Open main menu ☰
HealingWell
Search Close Search
Health Conditions
Allergies Alzheimer's Disease Anxiety & Panic Disorders Arthritis Breast Cancer Chronic Illness Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes
Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Migraine Headache Multiple Sclerosis Prostate Cancer Ulcerative Colitis

View Conditions A to Z »
Support Forums
Anxiety & Panic Disorders Bipolar Disorder Breast Cancer Chronic Pain Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux
Hepatitis Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Multiple Sclerosis Ostomies Prostate Cancer Rheumatoid Arthritis Ulcerative Colitis

View Forums A to Z »
Log In
Join Us
Close main menu ×
  • Home
  • Health Conditions
    • All Conditions
    • Allergies
    • Alzheimer's Disease
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Arthritis
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Illness
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Migraine Headache
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Support Forums
    • All Forums
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Pain
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Hepatitis
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Ostomies
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Log In
  • Join Us
Join Us
☰
Forum Home| Forum Rules| Moderators| Active Topics| Help| Log In

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Support Forums
>
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
profile picture
gumpopper
New Member
Joined : Aug 2008
Posts : 1
Posted 8/17/2008 4:31 PM (GMT -6)
 I was diagnosed with CFS over a year ago. I had to leave my job because I became so sick. I am now trying to get disability which seems to take forever. Does anyone ever improve who has severe CFS? Doctors that I have seen have only prescribed medications that make me worse. Can anyone give me advice on what helps this condition?
profile picture
lucysgd
Veteran Member
Joined : Jun 2008
Posts : 675
Posted 8/17/2008 10:52 PM (GMT -6)
Hi gumpopper - welcome to the Forum. I'm pretty new here myself. I know what you're going through - I had to quit my job and haven't worked in 7 years! Didn't realize I should have applied for disability early on (when I was still thinking I was crazy or lazy). And I am not able to tolerate many medications, either. I think that is a problem for many CFS sufferers. For me, acceptance was (and still is) very key in managing this illness. Most people can't understand what you're dealing with - since you appear normal.

I stopped worrying what others thought - (from co-workers to fellow church members) and just tried to listen to my body, rather than always trying to participate and keep up. I'm still learning after ten years. I'm the type that likes to "do" - and when I feel well enough I can be well on my way to a flare before I even realize that I've over-extended myself. My husband has learned to remind me that I've taken something for pain when I forget and launch into a project because I feel better. And I've learned to listen!

Good sleep is crucial, however you can achieve that without making matters worse in the long run with medication. Low dose xanax works for me when I am in a bad sleep cycle. But I am careful not to overuse it. Good diet. Exercise that you stop doing before you feel fatigued. This is hard when you start to feel better. I wasn't able to walk to the corner this spring and now am walking 30 min nearly every night. But I was focusing more on the time than how I was feeling - pushing myself to hit that mark, until I realized it was why I was back to feeling too exhausted to get anything done during the day. So I forgot about the time and started paying better attention to the signals my body was giving me.

I wish there were medications that would help - but I haven't come across them. Anything I've been prescribed has only made matters worse. There may be others here who have had a different experience and will post. I do think CFS goes into a remission of sorts at times. Stress is the troll under the bridge, though, and makes everything flare, so I try to keep that to a minimum - and sometimes - when I'm at low ebb - even socializing is a stress -so I even eliminate that until I can manage it comfortably.

I'm sorry you're feeling so badly. You'll find a lot of information and support here. Take good care of yourself and do not feel guilty (in case you do - I know I did for a long time)about having this illness. It's poorly understood but very real and you don't need to be harder on yourself than "it" already is!

Peace - Lucy
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply


More On Chronic Illness

4 Ways To Help Loved Ones Cope With Your Illness

4 Ways To Help Loved Ones Cope With Your Illness

Athletes And Chronic Pain:  How Sports Stars Deal With Pain

Athletes And Chronic Pain: How Sports Stars Deal With Pain


HealingWell

About Us  |   Advertise  |   Subscribe  |   Privacy & Disclaimer
Connect With Us
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest LinkedIn
© 1997-2022 HealingWell.com LLC All Rights Reserved. Our website is for informational purposes only. HealingWell.com LLC does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.