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Is it CFS?

Posted , 7 users are following.

rebecca17895
rebecca17895

Hi there,

Just looking for some advice really. I've suffered with energy level issues for so long and joint and muscle troubles too. I seem to crash halfway through the day (everyday) and it's almost like I have an empty battery so can't physically do anything but sleep, I don't go to bed late but every time I get an opportunity to sit and relax I'm asleep in minutes? Whenever I seem to over do things I struggle with pain in my limbs and back which only seems to ease up after sleeping although can last a couple of days at its worst. I also suffer with what I believed to be tension headaches as they only affect my left side of my head down my neck. Does this sound like CFS? I am only 30 and surely should be able to keep up with my children but even after a trip to the park I'm exhausted and wanting to sleep?

Any advise would be so welcomed x

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • jackie00198
    jackie00198 rebecca17895

    Posted

    Sure, it could be ME/CFS. But you need to get a complete blood workup to rule out other illnesses. If all these tests come back negative, see an ME/CFS specialist, if possible. An infectious disease doctor who specializes in the illness would be a good person to see. This is how I was diagnosed, after only about 20 minutes with a knowledgeable doctor.
    • rebecca17895
      rebecca17895 jackie00198

      Posted

      Thank you smile i will get down to the doctors, I was just worried that they will dismiss it as nothing. It's really getting me down. Last time I had blood work done it came back clear but that was a while ago so I never followed anything up thinking it must be nothing. I will definitely mention about seeing a specialist when I see my doctor.
    • jackie00198
      jackie00198 rebecca17895

      Posted

      One more thing. Yes, the doctors may very well tell you it's nothing, it's all in your head. This happened to me twice, when I saw two different doctors. It's almost the rule rather than the exception, unfortunately.  So be strong in advocating for yourself. I knew these doctors were wrong, and got myself to a specialist. 
    • rebecca17895
      rebecca17895 jackie00198

      Posted

      That's why I didn't go back before as I felt like I was just taking up appointment time for nothing, I'll keep you posted with the outcome once I've seen my doctor. Thank you so much for your advice I really appreciate it 😊
    • GeorgiaS
      GeorgiaS jackie00198

      Posted

      Most of us don't have knowledgeable doctors and aren't offered tests, just antidepressants. I asked a doctor to give me the whole range of tests and it didn't come up with ME or CFS.

      Can all of us see an infectious disease doctor for free and if so how do we go about that? Kidnap them and hold them to ransom! lol

  • caitlin39841
    caitlin39841 rebecca17895

    Posted

    Hi Rebecca. so sorry to hear that u may have CFS/ME. the symptoms u describe are indicative of CFS/ME. however, a number of other conditions share these symptoms. therefore, it's a matter of being tested for the other likely conditions & having them eliminated. if ur in the UK, practitioners, especially CFS/ME clinic, practitioners tend to use a specific criteria in conjunction with the blood results. have a look at the diagnostic criteria as outlined by the ME Association. sometimes, however, practitioners can use other diagnostic criteria i.e. the Oxford criteria, the Fukuda or the CDC. many GP's r not up to speed with latest research in this area.

    the ME Association outlines the following info. in their website. it's clear & accessible:

    Typical features of ME/CFS

    > Conditions with symptoms in common

    > Tests helpful with diagnosis

    > A brief discussion of diagnostic criteria

    > Further information

    all good wishes in ur search for a diagnosis.

    Caitlin

  • dentalcfs
    dentalcfs rebecca17895

    Posted

    I don't know your full symptoms but from your post that doesn't seem to be a lot of symptoms.

    I think pain in limbs and back is not primary symptoms of CFS. Also, you seems to ease them up after sleeping, which wouldn't usually happen overnight in CFS.

    Can you rule out sciatica or trapped nerves? They could seem to cause your symptoms on some cases.

  • artistmike
    artistmike rebecca17895

    Posted

    As a matter of interest Rebecca, are you able to pinpoint when all these problems first started? There are a few known instigators of CFS, which together with elimination tests for other conditions may help point a specialist at the cause of your problems.

    It can be a long process getting a diagnosis but stick with it, either way you need to know what's wrong with you and that's the doctor's job...

  • rebecca17895
    rebecca17895

    Posted

    Hi there, thank you all for coming back to me, the problems started about 5 years ago but it isn't always consistent I've had times where the exhaustion side of it eases up for a while but lately I've been struggling more and more and it's affecting my day to day life. The problems with the pain can be unbearable and have had this on and off for many more years. Each time I visited the doctor I was just dismissed about it so i was nervous about going to my doctor but realise I just need to bite the bullet. x
  • sylvia17461
    sylvia17461 rebecca17895

    Posted

    Sounds like a thyroid problem to me ! Seems like your body has used up all the active hormone T3 and needs a boost of it. Maybe your T4 is not converting to T3 properly . T3 lasts only a very short time while the T 4 lasts for a few days but must convert to T3 which then has to reach the cells to do its work. go to your GP have peroxidase and antithyroglobulin blood tests .
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