How to manage full workload with CFS?

I have posted my CFS adventures in the past. I have CFS but it's a mild form. I work as a server and it's hard at times. My condition has improved over the past year (graduating school some say it was the stress of taking 7 years for a 4 year degree) I am in debt -$1000 usd because I don't make enough part time and I pay health insureance of $350~$370 monthly.

I can't get a "real job" with my degree because I can't pass a phsyical test because running really screws me up. I can work out a bit at home but if I get on a treadmil for more than 25 minutes I really get sick, recovery time has cut down from 2-5 hours to just under an hour. I used to get so sick I would have to lay down the rest of the day, now I am back on my feet doing work within an hour.

I notice bending over really makes it worse, picking up sticks in my yard really makes me sick, 30 minutes into yard work I am tried. Yet I can stand and work for 10 hours and be completly fine on most days. I can't explain it but I am starting to figure more problems and their cause.

I notice I am super stiff in the mornings, I feel very sluggish on average 2-4 days a week. If I drink a lot of water I will feel better and by noon I feel good.

Food, I get very hungry during an attack or when I become tried, my stomach really gets empty after a full meal at times, odd but it's all connected somehow.

Amelia--I get heart palpitations just reading your post! If your level of activity is causing your fatigue to worsen, that is not a good thing. That means you're going outside of your energy envelope, which may lessen chances for recovery. The idea (according to Dr. Luncinda Bateman, ME/CFS specialist in U.S.) is to first get a sense of how much you can do without "crashing." She advises using a Fitbit or similar device to give you feedback on your activity level. Then, she says the goal is prevention of a crash rather than recovery from a crash, which can have long-term bad results. I know you feel you have no choices now regarding work. But if you continue to get fatigued and your health worsens, your body may make the decision for you.This is what happened to me. One day I went to work fatigued, got so ill I thought I was going to die, and had to leave work. No choice. That was 15 years ago. I think your level of function is very encouraging, but you do need to get enough rest. Just the fact that you can do so much--it seems to me that you at least are not severely ill. So build on that by pacing and not pushing. I think you can be on a very good path if you take it easy.

Apparentlya great many people who have been told they have CFS/ME and fibromyalgia are actually suffreing from a deficiency in Vitamin B12.

 

Yes I've found very few people actually understand Amelia and at first it really bothered me but now to be honest I concentrate on me I feel for you I really do it dosent matter if your housework goes to pot so to speak the main thing is you . Your the most important factor in all this  I tried to do a lot of things but found fatigue was worse coupled by dizziness etc it's incredibly hard when you live alone. Fortunately I don't. My only advice is please don't push yourself too much I understand you have to work though. 😘

rant away!. mt cfs is not as bad as someone who bed ridden because i work! but like you say the bills need paying which using all my energy, so there goes the housework, going out with my friends plus a whole lot my more. I been told you just have to have lesser standards as the housework concerns, ok but if going out is not likely then having friends round would be easyer!. am like you i just seem to go round in circles. BUT having me time, mindfullness and putting cbt into action helps a little.