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Looking for answers..is CFS a potential?

Posted , 10 users are following.

Badluckj
Badluckj

Hi guys, I've had panic and anxiety attacks for many years, I usually can keep it in check, a month ago I got very very sick with a bronchitis, I was bed ridden.. took a Z-pak... beat the sickness but I started having real bad anxiety and depression.. the thing that helps me is physical exercise. Well about two weeks ago I started getting cyclic flu-like symptoms the days following any type of workout... or at least what I noticed. 

Like, I'll workout, then 3-4 days following I feel so confused, body aches badly, nausea..chills. I'm very depressed, I just want my life back. I'm a very actice on the go type of person..and now I just want to lay in bed all day because I don't want to trigger anything. I had a blood panel, everything checks out normal.... but not ruling out Lyme...

Has anyone ever recovered from this? It's so frightening because there is seemingly no cure. 

0 likes, 22 replies

22 Replies

  • jelelly
    jelelly Badluckj

    Posted

    Have you had a cfs diagnosis?

    The feeling of wanting your life back is something that I battle with on a daily basis. It's very depressing but that's the nature of cfs.....it controls you.....you can't control it.....I hate it and still after nearly two years with it I still cannot except I have it.

    Mine came after a bought of glandular fever.

    • Badluckj
      Badluckj jelelly

      Posted

      Hi Jel, no CFS diagnosis..Just going through the testing motions now for ruling out everything else. I hear it and fibromyalgia can be triggered from trauma/stresses.. e.g the panic attacks I started having again and the sickness. Yeah, there is no way I would be able to accept it. I'm an extremely active person with a lot of goals. Do you feel it every day? I felt good all day yesterday and I was running around on only 3 hours of sleep. Today, I feel brain fogged and sloppy. Every day is a mystery of how I'll feel. What are your symptoms??
    • jelelly
      jelelly Badluckj

      Posted

      My symptoms are pain all over my body everyday like I have been beaten up. Some days are worse if I have used too much energy prior.

      Feeling tired ... but more an overwhelming feeling of exhaustion.

      In turn this makes me low and depressed.

      I also have fibromyalgia as well.

      If you do have cfs you should not be lifting weights.

      You need to learn how to manage it..... which is a pain but it does moderate your symptoms. Cfs management is known as activity chunking . I have always been the type of person to do everything at once so this has been difficult to do.... 2 years on I still haven't got it right.....mainly because I try to do more than I should and rise above it..... however this just knocks you down to square one again . If you are diagnosed with Cfs. You should try to find a good hospital or group that deal with Cfs. ... they can talk to you and go through activity chunking . I go to broad green every 6 weeks. It also acts like councelling too. X

  • emilys1984
    emilys1984 Badluckj

    Posted

    Hey!! I was a full time mum to two kids, a full time student at college, held down a busy full time job, used to got to the gym 5 days a week and PT twice a week my CFS hit me last October!! Literally couldn't lift my arms. I had to drop out of work and college and still can't do either as I never know how I'm gonna feel when I wake up. I saw the specialist for the first time last week, he said he's never met anyone as determined as myself but he said my determination will stand in the way of getting better. Unfortunetly we do have to give into the fact that this disease now controls us but I believed we do have a little control over it. Work out your limitations and don't push yourself past them or you will crash! Emotional stress is a trigger too so try not to let yourself get too stressed with anything-easier said than done hay! I can't lift weights like I used to but I do go to yoga once/twice a week and do some at home when I can. When the CFS isn't really bad I do try and do a gently session on the weights at the gym. There is no cure only pain relief but my specialist did recommended a load of vitamins etc which he says people have noticed a difference from. I don't know about anyone else but my mood is affected a lot, I don't know if that's from living in pain every day or the fact I can't remember when I last felt like I've had a decent sleep.

    I know you want your life back, believe I cry all the time....this isn't me, this isn't my life.....but for the mean time I guess we all have to try and ride this illness out. I refuse to be beaten by it!!

    • Retriever
      Retriever emilys1984

      Posted

      I like your final remark like you I won't be beaten. I went out with the family on my wifes birthday on Sunday. Yesterday shopping, two sacks of food for the dog. Today not feeling too good but at least I know why. The last three nights I have slept better than I have for a long time. No pain for a few days, am I getting better.  I feel like going back to bed but I think I will wash the cars first. Am I doing the right thing I don't know but at least I am giving it a go.

