How can I deal with the fatigue?

Hi Holly I have CFS and Fibromyalgia. I had symptoms for about five years without a diagnosis and they diagnosed six months ago. I've had chronic insomnia since I was 16 when my dad passed away. I'm now 33. I started going to the doctors about five years ago when I started having fatigue and generalised pain. Mainly down my spine and neck. It would come in flare ups. I am an active person and love to exercise. I would do 45 mins every day religiously until it suddenly hit me hard last September. All of a sudden I just felt overwhelmingly tired. I'd struggle to keep my eyes open driving home from work on busy roads and have to pull over!! It came to a peak at work when I needed a break but by going for a break I would fall asleep. I felt like I had to hold my eyelids open!!: ( Over the winter my pain was unbearably worse. My knees suffered terribly. Cracking, crunching and my muscles were a lead weight so strong I could only get up the stairs on my hands and feet. My rheumatologist prescribed Amitriptiline 10mg but even those were knocking me out in the morning despite taking them at night. I had given up my exercise for months. I felt like my body was of a 90 year olds to be honest. I get very heavy and painful menstrual cycles along side. I always said to my doctor when they asked and in honesty. I'm not depressed because I am not. I've had post natel depression so I know those feelings. My condition has got me down and as a result I do have anxiety at the moment. 3 weeks back I was in so much pain that painkillers weren't touching the pain. I explained its affecting my life. That I'm living in a new body almost! They prescribed 20mg Fluoxetine and Tremadol. The Fluoxetine helps Fibromyalgia I was told and anxiety. I have to say. I feel the best I have in months now. I feel tired but when I am I prioritise naps and early nights. For the pain I use hot water bottles. They are my best friends!! I take a vitamin B supplement from Holland and Barratt's for my energy surge. So far so good. I am relatively new to this but I feel like I'm fighting this horrible condition back. But at least I am going to work and getting through the day. My childten aren't seeing me pass out every five mins either!! I don't know if this helps but I know exactly what you are going through! Its vile!! .....Alexandra xxx

Hi Holly I'm new to this forum and I agree with you,the fatigue is harder to deal with than the pain and it's pretty bad. There is no way to describe the exhaustion which effects your mind and body.