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post viral experiences

Posted , 13 users are following.

david59662
david59662

Hi, my name Is David, I am 34 years young (feel old, like 94) and prior to becoming unwell Nov 2013 I was a keen runner and triathlete for about 6 years. 3hr marathon 1hr20 5k swimathons.

So the start, Nov2013 I just started to feel 'off'. But ok I felt maybe a cold or something so I will still go to work, and train and work through it. But of course this does not work. I had been studying naturopathy whilst holding down my physical warehouse job. So felt I had adequate knowledge to fix myself because I had done this before with problems like depression and inadequate digestion. But it seemed nothing I did worked. Christmas time was utterly horrendous and I literally felt like the life was being sucked out of my body and I was dying. I had deep penetrating 'stiffness' in both legs. This lasted about 2 months before it subsided. Tests from the GP have shown up and down low neutrophils and total WBC. Iron levels are on the high side and being tested for haemocromotosis, B12 is high also. Recently WBC has achieved normal range and jumped up quite a bit but I still do not feel well. The fatigue is the most noticeable aspect, unrelenting. I eat supremely well, I juice organic vegetables, take high quality supplements and where I would advise everyone still do this with PVF I would also advise that this is not curing my condition. This seems a very deep form of damage. The energy is used to get from such things like juicing is no longer being made available, I am considering parasitic infection, as I had been swimming in Bulgaria July and also had done some open water swimming in the UK last year as well. So yesterday I did a few hours of walking but my enjoyment for life is not present, I am really suffering today, so tired. I'm staying with my father, I have no job and feel utterly useless compared to my old self. The past week I have noticed the lymph nodes in my right groin are slightly swollen, so another concern. Does anyone else get this ? I am currently seeing a reputable local TCM practitioner in the hope of a breakthrough. This condition is costing me a lot of money but I am determined it is a process of elimination, at the moment the NHS is too slow for me but the GP's have been very good but feel rushed with 10min appointments. Trust me if I find a breakthrough I will re-post. Oh, also getting poor circulation in hands and feet with the right hand always looking more coloured(red) than the left which is often pale. It is intermittent. Anyone else get this ? I'm looking for people to share experiences so I can compare. Thanks

2 likes, 52 replies

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  • kevin64220
    kevin64220 david59662

    Posted

    Hi David, sorry to hear about your troubles, I hope you're doing ok. I'm 33 and also feel 94! My symptoms started a little differently to you; I got ill in April 2013 and never fully recovered, with new symptoms developing over time. I saw a lot of doctors and had a lot of tests but didn't receive a diagnosis until I saw a US based doctor who came to Ireland last year. He diagnosed me with ME; he said that although the illness (possibly a virus) in 2013 may have triggered my symptoms, I probably had ME previous to this. I have been on his "protocol" (various supplements) now for 4 months; this protocol is designed to kick start the methylation cycle. I won't go into too much detail here as a quick search online will provide a better explanation. I haven't experienced any improvement yet, but I have been told only 40% react to the treatment. I plan to continue with this treatment and will let you know if it has any effect. I have to say your search for answers on this is encouraging and if there is any way I can help I am happy to do so. Like many others reading this thread I have a list of symptoms as long as my arm so I won't go into that detail now but I'm happy to answer any questions. Thanks and good luck! Kevin.

     

  • EloiseGsy
    EloiseGsy david59662

    Posted

    Hi David. I hope you see this. I had PVF for about 3.5 years in total which is apparently typical. I researched and self medicated with 5HTP - a natural source of serotonin. I worked out my serotonin levels were very low which was how I never recovered from the flu I caught. Before this I worked and traveled all over the world. I never slept and was constantly pushing my physical boundaries, not realising I was weakening my system until I crashed. I suffered from night sweat, pains in all limbs, increased heart rate, general feeling of unwell, extreme exhaustion (even reading a book took it out of me) but even though a help group told me I would have to cope with it for the rest of my life (!?) I stayed positive (which was ridiculously hard) and researched and researched, supplemented, slept every day for 3 hours and suddenly at about 2.5 years, I noticed things were changing. In a good way. I would say I am now (10 years on) pretty much recovered. Sometime a virus gets me a bit and it takes me longer to recover but I have never since been the same way. I did have some funky nuerological stuff but your nerves fix them selves and so patience is what's needed. My family didn't understand because they couldn't see me bleeding, I left my husband who thought that as I was improving, he was loosing control of me. I am now happily married with 3 children and I run around like a nutter! On the antidepressant front, just be weary of serotonin uptake inhibitors, they draw serotonin in from your body to put into your head (that is a very basic explanation - sorry). But I had no serotonin in my body so they were like physical torture for me. They might have helped you massively, so just a note really. If there is anything I can help with then I'd be happy to. Last thing is I cannot explain how rubbish I felt. How utterly ill and I could not accept that it could just be something so simple as PVS that could make me feel that way. It's not to be underestimated. It's a crippling, life changing and can be a very frustrating and depressing position to be put in.

     And it seems mad that clinicians cannot help. Oh, dandelion root! Sorted my digestion problems, liver problems, boosted my immune system and general well being. But remember, it takes time and I hope that by now (2015) you are hopefully improved. X

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