information

They don't test for the right things. They do the usual tests, they come back fine so they tell us that we don't have ME but depression. Well that's what happens a lot.

It's best to ask your doctor to refer you to an ME specialist or a Rheumatologist. My testing was answering questions about my symptoms. They were quite comprehensive and it took about an hour, after which the ME specialist gave me my ME diagnosis.

I hope that's helpful Danny.

I don't know what tests they actually do I was told I was suffering from post viral fatigue syndrome after having had two bad infections tiredness breathlessness nausea pressure on top of head I was referred for ct scan last week get results this Friday I've only been like this 12 weeks I'm dizzy everyday only had blood pressure taken 

When I was tested, they usually rule anything else out with blood tests etc. It usually is quite a long process getting the diagnosis. Like the answer above, I would recommend asking to be referred to a specialist if you are experiencing symptoms of CFS.

Hope this is helpful.

Becky

Here's how I was diagnosed. My GP did a complete blood panel. Everything came back normal. He told me it was all in my head. Ditto for a second GP. I then went to a specialist at UCLA. He first looked at the blood panel taken by the first GP. He then asked me a bunch of questions. He diagnosed me with ME/CFS after about 20 minutes. This was after about 3 months of me feeling ill. I'm telling you all this so that if you are given the same runaround, you'll run...to the nearest knowledgeable specialist (preferable an infectious disease doctor or a rheumatologist).

That is basically the same that happened to me Georgia. I'd Googled it to the point where I probably knew more about ME than my GP. I Insisted on being seen by a rheumatologist who confirmed ME. There is still however no definitive test for ME but research is suggesting that one won't be very far away. My money says the Epstein Barr virus will be found to be heavily involved with the cause of ME.

Wow thank you all so much that's so helpful everyone seems so nice on here im so glad I found this forum. I wish you all the very best of health.

Hi Danny,

My story is much the same.  I was very ill for about a year during which time I was tested for everything they could think of.  I was hospitalised because I was unable to even lift my arm but all the tests came back normal.  I was referred to the hospital psychiatric department because depression is the usual diagnosis when they can't find anything else.  The psychiatrist said yes, I was definitely depressed but who wouldn't be living with such an illness!  Basically, if they don't find anything else and it goes on for 6 months or more you get a diagnosis of CFS......especially when there aren't any specialists to be referred to!  I have been ill for 10 years now with better days and relapses and every now and then I get more tests done with the same result.

Be prepared for the long haul getting a diagnosis.  Demand to see a specialist in M.E./C.F.S. if there is one available and I wish you good luck in your journey to better health

I had the following tests done before I was diagnosed with CFS/ME: Sigmoidoscopy (with biopsies), Colonoscopy, Endoscopy, abdominal ultrasound, fecal elastase, 5-HIAA urine test, countless blood tests looking for anything and everything. I'm due to have an MRI of my head done in a few weeks. I've seen a Gastroenterologist, Neurologist and I'm waiting for a date to see a Rheumatologist as my doctor now thinks I've developed Fibromyalgia, on top of CFS/ME (the two conditions sort of go hand in hand).

I'm presuming I was put through loads of tests as there is/was no previous history of me, or my family, ever having anything seriously wrong with us.