CFS or something else?! PLEASE HELP!!

Hi Taylor,

I am so sorry to hear of your problems.  It is so awful that such a vibrant young person should be suffering so.  I believe that you have suffered severe trauma in your relationship which has taken its toll on you physically, emotionally and psychologically.  I am not a believer in this 'all in your head' thing that doctors often try to foist upon us but I do believe that you are depressed.  This depression, like mine, could be because of the physical illness you have and the symptoms you describe could easily be CFS/ME.  It is true what Andrew says that this is often the diagnosis after elimination of many other known illnesses.  You must continue to monitor how you feel and stop pushing yourself so much physically because this exacerbates CFS/ME and you could find yourself even more unwell.

First, however, I think you must address the depression you are feeling.  It sounds as though you are spiralling into a deeper and deeper depression as time goes on and this will only serve to make you feel even worse.  It is a devastatingly debilitating illness which robs you of your way of life and it takes courage and strength to manage it.  Most people who suffer go through a grieving process for the life they had and the person they were similar to a bereavement.  So if you are suffering from depression you will find yourself unable to cope with what is thrown at you.  Please, please see a doctor to help cope with the depression and maybe then you will be in a better state to cope with the awful symptoms of CFS/ME.  I speak from experience having had this for 7 1/2 years.  I fought the doctors who told me it was depression because I knew that I was physically ill, and not as a manifestation of a psychological problem.  I fought until I saw a psychiatrist who told me I was severely depressed because I was so ill.  With CBT and antidepressants I managed to get this under control and am now coping better than I have for a long time.

I am unlucky in that I am still ill after all this time.  I am, however, hopeful of a full recovery and hope also that I will be able to go back to work and regain some sort of active life.  Not everyone stays ill like me.  You have every chance of regaining your full health, as others have done, so it is not hopeless.  Research your symptoms and try what you can to make yourself feel better.  Keep coming back here for the advice and information that others on this site can offer you and please, please, try to see someone about your depression before it takes a complete hold of you.  Sorry this is a rambling message and a bit disjointed.  I am tired and it is late.  However, everything I say is meant as an encouragement to you to take charge of your illness and help yourself to get better, with the assistance of doctors and your own strength of character which is obvious in your message.  Good luck.

From the day this illness took hold of me my brain went to mush I was an avid reader up to this point and knitting was a pleasure . I could not read a book because when I picked it up after a break I couldn't remember what I had already read and had to back track to get the gist of the story eventually it was nt a pleasure any more so I stopped reading books and only read magazines and smaller articles . As for knitting I started in 1957 when  I had my son and continued over the years . I knitted for my children my friends my grandchildren . When I became ill I could not follow a pattern I had to pull it out and try again Aran patterns I had done time and again I knew almost by heart I could not remember so I gave up even trying . The foggy brain the lack of concentration the spaced out feeling the fatigue etc etc life was a nightmare !!!! I eventually was given a trial of thyroxine a long story but within a few weeks I became at least 50/60% better I am not 100 % well but grateful for the improvement . Thyroxine is the treatment for autoimmune thyroiditis so obviously although my blood tests were always normal, this was my illness! And 19 years later I have been given a definite diagnosis. . Thyroid disease is one of the most misdiagnosed diseases don't be like me fight for your health doctors make mistakes !!! This may not be you Taylor but I felt I had to put my experience forward . I don't want to anger or upset any one diagnosed with ME/CFS I know it is a very dibillitating illness I just felt I had to bring this to your notice . Best wishes . 

Hi Taylor

Sounds a lot like cfs. Have you not been to speak to your gp about the possibility of it being cfs?

My cfs started after resignation of a job I had for 23 years had stress anxiety then glandular fever. Fibromyalgia. And cfs. Its horrible that feeling of not belonging, sleep issues. Fuzzy memory I get it all. It makes me very low and I crave for the person I once was to return. My relationship is dead. But despite it all I try to remain positive.

June

The thyroid effects every part ofyour body and if it is not working properly then your body won't work properly from the brain , the nerves, the muscles , joints, kidneys , bowels heart  hair , skin , nails energy . Sufferers vary , what one suffers another won't it could be a mixture of 3or4 symptoms or 11or 12 ! Low basal temperature is another thing to check . Autoimmune disease ! The good cells attack the good cells in the thyroid as if they are foreign bodies eventually destroying the thyroid and this leads to hypothyroidism ! Sometimes the thyroid becomes inflamed or swollen and this attack on it causes many many nasty reactions in the body at times you may have hyper symptoms other times hypo . I am no expert on this or ME/CFS but I know when all blood tests come back normal and no other illness is found if you have chronic fatigue  as a symptom then you are more often than not , " diagnosed" with ME/ CFS ! GP s are very reluctant to go against blood tests so no treatment and you are left to struggle on with the most dibillitaing Illness. Finding a doctor who will go by symptoms not.blood tests is almost impossible you may have to see many before you find one willing to give you a trial of thyroid hormone or pay privately. Have you been tested for  autoimmune antibodies ?? Doctors tell us oh you have had all the relevant tests no not always check with your doctor . I feel I needed to write this note in the hope that it may help other sufferers find an answer and hopefully a cure . It took me 19 years to get a definite diagnosis of hashimotos disease because GP s doctors and endocrinologists refused to go against blood tests so I was labeled  with the CFS . Good luck good health .