New here-Depression, diabetes and CFS

I have a history of depression and diabetes.  I thought my exhaustion and "brain fog" was from depression until that was successfully treated. I still need 11-12 hours of sleep a night and have "brain fog" unless I take Adderall which gives me around 6 decent hours a day.  I am diabetic and my A1c is high;  but it has always been too high because I have had a number of other medical problems which make it hard to control (difficulty exercising due to neck injury, back pain and now when I do anything I am wrecked for a day or two afterwards).  This fatigue and brain fog is new (a few months), whereas the diabetes is not.  I tested >8.0 for Epstein Barr Igg but normal for Igm <.02. The test for Lyme came back negative.  I have taken synthroid for the past 25 years and that is not only normal but recent blood work suggests I should be taking less synthroid which I don't want to do becuase my hair falls out, I'm overweight and already sluggish.  I am VERY psychologically informed (I am a psychologist) and know my emotional state well. This is not from depression.  I have never felt this tired except when I had mono when I was 15 (34 years ago). I am convinced this is something immunoogical but as soon as the doctor sees the diabetic numbers they are convinced that is the problem. Also, please note I went through the whole infertility thing and the ultimate cause was immunological (I did not thave the antibody blockers that keep antibodies from attacking a pregnancy). Wierd immunological things do run in my family (my father neuro problems in his hand and arm which was determined to be caused by an immune disorder-had an aunt with RA and a niece with fibro). I had Bells Palsy this past January. oes any of this make sense? Where do I go from here? I am NOT functioning....can't work and wouldn't even get out of bed if it wasn't for Adderrall which is an amphetamine,

Welcome to HealingWell, Lippylulu.  I jumped over from the Diabetes Forum when I saw your post.  Here is a website dedicated to diabetes and all aspects of treatment, meds, diet, lifestyle, etc.  http://www.bloodsugar101.com/

Hi Lippylulu and welcome! So sorry you've got this horrid illness :(

There is research showing a genetic tendency towards fibromyalgia. My mother has CFS, my aunt had it and I have it along with fibromyalgia. One of my friends has CFS and their father has CFS/fibromyalgia.

It annoys me when people think CFS/fibro is caused by depression. I take antidepressants and do CBT and meditation - this helps with my anxiety and mild depression, but it does NOT fix the fibromyalgia/CFS because they are not one and the same! Sorry, here I go, preaching to the choir.

Viruses are often involved in CFS... My illness started with an unknown virus 2.5 years ago that gave me all the fibro/CFS symptoms with a fever in the beginning as well. It was after several months of being sick, when I saw I wasn't getting better, that I started to become anxious and depressed.

My illness has fluctuated up and down... There have been periods of months when I have been able to continue with high school and uni, and other periods of months when all I do is sleep and be brain fogged and in a lot of pain. I have found some natural remedies helpful though, but mostly with the fibro and not the CFS.

I hope we can both make full recoveries :)

Jasmine

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Age: 18
Conditions: Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic pain syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, food intolerances, complex regional pain syndrome, anxiety, GERD, allergies, dermatitis, low immunity, tinnitus, restless legs syndrome, scoliosis, etc.
Goals: to be an occupational therapist; to explore the world.
"Reach for the moon; even if you miss, you will land among the stars."

Post Edited (Jasmine Grace) : 7/26/2013 4:38:20 PM (GMT-6)

Lippylulu, welcome to the forum, sorry we have to meet under such circumstances. This illness is a hard one to have. Like you, I sleep for 10 to 12 hours per night & my days are pretty nonproductive. I had to quit my job when I first became sick. There are quite a few people that have EBV as a trigger for CFS, mine was triggered by stress. How much of your illness is your diabetes only you can say. I think people know their bodies better then the Dr's & should be listened too. I have Fibromyalgia but knew there was something else going on, finally my Dr sent me to a Rhuemytologist & I was dx'd there. Can you get your physician to refer you? CFS has to be dx'd using a process of elimination, everything else must be ruled out, sounds like yoiu are well on your way. Have all auto immune diseases been eliminated? It really sounds like you have CFS but I hope you don't.

I have heard that Adderall has helped many with this illness but not all people respond to it. I have never given it a try myself. If it is working for you then just keep using it unless it is causing you some problem. Just keep talking to your doctor about this because you need a diagnosis. Hugs, Denise

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Fibromyalgia-dx'd: 2006, ME/CFS-dx'd: 2006, Holt-Oram Syndrome dx'd 1975, reduced lung capacity dx'd 2009, nasal allergies, food allergies, depression (lifetime problem) IBS, neuropathy in hips

I have 4 children & 7 grandchildren.

As apples of gold in silver carvings is a word spoken at the right time for it. Prov. 25:11