Does going healthy mean you're just constantly getting sick?

Does switching to a healthy lifestyle mean you're actually getting sick?

Hey everyone. My situation is... a little weird—I’d love to hear your thoughts or any advice you might have. I've been a smoker for quite a while now.
So, I'm 30, and honestly, I haven't given my health much thought until recently. I work in web design, which basically means I'm glued to a computer all day—not exactly winning any wellness awards there. At one point, I was sitting at 240 lbs and drinking beer every single day (yeah, I know, not exactly a genius)...
Anyway, I went in for a routine checkup and they caught my blood pressure running high that day (140/100), so they told me I needed to monitor it and start managing it—which I did. I saw my primary care doctor, who put me on some meds and sent me for blood work and a specialist appointment with a cardiologist, with a side note that losing some weight wouldn't be a bad idea.
The cardiologist said everything looked fine—doctor's orders—and my blood work wasn't too bad either, except for slightly elevated hemoglobin and cholesterol. It was just another nudge to watch my diet and get things under control. According to the cardiologist, if my pressure stabilizes, I won't need the pills anymore—so I stopped them. I started watching what I eat, going for daily runs, hitting the gym, and cutting out beer and sweets entirely. My blood pressure seems to have leveled out—at least when I check it, it looks okay. To go the extra mile, I even started taking Omega-3 supplements every day to help clear up my arteries—people say it helps, so why not? It’s not like I’ll die from $33 a bottle of those. So, here I am, trying to live "healthy."

Now comes the weird part.
Every few days, I get hit with this wave of weakness. I get pains in my lower abdomen—left side, then right—stabbing pains in my chest (my back is killing me too), and even some neck pain. These aren't unbearable, but they definitely freak me out... plus there's this main feeling of weakness, like I'm "not myself"—it's a kind of dizziness, though not the typical spinning kind. I don't know how to explain it properly, but I hope you get what I mean. I just don't feel good. I spend my time scrolling through the internet looking for answers, but nothing fits the description, and according to my doctors, "everything is fine"—but clearly, it isn't.

I'm honestly stumped, and I'm terrified it's my heart or something similar... because with everything going on in the world these days, you can't even trust that you're okay at 30.

Thanks for the input.

cosmicgull84 said:Does switching to a healthy lifestyle actually mean you're getting sick?

Hey everyone. My situation is a bit strange, I suppose, and I’d appreciate some feedback or suggestions if anyone has them. I've been a smoker for quite a while.
I'm 30, and if I'm being honest, I haven't exactly made my health a priority until now. I work in web design, so most of my life is spent glued to a computer—which isn't exactly great for the body. I was sitting at about 240 lbs and drinking beer every single day (yeah, I know, not exactly a genius move there).
Anyway, I went in for a routine checkup and they caught my blood pressure running a bit high that day (140/100), so they told me I needed to monitor it and start managing it, which I did. I saw my primary care physician, who prescribed some medication and sent me for blood work, along with a referral to a cardiologist—who also suggested that losing a little weight might be a good idea.
The cardiologist said everything looked fine, or at least that's the medical way of saying it. My blood work wasn't terrible either, though my hemoglobin and cholesterol were a bit elevated, so it was just another sign that I should probably watch what I eat. According to the specialist, if my blood pressure stabilizes, I shouldn't need the meds anymore—so I stopped taking them. I started watching my diet, doing some light jogging and exercising daily, and completely cut out beer and sweets. My blood pressure seems to have leveled out (well, I think so, since it looks okay whenever I check it). To go the extra mile, I even started taking Omega-3 supplements every day to help clear things up—people say it won't hurt, and I figured I wouldn't go broke over $33 a bottle of those. So, here I am, trying to live a healthier life.

Now comes the weird part.
Every couple of days or so, I get hit by this wave of weakness. I'll have pain in my lower abdomen—sometimes left, sometimes right—then a stinging sensation in my chest (my back is killing me too), then some neck pain... just these odd aches. They aren't unbearable, but they're definitely unsettling. The main thing, though, is this general weakness and a feeling that I'm "not myself"—it's a kind of dizziness, though not the classic spinning kind. It's hard to explain, but I hope you get what I mean. I just don't feel right. I spend my time scouring the internet for answers, but none of the standard definitions seem to fit what's happening to me. Meanwhile, the doctors just tell me "everything looks normal," but clearly, it isn't.

I'm genuinely stumped, and I'm starting to worry it might be something with my heart. Given how much craziness is going on in the world lately, I guess you can't even assume you're okay when you're only 30.

Thanks for any input.

Man, I've been dealing with the exact same issues for a long time now. All my tests come back perfect, yet I feel like a wreck. 🙂 I'm actually thinking about heading to a specialized lab to get my blood plasma looked at via electron microscopy, just to see if there are any anomalies. But honestly, I'm still scratching my head trying to figure this out. After spending a small fortune on every test under the sun, I've got nothing. Maybe I'm just making it all up in my head. 🤷

Switching up your whole lifestyle or diet is basically a shock to the system if you're used to the old way. So... I guess you should probably take it easy when you start exercising more if you haven't before, or when trying to eat cleaner. Personally? I wouldn't give up any food entirely. Sugar actually serves a purpose. If nothing else, it helps your mood. 😉
Look, taking care of your health matters, but there's no need to go overboard right away......🙂

Michael Mendoza2 said:after burning through a small fortune on endless searches, still nothing—maybe I'm just seeing things... 🤷

Hera, screw this, if I don't start believing it's all in my head—I'll probably end up checking myself into a psych ward at the Mayo Clinic 😂

So, I guess there’s nothing left to say then?

It’s probably all in your head, but honestly—like someone else already pointed out—you’re basically shocking your system here. Sudden shifts like this are never a good idea, so just take it easy. Going straight for the pills might be a bit much; just grab a beer and relax 🤷

My neighbor actually dealt with intense chest pains right after she quit smoking, even though every single test came back perfectly fine. The doctor just brushed it off, telling her it was probably psychological and suggesting she either see a therapist or just go back to lighting up.
And man, I don't know... it’s like she never even stopped 😁

I mean, what’s the point of having "perfect health" and clean medical reports if you feel like absolute garbage anyway?

Or maybe it’s just a phase 🤷

Or maybe they're just lost in the woods...