I have low blood pressure - the doc prescribed me Lisinopril in July and since then I have lost weight and got my BGs down a bit so I think I need to stop taking the meds. I have an appt with the DN on Wed to see if I can ...
 
Hi Defren,

Stress most definately can raise BG.

Also something else to consider is that you may be fighting something off. This is how it was explained to me........ When we are fighting a virus/bug etc...... our white blood cells need more energy so we produce more sugar. It happens to everyone but because non diabetics don't test they arn't aware of it! Sometimes the white blood cells loose the battle and we are ill and BG stays high until we are well again. Sometimes the white blood cells win so we have elevated BGs for a short time don't know why and then they go back to normal.

Hope you start to feel better soon,

Lucy xxx
 
Joanna, as others have said before I can confirm that stress can affect blood sugar as can viruses and a whole load of other things besides food, you don't even need to have full blown symptoms of an infection just vague symptoms are enough to throw us off balance.
You have had a lot on your mind just now, your joint pains have returned, you fainted, you are always on the lookout on how to improve your diet and new remedies.

Please, please try to switch off now and then, listen to your body, do soothing, calming things - both physically and mentally.
Maybe you fainted because your blood pressure was too low, when I first started to eat chia seeds I didn't realise they had a blood pressure lowering effect on me. I was fainting all over the place for a while then my lovely GP diagnosed postural hypotension. Now I take only 1 spoon of the seeds and that solved my problem. I was getting so worried, thought I have a brain tumour even.
I hope you feel better really soon and pamper yourself a little or maybe a lot!! You are too hard on yourself, sometimes you need to be gentle, you are one hell of a tough cookie but you are allowed to let go now and then. You are special.
Big hug, feel better soon x
 
Don't want to steal your thread Defren but I was about to ask something in a similar vain. I have watched both my fasting levels and my pre and post meal levels rise for about the last week. My normal fasting levels have been in the high4's low 5's and most of this week they have been over 5.5 and this morning 6.1.... I am seemingly getting reaction from foods that I have eaten many times in the past with no significant change.

I have lost a bit over a stone, which for me is a significant move towards my ideal weight... well over 2/3's and my blood pressure has steadily been getting better and shows no change.

I don't know what to blame it on and I guess I am it on... meter... stress (it lives in my life)...some unseen bug. Has anyone else experienced mysterious rises in their readings that just as mysteriously went back to normal? Perhaps your answers will help both Defren and myself

Thanks
Kenny :wave:
 
Thanks everyone, still feeling ugh even though I slept a long time last night. I still woke up feeling like I could turn over again. I expect it will pass.

Nikki: Thank you I have heard about SAD but honestly don't think it's that. I only began feeling like this after I passed out, and I just can't shake it.

Roy: You are just so sweet, I could hug you - thank you!

Fraddy: I honestly don't think it is BP, that is one thing I have never had any problems with. That's not to say it will never happen, but at the moment I am more inclined to think it is a virus, as my BG although not too bad are not as stable as they usually are, and I do feel UCK!

Jane: I do tend to think the same. One can never be sure of course, but it does seem like I am fighting something. Hopefully because my diet is super healthy it will be over soon.

Judith: Thankfully apart from a bit of a dicky shoulder, the joint pain has eased. I do wonder if the pain was the beginning of the virus as I have had that happen before. The only thing that doesn't tally - no swelling in any of the joints which I would have had before.

Kenny: I hope the replies here have helped you, that is what the forum is all about. For me, I am tying my colours to the virus mast as I am as sure as I can be that is what it is.

The stress levels are about the same, they are really quite minor, but I suppose when you are used to a stress free life, even a small rise can feel like a mountain. Thank you all so much for caring. This forum is built on information, support and care and I knew when I posted someone would answer.

Hugs to you all - and thanks again - Jo.
 
Hi Defren -- this is just to say that I hope you're feeling better soon, and to make the well-known observation that stress undoubtedly weakens resistance to infections, so while you probably do have a virus the stress may have played a part. Be kind to yourself and let your body decide how quickly normal service is resumed.
 
