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Chronic Fatigue or Side effect of medication?

Posted , 5 users are following.

kitty51928
kitty51928

My GP has referred me to an Chronic Fatigue syndrome specialist but there is a debate on whether it is CFS. The other theory is that the tiredness is just down to medication (Mood Stabilisers), although it doesn’t explain the fluctuation that I can sometimes have good days and my medication has changed while I’ve been experiencing all of this.

I'm just wondering which one of these theories is more likely to be true and if I should actually be talking to a psychiatrist rather than Chronic Fatigue specialist.

The past year I’ve been feeling tired, sometimes to the point I’ve nearly collapsed, no matter how much I sleep I wake up feeling tired and that feeling tends to fluctuate through out the day (getting worse or better)

Blood tests & other tests have come back clear.

Other symptoms-

Generally feeling unwell on the bad day. 

It sometimes feels like half my brain has switched off, concentration becomes near impossible and my dyslexia becomes worse, my memory becomes horrible, making a decision even becomes hard!

Backache

If it suddenly becomes warm I get pins and needles in my back (I’ve been told I have temperature issues)

 IBS tends to flare up when I get to the bad days of tiredness

Light sensitivity, which can lead to a tension headache 

Although I’m tired it sometimes is hard to sleep and I wake up through out the night

After a busy day, the next day I often feel more tired and unable to get out of bed.

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Shreddie
    Shreddie kitty51928

    Posted

    sounds like CFS to me.  What is the harm in seeing the specialist?  You must get to the bottom of what it is that makes you feel this way and if the appointment rules out CFS then at least you will know.  I wish I had a specialist to see - many of us have no recourse to specialists in this area as there are so few.  Take the opportunity, it will confirm or rule out and then you can get on with further checks.  Good luck to you.

    Linda

  • jackie00198
    jackie00198 kitty51928

    Posted

    This really sounds like ME/CFS. When I first got this illness, I, too, wondered if a medications was causing symptoms. But it quickly became evident that my symptoms were way too varied and severe to be caused by the med. And a good ME/CFS specialist diagnosed me very quickly. Your symptoms are pretty spot-on for this illness. That includes the pins and needles, the stomach issues, and the worsening of dyslexia. When I got this illness, I actually started writing letters in reverse. The wiring in my brain has definitely been affected. By the way, ME/CFS can also cause mood problems and anxiety, because of what it does to the brain.
  • sally_14743
    sally_14743 kitty51928

    Posted

    Hi 

    the reality is you'll get an answer from a specialist of m.e./CFS who understands medication and all causes of fatigue.

    unlike a gp .

    and you will find the process very informative whatever the outcome ..

  • keely40239
    keely40239 kitty51928

    Posted

    Sounds like CFS to me although I'm still waiting for my diagnosis from local rheumatology department. Good luck
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