Chronic Fatigue

[Misshalfway]

Does anyone know anything about Chronic Fatigue and what things help to manage it or to make it better?

Thanks!

[DeborahC]

Getting rid of the chemicals in my life and my diet changed my life... getting off of processed food and going to a 100% raw vegetarian diet, and then slowly transitioning into about 80% raw, 20% cooked.

[beefche]

I knew one patient who received regular coffee enemas for her CFS. Not sure if that against the WoW....do you consume it when it's getting shoved up your whohaw?

Have you looked on webmd? They have a lot of useful information.

[Elphaba]

Originally Posted by Misshalfway

Does anyone know anything about Chronic Fatigue and what things help to manage it or to make it better?

Hi Miss,

I am disabled, and one of the reasons is Chronic Fatigue Disorder. It has destroyed my life, that is how debiliating it is.

Have you talked to your doctor yet? I'll be honest, so few doctors understand it, s/he might not be able to help you.

There is a doctor in Salt Lake City who only treats CFS, and fibromyalia, or any other chronic fatigue/pain issues. She is well-known in the field, and speaks at many international conferences. Unfortunately, she has a six month waiting list.

First, you need to find out what is causing the fatigue, which is an incredibly difficult thing to do. Then you need to find a doctor who knows what chronic fatigue is, because if she doesn't, she is more likely to dismiss it.

I'm not sure where you live, but there are doctors acros the country who do treat it. I'm afraid not all of them are as up-to-date in the newest research, treatments, but sometimes if you point it out to them, they are more than willing to listen.

Do you have body pains along with your fatigue? Do you ever feel like you have the flu?

Elphaba

[Misshalfway]

Well, in a nutshell, I feel like I got hit by a truck. LOL

My immune system seems to be non-existent. I catch anything and everything and have it days longer than anyone I know. The last six weeks have been filled with six different viruses varying from Bronchitis to the stomach flu. This has been going on for a year and a half. I got Cryptospiridium last fall and Mono right after that. I am pretty sure the Crypto took a couple of years off my life (I was so incredibly sick) but I think that the combo of that and the Mono and all the stress in my life were the perfect storm to damage my immune system.

In addition to that, I can't sleep, I have the worst PMS known to man (Which I never have had before this year), I have candida issues, I can't loose weight for the life of me, I am ALWAYS tired and even the simplest activities wear me out, and yes I have strange body aches and a headache every single day. I even have weird temperature issues with my body. I am either really really cold or abnormally hot. My husband calls me a space heater which is so different than all the years he has known me.

I was exercising in the summer months and really started to feel better and then Sept hit and my PMS hit an all time low. Three weeks of completely random meaningless hell. And then the virus marathon started again. I have seen four doctors. No one has any answers. And then last week my neighbor was chatting with me and suggested I look into Chronic Fatigue. I already had it in the back of my mind and had mentioned it to my GP. He said...."Well, I might think that too if I were you." but then said nothing else expect recommending I try gammaglobulin shots which ironically enough they don't make anymore. Anyway, my neighbor knows a Dr near my home that deals only in CFS and Fibro. too. I am trying to get them on the phone for an appointment. My neighbor also gave me two great books to read. So......I am trying to learn as much as I can. It seems to me that I am my best Dr. at this point.

Truth is, I would really like NOT to be tired and sick all the time. I try my best to fake it with the kids. I try to sleep when they are at school or nap with my four year old. This last week I haven't been able to stay awake. I slept five hours on Sunday. My husband didn't have the heart to wake me for church. I do the B12 and a million other supplements, but nothing seems to make a difference. My Dr. did diagnose me with PMDD and put me on prozac which I must say is helping, but from what I am reading, there is a strong connection with the PMDD and Candida which is also very related to the CFS. I think diet is my first line of defense. I just have to sort thru exactly what I need to do because the Candida diet and the CFS diet seem to conflict.

Anyway....blah blah blah. I am sorry to hear Elphie that you are dealing with this too. It is amazingly hard. And I don't think many people "get it". I drop off my daughter at preschool everyday and I swear her teacher thinks I am the walking dead. I look so pale and tired most days. It kinda makes me want to hide away.

Anyway, much love to you. Have you thought at all about Candida???

[Elgama]

Originally Posted by Misshalfway

Well, in a nutshell, I feel like I got hit by a truck. LOL

My immune system seems to be non-existent. I catch anything and everything and have it days longer than anyone I know.

Keeping up your vitamin C content can help; I have doubled my intake, and I don't seem to be doing quite so badly. I've had Fibromyalgia since I was 8 (was diagnosed at 21)

In addition to that, I can't sleep, I have the worst PMS known to man (Which I never have had before this year), I have candida issues, I can't loose weight for the life of me, I am ALWAYS tired and even the simplest activities wear me out, and yes I have strange body aches and a headache every single day.