       

    • Badluckj
      Badluckj emilys1984

      Posted

      Hi Emily, sorry to hear about your rough go of it sad I dont have a CFS diagnosis.. as this just started two weeks ago.. at least I think anyway. I'm making a correlation due to the post exercise pain.. although it's only happeed twice thus far. Yesterday I only got 3 hours of sleep and ran 7 miles, I felt okay today. Your depression is definitely because of what you are experiencing! I'm very stubborn, I probably won't slow my life down.. if I can help it anyway. ..
  • Retriever
    Retriever Badluckj

    Posted

    Hi Badluckj, I have tried resting it drives me up the wall soI am going for it right or wrong. I feel better than I did but I am not sure if I am getting better

    or am managing better. I did recover from my first time some 25 years ago. I think I have been suffering  from shock that it came back again.

    • Badluckj
      Badluckj Retriever

      Posted

      Hi retriever, when you say recovered you mean you got better? How long were you better for? Have you been to an endocrinologist to aggressively check your thyroid? Your cortisol levels..mold? I've been researching and some folks had underlying issues..even heart complications
    • Retriever
      Retriever Badluckj

      Posted

      I did get better. My family tell me I have had relapses over the last 20 odd years. I didn't relate the two I put the down times down to pressure of work.

      My thyroid has been checked and everything is ok. I do feel better for

      just doing things.I'm going to push on now. I can't face living like I was so what have I got to lose.

  • sally19402
    sally19402 Badluckj

    Posted

    It sounds to me like you are recovering from a viral illness, which takes time and a healthy immune system. You could get to the bottom of your anxiety and panic attacks by getting some NLP (a very effective form of cognitive behaviour therapy) which usually gets to respond to the root cause with two or three sessions. That would help your immune system clean up the viral infection.
    • Badluckj
      Badluckj sally19402

      Posted

      Hi Sally, from what I understand CFS if often triggered by a illness/virus. I've been recovered from it for a few weeks now..and have been trying to live a normal life but finding it quite difficult as I keep getting "sick" or rather, the flu like symptoms. 
  • Fidd
    Fidd Badluckj

    Posted

    Could it be related to over-training? Personally, I would give yourself a break from your current work out regieme, and see if something more gentle works better for you. It could be that bronchitis has left you run down for a period and it will take you a while to improve? Sounds frustrating, especially if you use exercise to manage anxiety and panic attacks. Have you spoken to a doctor?
    • Badluckj
      Badluckj Fidd

      Posted

      Hi Fidd, I don't think so..I mean I'm a very active guy...it's literally like..after weightlifting I'm sick as hell. Sometimes I get random tired spells though
  • jackie00198
    jackie00198 Badluckj

    Posted

    You've only had the cyclic flulike symptoms for 2 weeks, right? It's possible that your body is still in recovery mode from the bronchitis. The best thing you can do is rest and give yourself a chance for a full recovery. But that doesn't necessarily mean staying in bed all day. It means staying within your energy envelope and not pushing yourself. This is especially important if, by any chance, your illness has begun to morph into ME/CFS. I think you should cut out your workouts for now to give yourself the best chance to recover. Also, you say "has anyone ever recovered from this?" But you don't know what "this" is. I can see you're jumping into fear, which can cause stress, which is very bad in general, but especially bad if you're dealing with ME/CFS. So in addition to rest, de-stress in whatever way you can that is not exercise. Some techniques are meditation, listening to relaxation tapes, listening to music, deep breathing. Do whatever it takes. Try to take it day by day rather then imagining a worst-case scenario.
    • Badluckj
      Badluckj jackie00198

      Posted

      Thank you Jackie! Well, when I think of these symptoms.. Granted I have a hard time differentiating because I have health anxiety.. In October I came down with some kind of flu. I got over it for some weeks, came down with something again..went on vacation..was fine, alcohol, dancing the whole 9 came back fine. Some weeks later got sick again, then finally April 12th I got very sick..bronchitis.. So my healthy anxiety went crazy and I've been on and off feeling crap since. I don't know I'm pretty confused. What scares me is the flu like symptoms after weightlifting..never ever had that. Yesterday I almost fell asleep in my car, I went to buy some books. I'm reading about all these struggling souls here and my heart breaks. I just took out a large Loan and I run my own business where I need to be full of energy..maybe I'm fortune telling but..it seems like the same old story for me - trauma illness, always been stressed anxious, development of CFS..the fact it's so random in its nature is really depressing
    • Elmo69
      Elmo69 Badluckj

      Posted

      Hi,

      I can sense your frustration through your post and so sorry to hear you are feeling so ill!

