It's Not All In Your Head:
What To Do About Subtle Changes As You Age
(continued)
If you've made all these changes and you're still not feeling quite right, go back to your doctor and discuss your symptoms again. Many patients who have nagging symptoms that are not yet diagnosed make the mistake of feeling that if the doctor couldn't find anything wrong on the first visit, there's no point in going back. Many diseases, disorders and conditions take a while to become clear or to fully demonstrate themselves.
Common conditions that can creep up in a vague or nonspecific way that are often missed in women patients 35 and older include:
unplanned pregnancy
depression
thyroid disease: under and overactive (hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism)
anemia
early signs of menopause
migraines or vascular headaches
premenstrual syndrome
diabetes
endometriosis
arthritis
Less common but sometimes overlooked conditions, which may present with vague symptoms include:
gastrointestinal disorders (such as irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease)
immune disorders (such as Lupus or Rheumatoid Arthritis)
neurologic disorders (such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's disease)
infectious diseases (such as chronic fatigue syndrome or Lyme Disease)
heart disease
malignancies (such as leukemia or lymphoma)
painful conditions (such as fibromyalgia)
Finally: once you've evaluated your own health and behavior, seen your physician, and implemented his/her list of recommendations, don't forget to make sure you're having enough fun! This is a critical component for assuring a healthy and happy New Year.
Created: 9/23/2000 - Donnica Moore, M.D.
Whether you think something is “really” wrong with you or not, the best next step is to see your physician for a complete physical exam with age appropriate screening and diagnostic testing. 
