Severe exhaustion, headaches and muscle pain. Could it be chronic fatigue?

Rest and a change of lifestyle are really the only things that can help if it is CFS, there is no cure at the moment. Not easy for you by the sound of it but thats generally the advice.

Things that have helped me:

Change of diet (Cut out gluten, caffiene, alchohol and processed foods. Eat fresh with more protein).

Rest, with as little stress as possible. Don't be idle, but you have to be aware of your limitations. Walk instead of cycle for example. I can't cycle at all really at the moment.

Meditation if youare able has helped me. Not easy as you ave said, but you really need to be as stress free as possible as stress makes CFS worse.

Supplements - Viridian Qi-Ribose has helped me a lot recently but maybe talk to your GP first as Magnesium can lower your blood sugar for example.

Check for any support groups in your area. You really need some help and support from somewhere.

Poor you it really does sound like cfs.  I'd agree with others you really really have to pace yourself and do only the bare minimum throughout the day.  I find that eating small regular meals and keeping the protein levels up helps me to cope a little easier as my blood sugar keeps more stable now and I don't feel so frazzled.  Some fresh air every day helps and working with your body when you need extra rest.  At the beginning it feels like you're giving in to it and you want to fight the wretched thing.  But slowly you realise that fighting it in the long term gets you no where and you really have to work with it because it doesn't seem to be a logical illness.  It's never going to be easy with a young family around but I wish you all the best.

Oh Sharon....you do sound exactly like the rest of us...not knowing what is Happening to you...and as the other responses have given you their advice, which I agree with...you do need to take note (even keep a diary if at all possible) of what actions/exerciase you find that exhaust you, and try to slow them down....I do feel that you have made a good choice in seeing a rheumatologist (as that's where I got my best care from, after doing the rounds of many doctors).  Is your GP sympathetic to you, (has he known you for a period of time, and knows what you like before this onset)?  If so, he/she will also be your support...as mine has been.  I fully understand your complex problem with being the sole parent of two boys, who don't understand what is happening to you/why you can't be the person/parent/support that they need....I have this same problem with my husband and two younger children (although they are young adults); but they seem to think that my lack of energy/sore muscles/joints is all an excuse for not being there for them...and of course any statements/comments I make are pushed aside," as I am sooo out of touch with them and what is the real world"...that in itself causes me frustration.  If I could convince them to come with me to my doctor's appointments, I think they may have a better understanding...so if you think you could take your boys with you to some of your appointments, perhaps they may understand more, and give you the time you need.  Of course, as young boys, they do need to be out, getting full exercise (I know that you feel the need to be there, and guide them, so they do not get into a wrong crowd/environment)..are there any other mothrs/fathers in your community that can help in this case, when you can't?  I have also seen/talked with a psychologist to help me understand myself (and receive validation);  this convinced me (and my doctors) that it isn't all in my head !...I know that this may not be a financial option for you, but here in Australia, our Medicare System allows a person to have 10 free consultations, with a referral from from your GP..perhaps there may be something similar in your country of residence.  Keep in contact via this forum, as all I've seen since joining ( only a couple of weeks) is so many others who are experiencing the same thoughts/anguish as you, and all are our support group/s.  Do try and get as much fresh air as possible, even sit outside like I do, as that is one time that I know my sypmtoms become extremely worse, is when I am in air-conditioning, and also in heated environments/extreme heat conditions, as we had here in November, in Australia.  I don't know if the other "craving" that I get foodwise is something, however, I quite often crave fish...as if my body is telling me it needs it..and yes, I have always tried to include some form of fish into our weekly diet all the time, but now am wanting it nealy every night...with vegetables and carbs....I also agree with the need for protein, as it gives us the Iron we need

to carry the oxygen to our cells,  so keep up the form of iron/protein...keep in contact, as I could write forever, but as others too, my thoughts become over loaded, and fingers become tired....Bron

Sorry Sharon,  I did not answer your other question re help in coping with pain/headaches etc....I have found for my muscle/joint pain the most effective drug is in a form of Amitriptilline and some valium at night ,as I find if my neck becomes stiff...then I get the Bad headaches/pain behind the eyes...My other important resource is Physiotheraphy, as they work on my Tense/sore muscles, helping them to relax, which gets me through another week (in bad times), and when in good times, I can stretch it out to a month between visits....even a general massage (which I used to think was a Luxury, but now is a necessity...even if I can't afford one as often as I would like one,,,and the fact that I need to drive myself to have one/physio is not always easy)  but they do really help my body...

Hi there,

You sound just like I did when I hit 39 and entered perimenopause with a big bang - muscle aches and pains, CFS, but your description of the headache is the give away behind your nose and at the nape of the neck, eyes sensitive etc etc, oh boy do I know this.

CFS is also common.

I am under a professor in endocrinology/hormones as I am marked as severe, but people really don't know the connection between hormones and all of this. 

I had a real battle on my hands with gp's etc, but due to extensive research, training in neuro chemistry and learning from others have got my live back.

Our hormones control over 400 of our bodily functions and our bodies building blocks when they become imbalanced due to these years all hell breaks loose.

Depression is also a sign that your oestrogen levels are low.  My poor cousin has this because she has bad pcos.

One woman I know suffered depression from about 17 and then had her ovaries taken away - then went on hrt and never had another days depression - this is quite common.  She found out she had always been low in oestrogen.

Fibromyalgia and hormones if you google this and every thing else lots on it, plus hormone imbalance etc. etc.  (there was a thread posted on here about this noticed when googled - fibromyalgia).

I hope this all helps and here if you need any further advice.

Big hugs Mel Xx.

p.s. gp's want come up with the right answers - it is a professor in endocrinology and hormones you need - when I described the head aches like you to the professor he said it was the best description he had ever heard - that's because I can actually feel my pituitary pumping away in there - but I am marked as severe - but that is what is kicking out our hormones and when it is trying to kick start our ovaries it goes in to over drive, when they are getting low and can start 10 years before menopause, which these days is getting younger and younger.

Hi.

Getting as much rest as you can is the best thing you can do.  Try and pace yourself and balance your activity so it is done in shorter bursts.  I sympathise with the fact that there is little rest with children always on the go. 

It may be worth checking to see if there are any young carers groups in your area that your kids could link in with. They exist in UK but not sure where you're living. I guess other countries may have similar things.  Normally run by charities/and/or county council. These enable kids who have a parent or sibling with disabilities to get together for a break themselves, for mutual support and fun activities.  This could benefit all of you.

Hope you find a breakthrough.

Thank you so much everyone for your replies its great to have some advice to follow. I am going to try a gluten free diet and I have recently started taking magnesium, I have also found amitryptyline useful for sleep, I love diazepam but my gp won't prescribe it for me anymore. Melanie, how would I go about getting a specialist in endocrinology? I have often wondered if hormones are causing these debilitating headaches, if I have to go private then it unfortunately won't be an option for me.

It took me months of complaining to get a referral to a rheumatologist, every time I mentioned chronic fatigue my gp told me I probably do have it but there isn't anything anyone can do for it and she just kept giving me anti-depressants.

Somebody gave me a couple of tramadol yesterday and while it didn't completely get rid of the sickening headache it really helped and I actually gained a little energy for a while, has anyone had any experience using this drug? Would it be worth trying?

Hi it's been a couple of months and just wondering how you are doing now any change in your symptoms ? Did you check the thyroid route? Hope you are doing better , two lively boys takes enough out of you even if you're in the best of health best wishes sy