      Jackie's advice above is very much what I'd suggest! As a nurse with experience of dealing with post-bronchitic patients I can confirm that it can often take months to fully recover, especially if you don't get adequate rest initially.

      Yes, sounds like your body has been under a lot of stress for some time and your anxiety around health is a hindrance! You cannot rule out that you may have CFS/ME but you cannot yet rule out that your symptoms aren't related to your body dealing with post-viral illness either!

      What you must do though, is recognise that these symptoms are your body's way of telling you that you are unwell and need to slow down and gradually build up activity again!

      It is very difficult to learn to do it but, as I am discoverimg , if I do pay more attention to what I am (over)doing and responding to my body's cries for help, I am steadily improving.

      Be kind to yourself - better to really slow down now than to severely damage your health and becoming worse!

      Best wishes :-)

    • Badluckj
      Badluckj Elmo69

      Posted

      Uhg my last post is moderated. Hi Elmo thank you so much for the concern and time. Activity, physically is 100% of my stress management lol. my previous episode, i worked out felt amazing euphoric, energetic..woke up the next day okay..sat in sun and I felt it bad flu came on me for 4 days...are there any other illnesses that cause post workout malaise? I mean Sunday I was running around like a madman and these two days I'm okay, a little fatigued but no flu symptoms. It's like so hit or miss? I guess suffering with anxiety I know how draining and depressing going through a battery of tests can be..I kind of just want to believe this may all be in my head and keep pushing and overcome it..but I usually bear anxiety with physical activity..
    • Elmo69
      Elmo69 Badluckj

      Posted

      I can so relate to the desire to think it's all in our heads! Trouble is, it's our heads that need to accept that sometimes, our physical systems are right!!!

      Have you tried "Mindfulness" self treatment?

      I was recommended to try it by my therapist, in the interim whilst awaiting start of CBT. Have got an excellent Mindfulness book written by Burch and Penman, which includes a mindfulness meditation CD (actually have it on kindle).

      I have a history of depression, not so much anxiety although in the past few years my anxiety has become more of a problem - recent diagnosis of CFS/ME.

      Have you had any previous therapy for your anxiety and depression? Do you take any medication?

    • sally19402
      sally19402 Badluckj

      Posted

      Only your body will know how important it is to your immune system to be optimistic about your ability to control your state of mind. You don't 'have health anxiety' you are choosing worrying thoughts on a regular basis. New fields of medicine, like psychoimmunology now recognise that your immune system is constantly eavesdropping on your thoughts, and indeed acting on them. It would do you good to be aware of this and find ways to turn those thoughts into positive ones. Panic attacks and anxiety suggest that you need to learn some new ways of thinking, for your health and well being. These are learned behaviours, not something we are destined to be.

       

    • Badluckj
      Badluckj Elmo69

      Posted

      I'm very stubborn when it comes to medicine. I do see a therapist who specializes in CBT and emdr. But i will be honest i don't think I'll ever be able to accept I must live my life differently. Like..be bed ridden and not be able to go out and be social. I mean at that point..what's the point of living? It's so frightening how some people can get like that
    • jelelly
      jelelly Badluckj

      Posted

      Do you have a close family and good friends?

    • Elmo69
      Elmo69 Badluckj

      Posted

      You are "black and white" thinking there!

      If you learn to allow yourself to rest when you need to you hopefully will not end up bedridden!

      The old cliches are usually true, much as we try to believe they are not! ( not sure I mean "cliches")!

      But I am slowly realising the truth of " putting self first"! A good idea to use is asking yourself, "what would I tell my best friend to do in this situation"! We all can give the best advice to our friends and loved ones but never seem to apply it to ourselves! It is just as valid, solid, good advice for us to take! After all, I know I can feel quite miffed if a friend asks for my advice and then they just ignore it! DON'T IGNORE YOURSELF!

      Hugs and best wishes, Elmo ;-)

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