CFS/ME??

[glitzyglamgirl]

I had glandular fever when I was a kid, and over the years have often been to the doctors complaing that im just so damn tired all the time. I cant remember ever not being tired, everyday by about 2/3pm im ready to drop. I cant stand up for anything longer than 30 mins without feeling like im going to collapse with exhaustion, and walking around town - well I can do about an hour with sit - down breaks.

I eat well, dont drink much atall, sleep like a baby, but I am still so so tired all the time.

Every time ive been to the doctors its either been put down to depression (they just dont get that being so tired gets me down, not the other way round) or the fact that I took a lot of speed when I was a teenager.

Well the last few months its been getting steadily worse. I wake up exhausted even after a good 9 hours sleep, and I even went home early yesterday as I was so tired I was almost in a trance and when someone spoke to me it made me jump.

Ive got an appointment tomorrow morning, and this time im not letting them write it off as something else, im convinced its ME.

Does anyone else have this?

 

[jenna]

I had glandular fever a few years ago and i always feel tired and dizzy. My GP said it was depression and put me on pills that made me worse. Then he said it was possibly an STD and all the test came back negative, he said a few months later i needed more blood tests and i found out he tested for the same thing, obviestly came back negative and havnt botherd going back.

Funny youve posted this as iv just told my friend at work that im considering going to my new GP and asking him.

 

[glitzyglamgirl]

The reason I mentioned having glandular fever is because apparantly it can be a cause of ME later in life, as it effects the immune system, and I think its termed as "post viral chronic fatigue syndrom" or something.

Let me know how you go and dont let them write it off again as they have done with me for nearly 20 years now!

 

[ella]

I have just had an employee here diagnosed with chronic fatigue - you both need to ask your GP to refer you to a specialist, different consultants take and interest in it - like for example one here is a cardiologist but he will see people with fatigue etc. Also you could consider reiki which is supposed to be an effective treatment or accupuncture.

 

[glitzyglamgirl]

I will ella thanks, ive been sent away feeling rather foolish too many times over the years. Not standing for it this time

 

[katyk]

A severe illness may cause ME where the symptoms will usually come immediately after the illness. I do think a severe illness can knock people about.

Tiredness can be a physical symptom of depression or brought on by stress, lots of people get physical symptoms rather than or before noticing their mood.

ME is treated with exactly the same treatments as depression- anti-depressants, counselling, or light exercise. Lots of doctors think it is depression, they just let people call it ME if that means they will accept tablets and treatment when they wouldn't for depression. Whether it's a different illness or not, the treatments are exactly the same, though there may be a different specialist in charge.

So be prepared to be offered pills again, and there's no harm in trying them. They will give you one that is the most suitable for ttc.

Anyway, hope you feel better soon

 

[glitzyglamgirl]

It could well be stress as I am under a lot of pressure from many angles and have been for a long time, but this tiredness has been with me forever, as far back as I can remember - maybe its just stress making it worse?

I dunno, guess I'll see what the doc says tomorrow

 

[katyk]

Some people are just genetically or due to early life events, more prone to depression/tiredness.

Such people may need to be on medication long term as my sister, father and I are

Such people with lifelong symptoms or where it runs in the family, are advised to just think of it as being like any other chronic illness such as asthma and diabetes, you wouldn't stop taking medication you need.

Having said that I only take a mood stabiliser now, stopped taking an anti depressant a year ago. It was very hard for most of that time, but now I've got one of these- http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/15000-LUX-SAD-LIG ... dZViewItem it is proven to help any type of depression, and particularly seasonal depression or ones where a symptom is tiredness.

Maybe because our weather is rubbish.

Anyway, I noticed my mood improved straight away and I've been able to get going a bit earlier too Highly recommended, and this one above that I've got, is not too expensive.