For sleep I use hypnotherapy tape and guided meditation, I also have a strict bedtime routine if I don't follow it I don't sleep.... for the PMS have you tried switching to a Diva Cup (we call it a Mooncup) - a lot of people find using one instead of tampons or pads removes most of their PMS. I know it does with me. Also ginger tablets helps your body regulate itself, has also been proven through research to help with pain.

Truth is, I would really like NOT to be tired and sick all the time. I try my best to fake it with the kids. I try to sleep when they are at school or nap with my four year old. This last week I haven't been able to stay awake.

Don't fake it get their help, explain it simply that Mummy doesn't feel well and needs their help so the home functions better, I tell my children when I am bad, find even Gubby at 2 will sit me down and get me a Pepsi - I do find caffinated soda is a bit of a lifeline in mid afternoon. We have 2 amazing young women in our branch their Mum has MS and have helped take care of her, I think you do your kids a disservice not letting them help.

If you are feeling confused or befuddled or faint try an orange juice sit down for 10 minutes then eat something.

I find my diet has a huge impact, eating less meat helps.

-Charley

[funkymonkey]

Misshalf! I'm so sorry to hear that you're struggling. What a crappy holiday season!

Yep, it sounds like you totally have CFS. I'm sorry. I have "post west nile syndrome" that has very similar symptoms to CFS (but it has some nerve stuff on top). I've been getting every little flu that has been going around too, and this season it looks like the viruses floating around are fierce!
And, the PMS severity...have you been tested to see if you were exposed to West Nile while all this was going on?? Severe PMS/menstrual pain is a very common lasting effect that us West Nile ladies have. I am flat on my back in pain for atleast three days every month now and then my body has to recouperate from the energy used after that.
There is another factor that can severely effect PMS...thyroid. That's pretty easy to check with a blood test. If your thyroid is off, your cycles can go from being really mellow to monstrously evil.

When I first got sick, my doctor in Colorado started to look for the underlying reasons why I got so sick in the first place. For me, my thyroid was off and they found that my adrenals were really really close to being permanently ruined...and he told me no more work and to just rest rest rest. Viral infections can really impact the arenal system (which impacts everything else in the body), and if the adrenals don't have the necessary time and resources to fix themselves, permanent damage can occur...atleast that's what my doc said causes CFS. Without healthy adrenals, everything else in the body is just out of whack.

I myself am still looking for a good doctor here in UT. If you are willing to share any docs, please feel free to PM me.

Good luck my dear friend.

[funkymonkey]

BTW...I have a friend with CFS that has had some great success with vitamin B shots and Cymbalta.

[mattai]

I was diagnosed with CFS back in 1999 and recovered in 2006. Mono-type symptoms that never really went away.

I know with most auto-immune illnesses that there's also an emotional component too (like depression, or some childhood abuse or truma) that the emotional pain is triggering physical pain. So focusing on the emotional side of things through counseling, may also alleviate or ease some symptoms.

I'd also recommend keep moving, keep exercising even if you don't feel like it. Even if it's a slow walk around the block. For me, going to the gym has helped a lot.

[RobertP]

I have had the opportunity to accidentally help someone with Fibromyalgia. I made myself an anti-burnout formula since that is what I was facing at the time. Certain mix of vitamins, minerals, neurotransmitter precursors. Worked pretty well. My dad liked it and let a neighbor with Fibromyalgia try it. I made it for me, but she was an instant customer for a few months.
Give the body what it needs.
Avoid what it shouldn't have.
My dad's neighbor has since moved out of the city where there isn't smog and says that helped as much as anything. She has also gone vegan.
Food is tricky. Everything is a curve ball. One I thought should be best has turned out to be worst, but I had to go off for more than a week before being able to identify this. Once identified and properly replaced, it took care of a chunk of trouble.
That previous post by mattai is important too. Pain stuck in your nervous system from your past is big. The less fear or discomfort from your past, the less vitamins and nutrients you process just feeling pain. Nerves are firing to feel pain and this eats up resources. Notice how one breathes like they are out of breath when in extreme pain. That is a lot of resource getting eaten up followed by exhaustion.
Brain State Technologies
Got Stagefright? Be Not Afraid > Playback February/March 2002
Untie the knots in your nervous system, find out how to get it to let go. This is new to me, but I like it. It helps. I come from the anxiety side, so I'm not lost on involuntary nervous system discomforts.
I don't know what your doctor thinks, but my friend was able to work with his doctor to get low dose Naltrexone prescribed, basically inhibits opioid receptors for 4 hours a night, the body raises the amount of endorphins to compensate, then the drug wears off and the nerves can be cooled by higher amounts of endorphins. His MS stopped progression completely for 2 years last I knew, so he is obviously a fan. I googled it just now and found it has research on it for fibro and CFS as well. All good stuff.