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My father has it, do I?

Posted , 7 users are following.

downandoutdeb
downandoutdeb

Hi everyone. My dad was diagnosed with CFS/ME in 2000. We don't know what triggered it, as far as he can remember there was no viral infection that preceded it, as most websites say is the main cause. He just suffered exhaustion in the late 90s and had to keep resting, until he collapsed in 2000 and the doctor told him he had ME. Well, for the last two or three years my dad's had a suspicion that I may have it now, too. I know exactly when my symptoms started, but no doctor has been able to diagnose me. I suffer from severe anxiety and in 2011 I was in such a state of panic for weeks that my heart rate rocketed to 120, then 170. I was sent to hospital where they concluded it was just psychological. But within a few days of leaving the hospital, I started getting terrible indigestion and nausea, something I'd never had before. My head also felt "funny" - I've never been able to describe it, sort of light-headed, fuzzy, foggy... I felt like I was dehydrated. I also became easily knackered. As time has gone on my muscles have gotten achy, it's like a dull ache but also some pain. My arms and legs hurt a lot. My bones also crack like mad! My ankle cracks numerous times a day, my arms crack, my legs click. Since 2012 I've had loads of blood tests, including for arthritis. Everything fine and normal. A year ago I had an endoscopy for my chronic indigestion, and everything was fine and normal. I think my doctor then settled on IBS, as I have other symptoms of IBS too, but as my biggest problem was indigestion he had to make sure. Sometimes I feel like I'm coming out of a grave when I wake up in the morning. I groan like a zombie a lot! I sound very old when I move, especially on the stairs. When I go out I tire very easily. Even just spending three hours at a friend's house exhuasts me - I always feel incredibly sleepy afterwards. I've had to stop and sit down when shopping in town because I was suddenly overwhelmed with tiredness. 

Sorry this is long! I feel generally ill today, achy body, funny head, terrible indigestion that suddenly came on (as it does), tiredness (I couldn't sleep last night). Thanks for any help! smile 

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • jackie00198
    jackie00198 downandoutdeb

    Posted

    Unfortunately, your symptoms sound very much like ME/CFS. There may well be a genetic component to this illness, so the fact that your father has it raises a huge red flag. Get plenty of rest, pace yourself, and above all, don't try to push through the fatigue. Digestion problems are very common with ME/CFS. I assume that you're fairly young, so your chance of recovery are better than that of an older person. Remember that people can recover from this illness, or at least get a whole lot better. 
    • GeorgiaS
      GeorgiaS jackie00198

      Posted

      You basically said what I was going to say Jackie! Including that I've read that the younger a person is the better chance of recovery they have. I know some older people who've recovered too through diet.

      I suspect that my dad has ME but he's a stubborn old so and so and he won't go to the doctor or try to get a diagnosis. He'll rarey talk about being ill but when he did his sypmtoms sounded very much like mine.

  • toni62403
    toni62403 downandoutdeb

    Posted

    Hiya, 

    A lot of the symptoms you describe sound like my own. I started feeling unwell out of nowhere - my earliest symptoms were feeling fuzzy headed and dizzy and stomach pain, and I had a swelling of my lymph nodes in my armpits - my Dr. did a blood test and said that there was evidence I'd had the Epstein-Barr virus. I didn't actually have any flu-like symptoms or a sore throat - it felt like it went straight to CFS symptoms. I would definitely recommend pacing and rest breaks (I keep mine to 10 mins at a time where I will lie with my eyes closed in a dark room)Pacing is super tricky - it's taken me a good 10 months to figure it out but I feel like I'm getting the hang of it now - CBT helped enormously with this. Also I try to make sure I eat 3 times a day and get my 5 a day in (I also cut out all caffine)- that's something that's helped a lot, especially with my digestive issues

    Good luck!

    • GeorgiaS
      GeorgiaS toni62403

      Posted

      I asked my doctor about Lymes disease because I caught a virus while camping in a field before I got ME and he ruled that out (won't go into why but I agree with him). I asked him about the Epstein Barr virus and he didn't rule that out.
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