Posted 10/16/2012 9:03 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Laurie, Welcome to the forum, glad you decided to post. I can certainly understand your sleep problems. When I first came down with CFS all I wanted to do was sleep & lay in bed. I slept 19 to 48 hours at a time & still felt like I hadn't slept. Other times I had insomnia so bad that even though I was fatigued I couldn't sleep. I was so very tired all of the time, I had to work & I couldn't get out of bed & was always late & leaving work early. I ended up having to quit my job & am now on disability for CFS & Fibromyalgia. I am better since I don't have to be up at any specific time but I am still fatigued all of the time. I take 10mg Trazadone & a muscle relaxer, Tizanidine at night to sleep & it has helped me immensely. I have less pain now too. I am able to reach REM sleep & beyond, which I hadn't been able to reach before.
I also have depression & anxiety that I deal with. There definitely is a difference in the type of fatigue you feel with CFS. I would see a rheumatologist for this but don't be surprised if you come across one who doesn't "believe" there is such a thing. I have come across one who wanted to say it was just my Fibro but this is different. I was finally dx'd with CFS by a rheumatologist. The next best thing would be an internal medicine Dr. It may take some time to get in, but good ones often are.
I hope you keep posting & let us know how you are doing. Many hugs, Denise