New Member

I just wanted to introduce myself.  I am a 72 year old grandma and greatgrandma who has had CFS and FM for the last 35 years.  I have several other health issues as well and would like to contribute to this board.  I can use all the help I can get, also, just to make it through every day.

Glad to have found this forum...     Memaw12

Blueyes868,     It sounds like you've been through the wringer with the colonoscopy.  I hope the diarrhea stops soon.  It can make you so miserable.  Are you taking anything for it?  Do you have CFS?

Post Edited (memaw12) : 5/17/2013 1:20:26 AM (GMT-6)

memaw12, it is so nice to meet you & welcome to the forum. We can use your support. I am 61 & I have had CFS & FM for about 8 years & just seem to be getting worse from the CFS. I am going through a major flare & haven't been out of bed or off the couch in weeks. I will be happy when this thing is through. I am also dealing with vertigo for the last week & am so dizzy it will make me sick to my stomach. Haven't had to deal with this at such a level since I was first dx'd. How are you dealing with the CFS? How well do you sleep? I have to use meds to sleep & then I sleep for about 10-14 hours per night. I have read that a small portion of people with CFS have this sleeping pattern. It is no fun & I am always curious what others are doing for their sleep.

Joy, Welcome to the CFS forum. Finding out if you have CFS is the same as for FM, it is a diagnosis of elimination. Talk to your Dr or Rhuemy about it if you are concern that you have this. Definitely do the reading that memaw talked about & learn about this illness. My daughter has Lupus & I know she gets very fatigued with it but that isn't saying you don't have CFS, if you are more fatigued then you have been before then it is something to check out. I hope you don't have it with all you have on your plate but statistics do say that 60% of people with FM have CFS, where as 30% of people with CFS have FM.

Take care & many gentle hugs to you both, Denise

memaw12, your right it does make it more tolerable to have others who understand, those who are going through the same things. It makes me realize how real this is & it is not all in my head.

I have 4 grown children & 7 grandchildren. I feel really sad that I can't do all of the things I would have liked to do. The nice thing is I have one of my daughters & her two children living with me so I can be a part of their lives. I wish I could spend as much time or energy on my other grandchildren but they all live far away from me.

Like you, I am pretty much homebound & make it out very seldom. I do enjoy when I get out & can even go out a few days in a row but that is if I am not flaring. I have been housebound for the last month I think & tomorrow I am going to go out for awhile. I hope I can make it. I have been feeling a little better for the last couple of days, but as you well know, tomorrow can bring anything from feeling good to down in bed sleeping.

I usually go to sleep between 3:00 & 4:00A.M. then I sleep until 3:00 or 4:00 on the afternoon. My days are really different & I am always trying to switch my sleeping around but this seems to be where my body likes it best. I will continue to try to change it, lol, I like a good fight I guess. I know it takes a lot of commitment but when I am sleeping trying to get myself up is soooo hard.

Hugs, Denise

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Angie, Thank you for your warm welcome. I like it here already. You are about the age of my youngest son. He's 46.

I am sorry you're so ill at such a young age. I got sick with CFS/FM at the age of 38 so I know what you're going through.

If it weren't for my husband, I don't know what I'd do. There's no way I could live alone. I know you don't want to move and have to live with mom and grandma but we're both very lucky to have family.

Some of the people I've talked to with our illnesses are all alone. I can't imagine being alone, not being able to work and having to live on disability.

Did you have brain surgery? I had an MRI last year and found out I have a small cyst on my brain but the neuro doesn't think there's any need to worry about it. I am going to get a second opinion though. Hope you feel better. Memaw12

Angie, You've been through so much. I'm sorry you've had to suffer so. I had some episodes with my eyes last year and thought I was having a stroke.

I went to the ER and they admitted me for 24 hour observation. They finally had me go for an MRI, Carotid Artery Ultrasound and Echocardiogram. I also had an extensive eye exam a few days later.

The result was that they weren't sure what caused the viual disturbances but the symptoms were like ocular migraines. That seems to have been the diagnosis. I was also told that there was a small cyst on the left frontal lobe of the brain.

The neuro I went to later on said it may have been there a long time but I am going to get a second opinion. He said it was nothing to worry about however. Memaw12

Angie, I am sorry you are going through this. You said you had radiation in 2008 was a tumor found & was it benign? Now they have found another one? It would be so frustrating to have to deal with this & very scary. Even though this is a CFS forum we want to be here for you in all that you are going through. Please keep us posted. What do you have to do now & do they know what is causing this? Know that you are in my prayers. Many soft & gentle hugs, Denise