1. Community
  2. Brain and nerves
  3. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Feeling really down....just come home early from work

Posted , 9 users are following.

Nacho
Nacho

I'm currently sat on the sofa with my dog feeling so down. I have just come home early from work because I couldn't keep my eyes open, my forearms are sore and finding it hard to concentrate. Fortunately I work for my father in law and he's very kind, but in some ways that's worse because I don't want to appear to be taking advantage. But how do you explain that you need to go home because you're just so tired that you can't type or hold a conversation with people? I feel so embarrassed. Sorry for the moony post but I just need some advice from people who understand....

0 likes, 23 replies

23 Replies

Next
  • jimmy_48419
    jimmy_48419 Nacho

    Posted

    I feel your pain. I'm sat at my desk with so little energy or enthusiasm to do any work because of the lack proper sleep I get from this stupid illness. I'm just watching the clock untill 3.30 when I can go home and lay down and then have another crap nights sleep and do the same again tomorrow.
  • Flowerlady
    Flowerlady Nacho

    Posted

    I feel for you, I am exactly the same. I am sat at home, alone. What have we done in our life to be given this awful illness that no one can see. 
  • david59662
    david59662 Nacho

    Posted

    Hi Nacho,

    I'm 10 months into my CFS, diagnosis was made July. Look into adrenal fatigue.

    I'm suspecting this is what is wrong with me. It made alot of sense when i read the book. I had to give up my job because of this condition. I envy you because you can go out and work, i couldn't.

    • Nacho
      Nacho david59662

      Posted

      Hi David, thanks for your reply. I do feel fortunate that some days I can work, but I do have a total of about half the day where I'm just staring at the screen! Do you mind me asking how you manage financially without working? I can't see a time when I would be able to not work...
    • david59662
      david59662 Nacho

      Posted

      Hi Nacho,

      I manage financially because of the years i was in work i had been saving up, so basically using the life savings at 34, borrowing money from friends and family, selling my 3 triathlons bikes, swimsuit, various other things. Before i was unwell i had 2 jobs and an online business. I perhaps was burning the candle at both ends too long. After 10 months of this i strongly suspect i have ADRENAL FATIGUE. I did get a virus as i remember how utterly horrendouS i was December into Febuary. Literally thought this is it i am dying.

      Every test under the sun has been normal. I did do an adrenal stress test and it's conclusion was stage 3 adrenal fatigue, or pre fatigue stage which could be the root cause of my chronic fatigue.

      Good luck mate. You don't sounds as bad as me so i suspect some good quality adaptogenic herbs will transfrom your energy levels pretty quickly.

  • JulieBadger
    JulieBadger Nacho

    Posted

    How about trying 15mins break every 2 hours sitting in your car listening to some soothing music?  Then at lunchtime spending 30mins in your car listening to some soothing music again?  Get approval for the 15min breaks of course explaining why you need them.  I'm sure your boss would prefer 15 min breaks rather than whole days of feeling too tired to work.  It would also be better if you could get / afford part-time hours.  My OT said that our energy batteries run down during activites same as everyones.  However if you don't have ME when you have your lunch break your energy battery fills up really quickly to give you energy for the afternoon.  If you have ME our batteries hardly fill up at all and therefore we don't have the same energy as others to complete the day.  Therefore we need to keep topping our energy batteries up along the day.

    Good luck

    • Nacho
      Nacho JulieBadger

      Posted

      The battery thing makes a lot of sense actually. Because it's true that everyone gets tired during the day, but as you say, we just can't seem to 're-charge' very effectively. I might look into having little breaks - as it is, I just eat my lunch at my desk, we don't really do lunch breaks, I'm self-employed so if I'm working while I'm eating I'm still earning money. Thank you for the advice smile
  • emma83518
    emma83518 Nacho