-P.S. sorry if the URL has made the pages go wide or something

 

[Jen79]

I dont know whether it is or isnt ME but I thought I would tell you about some interesting stuff I have been reading about. Basically I have had 3 bouts of reactive depression in the last 10 years, one of which had me hospitalised, all of which I was on long term antidepressants for. I am currently seeing a cognitive behavioural therapist (paid for by the NHS ) and she was saying to me today that your nutritional intake can have a big impact on your emotional and physical health. She recommended a book to me all about what to eat and what to avoid. She also recommended I take a strong multivitamin and also omega 6 and 9 fish oil to help my insomnia and stabilise my moods. I am praying that this helps sort me out! I am also having reiki from a friend and it is sooo relaxing I would definately recommend it to help you with the stress side of things. What I am trying (in a long winded type of way!) is to say that if you are not happy with your docs advice maybe you could try the alternative stuff? The body does funny things to us when we get run down and things. Hope you get to the bottom of it.

 

[katyk]

There's no real (widely scientifically accepted) evidence that the fish oil supplements work for mental health problems. Worth a go though, if you feel like it and can afford them. My light box works

St John's wort is said to work a bit.

Some docs recommend a technique called 'pacing' for ME but a lot of patients don't feel it benefits them.

This sounds a sensible way of interpreting it, that patients like http://www.a4me.org.uk/youandmeothertre ... .asp?id=25

this is what doctors combine it with (scroll down a bit) http://freespace.virgin.net/david.axford/cbt-fact.htm the idea that you need to gradually do more in order to increase your strength, but stop or make the next session shorter if you feel to knackered.

 

[glitzyglamgirl]

Im bi-polar, have been my whole life, but this is something different. I know when im depressed, I know the mental, emotional and physical signs, and I have very good coping strategies that dont include medication, for example meditation and relaxation techniques, aswell as chakra and energy work.

This is definitely not depression.

Anyway, I went to docs this morn and she has arranged for some blood tests to check for aneamia, diabetes, thyroid problems etc. She took one look at my red eyes and big black bags and knew I wasnt exaggerating the tiredness, and that was after a good 9 hours sleep

Thanks for all the suggestions though

 

[katyk]

I believe you, I'm the same, just don't have the energy other people do. Insomnia I have sometimes doesn't help. Well I recommend you try some of the things people have said here, if nothing else it might give you a better time for the while that you can convince yourself whatever you try is working

You could try ginseng too. My lightb helps but that's more for my moods. For the tiredness I've just adapted to it and live quite a lazy life just doing what I feel able to that day I keep thinking I should push myself more though.

Maybe there is a wonder drug for it, I'd love to try something like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provigil but they'd probably not let me.

Sometimes I care about it more than others, depending on my mood.

It effects my love life too, cos I don't feel like it due to being knackered!

Well I hope you find something that helps, it's nice that your GP was good

 

[glitzyglamgirl]

Thanks, hun, yes I live quite a lazy lifestyle too - im very lucky to have a partner who understands and we share the housework very well, and he knows that on my days off all I want to do is chill out and take it easy - its more refreshing to me than anything else

I get out for a nice long walk though atleast once a week, well long for my standards, up to the fields behind the house and sit on my favourite tree stump, take in the views and the fresh air and then back home along by the stream. I find fresh air and nature so invigorating!

Ive always been very wary of any kind of medication, I wont even take painkillers unless its absolutely necessary, though I might give some homeopathy a try again as I seem to remember that helping a few years ago.

 

[GBLiz]

hi, i suffered from CFS for several years in my early 20's, and same as you i also used a lot of speed! Which made things a whole lot worse of course but at the time i was literally self medicating to help alleviate the tiredness. Now i still need a LOT of sleep but i can manage it ok and dont consider myself to have the illness anymore. With this pregnancy (my first) i am sleeping a good 9-12 hours at night and 3-4 hours in the day too, and that has concerned me a little that i could get ill again but i dont think thats the case, its just some of us need A LOT more sleep than other people. I also have suffered from eating disorders and depression all of which make you more susceptible to lethargy and tiredness. before I found out i was pregnant i was on a double dose of fluoxetine (prozac) which was to treat my bulimia (I havent been bulimic for about a year but i had stayed on the medication as a precaution). As soon as i found out i was pregnant i came off it and i suppose thats adding to the lethargy. So it is a concern but im lucky to have love around me and i know my mood underneath is sane and positive! I just have to work around the tiredness.

Sorry for big ramble but it was cathartic to hear of someone with similar tiredness worries