Chronic fatigue syndrome. How did yours start?what are your symtoms. Do you sleep?

I have only just got diagnosed (Oct 5th) after two years of feeling like something wasn't right. At first I was diagnosed with PND in 2013, after the birth of my second son. Then my symptoms slowly worsened and I was told my it was low iron stores & side effects from my depression medication. So I stopped all meditation except my Iron tablets and I got no better. In fact by the end of the summer holidays 2015, I felt as if I had flu and it didn't go, it just lifted somewhat. And now my days are never pain free. Eventually in July 2015 I got referred to a rheumotogist, after some strange blood results.

My symptoms, as described to the rheumetologist are as follows : fatigue and memory problems. Sometimes I Find conversation difficult, especially on the phone.

I wake up with body and joint aches that worsen. I have a three storey house, I find the second set of stairs difficult - as if I have lead legs. Feeling hot & cold with clammy sweats. Just feeling generally run down like flu. I have trouble falling to sleep and can wake often in the night. I have two children under four, so I do struggle most days with all this. Stress and doing too much does make me feel much worse.

I also have IBS which seems at times to be causing malabsorption, leaving me at present a Vit D deficiency and again, low iron stores.

I'm prescribed Amitriptyline on a slowly increasing dose, starting at 10mg and finishing at 50mg. St present I'm taking 30mg each night. No benefit yet, but heard it could take a while. Doctor has prescribed 2x 30mg DHC four times a day, when needed.

I'm on Vit D3 50,000ui once a week and iron twice daily.

I was diagnosed 4 years ago, and its been a really hard situation with everyone either thinking you are just lazy or crazy which I can proudly say I'm neither. Anyway I couldnt find one doctor to help me effectively so I turned to holistic medicines and I can say the last three months Ive seen a 75% increase in energy and feeling better. Here is what I used after doing a lot of research and talking with holistic therapist. For the last three months I stop dairy products only drinking almond milk on occasions, I stop using all white suger and sugar products, using raw sugar only, I stop eating white bread, and I let go fried foods. I stop eating white rice and things like oat meal. I began to do fruit smoothies using greens like spinich, parsley and any greens that I researched to give energy, frozen fruits and berries which are healthier than on the stand fruit. I add cinnamon and sometimes add sugar free chocolate to taste. I also started doing a tea and herb drink every morning which got me to feeling so much better. I used Ashwaghanda, GinSeng, Eleuthero, and the one that I really thinks got me over the edge was Reishi. Once I started taking the tea which I cant remember the name of it and adding the Reishi with the rest oh I started to feel so much better. I havent had the pain doctors called athritus since and I started to go to the bathroom regularly which is a great thing considereing I had never have that happen. It also give you a good apetitie so if you eat right it helps build up the immune system. In my opinion thats whats really important. So In my words change your diet, try the green veggie smoothies and do the holistic meds, coming from a man who suffered for 4 long years I feel so much better. Good luck and I hope this helps!