Look into SAD (seasonal affective disorder)
I've been using my home made light boxes for most of the year this time around as its been so dull with barely any direct sunlight, and its very good for me. I use it in my workshop and I have another I read by inside my home :thumbup:

I'm not saying this is your problem, but it could be ... read from the link for mor info:-
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Seasonal-a ... ction.aspx
 

Thank you, and you too Hobs. My BG's levels are just all over the place. I have decided to quit testing for a few days as I am sure seeing my BG the way it is at the moment is just adding to the whole predicament.

I have upped the amount of Gymema from twice a day to three times a day to see if that helps. I am now beginning to think this may all be stress, and it's that making me feel ugh. I can only think this, as I have no other symptoms of any description. It's a funny thing stress isn't it?
 
Finally the thing that has been stressing me has been resolved and is no more. Last night I slept like a baby, and have woken this morning feeling like the new improved Joanna again, and not the iccy 'orrible Joanna I have been for the last two weeks. No more collapsing, and I am feeling strong and so much better. I have never really thought about the effects of stress, as before diagnosis, should I have been stressed, I felt so rotten most of the time, I probably wouldn't have noticed any downturn. Since getting myself sorted out, I did feel the stress this time, and although compared to stress many have to live with, mine was very minor, it has taught me a valuable lesson. KEEP STRESS AT BAY!

Thanks to all who cared, it was a rough couple of weeks.
 
Hi joanna.
After reading your very 1st post again.
Its an after thought this one - but could the worry and anxiousness
you were experiencing and feeling have been a trigger to push your stress upwards... ?

Knock on effect is the stress can creep in leaving you feeling rough and icky ?
Stress is a monkey (being polite) it can and does creep in soooo gradually !
(like a thief in the night - all dressed in black!)

Sometimes we zoooom in on our BG levels only and 'dont' focus on any stress related issues.
Allowing the stress to creep in and affect us.
Been here - done this myself !
Time and time AGAIN - this is 'how' I learned to recognise the signs.
From my symptoms - I would 'stop' and really think right!!!
What ??? has been happening recently around me?
Family, hubby, parents, even my 2 dogs, daily activities (too much going on)
own home/house chores, job lists in my head even!
Question even my moods and frame of temperment like - been sharper, ratty, with
hubby,dogs,folk?
Have had to stop, get a grip then start reducing things to reduce
the tension,pressure, even my own self expectancy to get all things done!
From the mental check lists in my head of daily things that need doing.

Its only later I have had to self teach and learn to tune into any stress and turn it all down...
Well as much as I can - and relate to all things happening around me .
To self identify the possibilities creating the extra pressure or tension.

Take "time out" just for myself brew and curl up with a fave book/magazine.
Do the things for just "me" that have ended up getting sidelined as I have
been too busy doing things for others!
Even a solo trip to treat myself to something 'girly' has been a luxury to me...
Am usually whizzing around making sure the family are sorted out.
So gradually over time I am short changing my own self.

I know this all can sound a bit deep but it IS factors that impact bringing stress into
ourselves.
Worry and anxiousness are/can be key forces to be active starting triggers to stress...
Hope this helps as I say it is an after thought after re-reading your 1st post here.
Also in my counselling training we did cognitive therapy counselling and all of this
was taught to us.
Sorry its ended up being a long post here.
Anna.
 
Hi Anna, Yes, I do believe the stressful issue did account for the rise in BG. I then think that as I saw my BG rise, and the fact the stress issue was still an issue, served to keep my levels unsteady. The idea I may have had a virus is still something I think may have been a possibility. The joint problems re-occurring but without any oedema was the thing that made and makes me think it could be that. In the past when I had any joint pain, it was always accompanied by a lot of swelling. This time, I had the 'arthritic' pain, but that was all (thankfully).

I also believe that because I am very, very rarely stressed, that this was perhaps the first time I actually knew what stress felt like after so long being so ill, if I was stressed previously I possibly put the additional problems down to the usual issues, ie AJA.

Now I am beginning to feel things like 'normal' people do, where in the past any other problems will have all been lumped together. As soon as the issue that was causing the stress was solved, I was immediately feeling heaps better.

It's a funny old thing the way our bodies work.
 
Hi, defren

Glad your back on track.

It just goes to show how stress or a little worry can cause these symptoms.

However what about the strees we had to endure thinking that
I only had steak with 5 lots of veg including creamed leeks which I make with butter and cream,
Click to expand...
may have been the cause.

Because that meal did look good.


Roy.
 
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