    Posted

    Hi Nacho,

    I can completely sympathise - I started a part-time job about 6 weeks ago, I return home after the shift and am exhausted and in quite a bit of pain. If I do any more than 4 hours I feel sick and dizzy and my head feels like it's being crushed sad Some days I don't struggle too much being there, but other days I do struggle. I haven't told anyone at work about my condition, but I am struggling to hide it- I think I must come across as being quiet or aloof! Maybe you could work out some different hours with your boss? Or work from home if possible? It's good that your father in law is sympathetic, maybe if you explain more about your condition it would help? Don't lose faith smile

    • Nacho
      Nacho emma83518

      Posted

      It's funny, I'm back in work today and trying to explain why I just bolted yesterday has been interesting! I dunno, I just feel embarassed, like people must be thinking 'what's the big deal?! We all get tired!!'. I do 3 days a week at the moment, and like you Emma, some days are better than others. I think next time I feel that bad I'll just stick it out and put my head on the desk!!
    • JulieBadger
      JulieBadger Nacho

      Posted

      Wouldn't recommend it.  Cos if you're anything like me you'll get too ill to be able to stand up - let alone get from.  Then you really will scare your colleagues. Consequently they will keep looking at you as if you're about to collapse again.
  • kiloran
    kiloran Nacho

    Posted

    I completely identify no should b there til 5 but had to leave early. I like the idea of topping up batteries a few times in the day. 

    I've tried explaining to my boss who just doesn't understand - sort of negotiated working from home but oft get snidey comments and feel guilty about doing so. 

    It's so tricky as I want to stay in work, it's a fairly emotionally demanding job w lots of driving. I'm now on my bed , blinds closed, with a headache. 

    I almost feel the CFS coming on - in fact I do feel it coming on, I'd like to b able to identify earlier warning signs , then think about a way to recharge my batteries.  Do you have early warning signs? 

    I hope u manage not to give yrself too much of a hard time. It's not your fault. X

    • JulieBadger
      JulieBadger kiloran

      Posted

      Wish I got early warning signs sad. The professionals would probably just look at what I do in a day and say that is your early warning sign.  However, when I'm feeling as though I can do more then it seems wrong to stop.  It's as though I haven't reached my full potential when there is still so much to do. I'm never going to win - I either stop before I drop but feel disappointed that maybe I could of achieved more, or I achieve more but drop feeling yucky rolleyes
    • kiloran
      kiloran JulieBadger

      Posted

      You describe me to e tee. I'm scared of going off incase I am off for months ( only have few weeks sick pay). 

      But feel tempted to as doc for month off to her used to some sort of level that is my ability. Have you read/ heard about the 'envelope of energy' strategy? Ie working out what your capabilities are and working to about 80 % of that capacity. Mind you, my energy fluctuates so much - that might b tricky - just Thot I'd ask if you ( others?) have any experience of this idea. 

      Thanks for your responses - it helps to talk to real people with CFS and not just health profs who only know the theory ! Xx

    • Deb1982
      Deb1982 kiloran

      Posted

      I  was dignosed last year after years of feeling like I could not cope any more and thinking to my self there had to be something wrong other then just being tired wrong with me.

      i had a very demanding job which ment I was on call all the time and felt like I was working 24/7. I went to work one morning and felt bad I hurt all over and just so tired,when I got there I could not remember my pass word to sign in, my boss thought it was funny but told me what it was, and then it got worse I forgot how to turn my computer on, at this point I just fell to pieces, my husband was called and was taken to the gp that was July 2012 and I have not worked since.

      i have signs when it is getting bad except the sleeping, one moment I can be fine and the next I can not keep my eyes open and go to bed and I'm out before I hit my pillow.

      at the beginning of the year I got up around midday (normal for me now) my son called me but when I went to speak it came out in a mess and my son kept saying mum are you ok, I started to panic and managed to tell him I felt so unwell and now my speech had gone, with that my son called an ambulance I was rushed in and told I may have had a stroke. After 2days it was a lot better and told it was because of my anxiety.

      now when I'm going to have a bad day I know because my speech starts to stutter followed by the pain and then I'm off to bed for 2 or 3 days, sometimes a week, because of this I do not go out and socialise which has made me lonely.

      Sorry to go on so long but it is nice to know that someone is interested.

      Deb

Back to top
Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.