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How do I help my brother with possible CFS?

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Mookie01
Mookie01

Hi,

My brother thinks he has CFS. He said he woke up one day and had it. So far he has only had being tired all the time and sleep doesn't really help. He said sometimes he can't even be bothered getting out of bed to pee.

He's been to the doctor and gotten blood tests but hasn't bothered to follow up on it. The doctor didn't ring him back about it, so he's assuming it's fine, but he doesn't know.

He is overweight due to a bad diet and lack of exercise. He's always been pretty unmotivated to do things and puts things off, but now there is CFS. He doesn't seem to want to help himself beyond googling the condition. I know it's hard to properly diagnose these things, but could his weight and diet be contributing to any of this? He says he can't even be bothered cooking his own food so he tend to order out. He's also relatively low income, but I manged fine with something similar.

I don't know what CFS is like. I have MS but I make myself do things anyway if it has to be done. Can anyone with CFS do that? Or is it much harder?

I don't know how to manage him or to approach things. He gets to work 5 days a week, is on his feet during that time, so he does do things he has to do, but cooking he can get away with not doing. Is CFS a good excuse for this? I'd love to know where I can try and push him, and where to help. I have no idea of when his limitations are because of the possible CFS or if he's just being lazy.

Has anyone come across this type of behaviour before? It's not so easy to ask him about it so I've been forced to go to forums. I want to help him. I want him to lose weight so maybe moving around will be easier, maybe he'll have more energy, I don't know. Any advice or experiences from either being the one with CFS or trying to help a family member with it would be very helpful.

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1 Reply

  • Joerathinam
    Joerathinam

    Posted

    Avocado to Joe Rathinam: It is not possible to cure a neurological disease by psychiatric treatment. CFS/ME has been recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) since 1969 as a neurological disorder with the code G.93.3.

    In some parts of the world, LDN (low dose naltrexon) is being used effectively as a treatement to CFS. The correct dosage would be 1,5 mg twice a day. For some people, even a smaller dose may be enough, whereas in larger than 4,5 mg/day doses this medicine becomes ineffectual for CFS patients. I hope you could try this medicine in your home country. Yet it will not work for all patients, unfortunately.

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    Joe Rathinam to Avocado: Thanks for information and suggesting to use LDN. Now I am taking Venlafaxine 187 mg per day. This medication is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SSNRI), prescribed for depression, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. It increases serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain that help to maintain mental balance.

  • Mookie01
    Mookie01

    Posted

    I'm not too sure of what you mean here. He did have depression at one point. Are you suggesting it could be a brain issue? Does weight gain and a bad diet make things worse?
  • Joerathinam
    Joerathinam

    Posted

    I was instructed by Avocado to use this medicine low dose naltrexone 1,5 mg twice a day for CFS. I am taking Venlafaxine 187 mg per day. It is better to consult a psychiatrist to diagnose and take treatment.
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